Slightly revised from original post...
Some days you need to shake your head and ask WTF?

I had a call about an event that happened on Tuesday...call came in on Monday I agreed to their request even though I think what they are doing is perhaps not the best way to handle the situation.

There is going to be a protest on Tuesday regarding the quota that Nunavut has or doesn't have in its adjacent waters. I agree that NU should have access to the fish, that isn't the issue. What I don't agree with is the form of protest--burning a canoe. The UNOFFICIAL Word has it that the premiers office is the driving force behind it. Well, that makes sense, only Paul would come up with such an idea. Let's show the Federal government that we are unhappy with their decision by acting in an adolescent manner and burn something. Oh yeah, that will make the Feds change their mind. Has the Premier done a good job of letting Ottawa know we are unhappy with the decision? I don't think so. He has publicly stated that it wasn't in the best interests of NU? Yes, but has he really done any work on this issue? Nope.

Paul, if you really want to do something about the fishery and getting the quota moved to NU, then do some work. Grab your experts in the GN and get them together and find out how and why NU didn't get the quota. You know I normally support you Paul and I think given the people elected in NU you probably have done the best you could, but lets face it, your heart isn't in it anymore and you really don't give a f. I know your have a friend with lots of connections and might be able to help you out with getting the quota back, ask for the help. Or, maybe that is part of your plan...clever you, get some PR for yourself and some consulting work for another person who has never and will never live in NU.

Don't make the people of NU look like fools who only know how to set fires to get attention. Act like a Premier and work with the Feds to solve this issue. And now you want a podium and mic in place, LOL, this is a protest, not a picnic. A true wild cat leader would use a megaphone at a protest of this kind, but I guess you are too delicate to be expected to rough it. What's next if this little protest doesn't work? What is the next step? Is this another Burnt Church waiting to happen?

So OFFICIALLY, the GN had nothing to do with the event...but Paul did show. Right at the very end and only by a prompted phone call that the boat was almost in ashes and if he wanted his photo op he needed to come ASAP.

The event had about 50ish folks in attendance, it didn't get out of hand and no one started yelling, it was very quiet, too quiet to really warrant any attention from anyone outside of NU.

My above comments were picked up by the press on Monday afternoon (before the press release went out), so I pulled my post until now. It caused some grief for a few folks who help me out and so to not have them get their fingers slapped...I pulled it. No, I'm not a GN employee so I don't need to worry about getting fired, but I hate to see people I know getting fingers slapped over something I did. My comments stand, but they are my thoughts and opinions and not that of my employer or any of the agencies that give me money, including my mom.

I like to post stuff on my blog for friends and family and while yes it is visible to the world, but I would prefer it be kept quiet and anything I post not appear in the news or used as a way to start a news story (the seal protest poster aside...glad I inspired you Kent!).