Hole in ground to give Labrador "advantage of fixed link" to mainland: premier #nlpoli

The provincial government will spend $750,000 this year to study the feasibility of digging a hole from the Great Northern Peninsula to Blanc Sablon, in Quebec.

SRBP told you on Tuesday that the goof-ball idea - last dismissed as a waste of money in 2005 - will get another check to see if any of the stupid has worn off it in the past 11 years.

The goofiness doesn't end there.

The feasibility study came up in the House of Assembly on Thursday.

Apparently, the people of Labrador need a fixed link from the island to the mainland. People are wrong to dismiss the idea as a waste of money. That would deny the people of Labrador of a great opportunity.

Here's Premier Dwight Ball defending the feasibility study:

For the Member opposite to simply to say that it is a waste of money, to give the Labrador portion of this province the opportunity to see the advantage of a fixed link.

Doesn't Labrador already have a fixed link to the mainland?

Just a question.

Conservative noob Barry Petten brought up the Stunnel Study.  He asked "the Minister" to confirm the money is in the budget without specifying which once.  Premier Dwight Ball took the question but the money is coming out of Perry Trimper's environment department.

Yes, they will be spending the cash,  Ball confirmed.  Lots of opportunity for tourism as people would come to see the hole in ground, supposedly.  Like they don't have holes in the ground in other places.  Maybe they will drive through the Stunnel to get to Muskrat Falls, thereby experiencing the two stupid ideas that together bankrupted Newfoundland and Labrador for the second time in a century.

Always remember:

1. Megaproject proponents grossly exaggerate the benefits of their pet plan
2. They grossly underestimate the costs.

To prove the point, here is the exchange from the House of Assembly, for the record:

MR. PETTEN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My question, I ask: Can the minister confirm your government has made a decision to spend $750,000 this year on a study to build a tunnel to connect the Great Northern Peninsula to Labrador.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Part of the budget that we put in place on April 14 – part of that was about the fixed link between Labrador and the Island portion. It's part of getting the evidence that's required to make the long-term decisions for our province.

This is connectivity; this is about putting a reliable transportation link that will include Labrador and the Island portion of the province. As we continue to develop the Trans-Labrador Highway it only makes sense and we before we make long-term decisions on how you put in place an appropriate transportation route it's important that you get the answers on the fixed link, something I would say that was used in your election platform back in 2003 at some point and then the information was done but really not widely shared with anyone.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Conception Bay South.

MR. PETTEN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I guess I found out who to speak to.

I ask the Premier: In time of fiscal restraint is this the best time to choose to spend $750,000 on a study?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER BALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well it's like this, the fixed link study for connectivity between Labrador and the Island portion of our province is an important consideration because we will make important decisions that impact not only the people in Labrador but indeed people as goods and services are moved into the Island portion of the province.

It opens up a significant tourism opportunity in our province, what people want. They want certainty when they come and want to experience places like Newfoundland and Labrador. Having that option and getting a good understanding number one of cost and the over impacts that it would have on our province as a whole.

For the Member opposite to simply to say that it is a waste of money, to give the Labrador portion of this province the opportunity to see the advantage of a fixed link.

-srbp-