Danny Williams and Newfoundland and Labrador: portrait of a man and his province

I am in my young thirties and I was raised and born in a small town in New Brunswick. That make me a Martimes Girl, even if I am currently living and working in Montreal (Quebec province). I could say from myself that I am the typical Maritimes girl, having to relocate in a city to find work. Despite the fact that I am now relocated (I had been living in Quebec province for something close to 5 years now), I still think of myself as a New Brunswicker, a typical girl from the Maritimes.

When it come to Danny Williams, nothing is common or typical – Danny Williams had bring proud not only to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador people, but to the whole population of Maritimes province.

About the Maritimes province

The Maritimes are a region of Canada on the Atlantic coast. The Maritimes provinces are composed of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. All together, the population of the Maritimes is close to 2 million cohabitants.

Who’s Danny Williams?

Danny Williams, from is full name Daniel E. Williams, was born on August 4, 1949 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Danny Williams hold a degree in political science and economics from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Danny Williams begin practicing law in 1972. During his law school years, Danny William begin to be active in the telecommunication sector.

Danny Williams and Avalon Cablevision

While he was in law school, Danny William started Newfoundland first cable television, Avalon Cablevision. This was the debut of a successful bussiness story. Avalon Cablevision Ltd. became Cable Atlantic in March 20, 1990. Cable Atlantic was sold to Rogers Cable in November 2000. Rogers Cable is a branch of Rogers Communications, one of Canada's largest communications companies in the field of wireless communications, cable television, telecommunications and mass media assets.

Following the sale of Avalon Cablevision, Danny Williams run for the leadership of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. Danny Williams became the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador in April 2001. In 2003, Danny Williams became premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. Danny Williams arrival to politic mark a new beginning to the Maritimes.

Danny Williams: Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador (2003-2010)

As the the first minister, head of government for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Danny Williams has constantly fight for the well being of his people. Under the leadership of Danny Williams, Newfoundland and Labrador had become prosperous.

Danny Williams achievements as Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

As first minister, one of the best quote find about Danny Williams may come from John Ibbitson from The Globe and Mail: "Danny Williams is Newfoundland: a street-fighting poet who took on the world and won." The reason of Danny Williams popularity in Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond is quite simple: Danny Williams never gave up on his people and always had the courage to win big for his province. Under Danny Williams, Newfoundland and Labrador win respect from other Canadian provinces. In Canada history, Newfoundland and Labrador had been known as being one of the poorest province, if not the poorest. But Danny Williams among with other successful people of Newfoundland and Labrador had changed all that forever. Danny Williams leaves behind an enormous list of economic and political achievements.

Danny Williams and Canadian Prime Minister: Paul Martin and Stephan Harper

The poor leadership of Canadian minister like Paul Martin and Stephen Harper didn't help Danny Williams in his task. Danny Williams had fought for oil and mining interest. But well-known for his persistent, Danny Williams never gave up, despite poor federal government leadership, letting Quebec sovereignty movement under Gilles Duceppe with poor accomplishments. Despite the poor leadership of Paul Martin, Danny Williams was able to renegotiate Ottawa’s fiscal arrangement with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Under the poor leadership of Paul Martin, Danny Williams removed all Canadian flags from provincial government buildings.

Danny Williams and the Lower Churchill Project (LCP)

In 2009, New Brunswick leader of the time Premier Shawn Graham decided to close a deal with Quebec government. Without any more considerations for the Martitimes province, Shawn Graham sell the NB Power's nuclear and hydro generating stations to Quebec government, lead by the corrupted Jean Charest. Shawn Ghraham lost his last provincial election in New Brunswick, NB Power still belong to New Brunswick and the power remains to the Martitimes people. During the NB Power saga, Danny Williams accused Hydro-Québec of trying to block the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project to protect its own dominance in the marketplace. But because of Jean Charest poor nature, the NB Power sell deal to Quebec was never closed because Jean Charest was asking for too many advantages, most of them being territory. The cancellation of the selling of NB Power to Quebec mark another failure for Quebec government.

Since Jean Charest had refused to transmit electricity generated in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Danny Williams moved forward and closed a terrific deal with Emera (EMA), an energy and services company with $5.8 billion Canadian dollars in assets. The deal between Newfoundland and Labrador province and Emera (EMA) is of $6.2 billion. The project will generate hydro electricity to Labrador and Nova Scotia, through undersea transmission cable. This being for the Lower Churchill Project ( LCP).

Because the development of the Churchill River in Labrador for hydro had begin in the early 1970s. An infamous historic deal gave Quebec the profits from hydro-electric plants on the Churchill River. In somewhere 2025, the deal will be terminated. But until that time, the Churchill River profit belong to Quebec province. The Churchill River may be part of Quebec economic heritage for now, but the Lower Churchill Project (LCP) is the exclusive property of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Danny Williams and the seal hunt

In 2006, Danny Williams made an appearance in the Larry King Live show. At the time, the unfamous Heather Mills was married to Paul McCartney. Paul McCartney and Heather Mills were in Prince Edward Island, but they publicly declared that they were in Newfoundland and Labrador. Paul McCartney is a longtime vegetarian and among other personalities like Canadian born Pamela Anderson, he's against hunting. During the Larry King Live show, Danny Williams defended the seal hunt.

Following his fights, Danny Williams go the United States on February 2, 2010 for cardiac surgery. On December 3, 2010, Danny Williams step down as Premier. Danny Williams had accomplished many other things during his political career. One of famous former premier of New Brunswick, Frank McKenna had said, about Danny Williams: "He left people with a huge amount of pride and a huge amount of confidence in their province. And that is probably the most lasting legacy that any politician could achieve."

Following Danny Williams dismissal, Kathy Dunderdale of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador became the first minister. Kathy Dunderdale became the first female to serve as Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.