I found this while searching acl yesterday. Its rather interesting for political nuts like me

MISSION(from their website)

-To help fulfill our region’s destiny by making Atlantica the best place to live and work in the world.
-To strengthen our ancient rights:

Liberty and Freedom of the Individual inside a Liberal Democracy with security and justice dedicated to efficiency, progress and effective governance.
-To build a region where the individual can flourish according to his or her potentials and so flourish the citizen so flourish the nation.


The Atlantica Party will:
* Gather and lead a broad social movement for change.
* Form the provincial government in one or more of the Atlantican provinces under the current political system.
* Create a fairer and more democratic electoral system.
* Initiate a balanced, effective and representative political structure.
* Examine a union of the Atlantica region.
* Create a plan in case of Quebec Sovereignty
* Reexamine the terms of Canadian Confederation.



http://www.atlanticaparty.ca/index.html

I found this while searching acl yesterday. Its rather interesting for political nuts like me

MISSION(from their website)

-To help fulfill our region’s destiny by making Atlantica the best place to live and work in the world.
-To strengthen our ancient rights:

Liberty and Freedom of the Individual inside a Liberal Democracy with security and justice dedicated to efficiency, progress and effective governance.
-To build a region where the individual can flourish according to his or her potentials and so flourish the citizen so flourish the nation.


The Atlantica Party will:
* Gather and lead a broad social movement for change.
* Form the provincial government in one or more of the Atlantican provinces under the current political system.
* Create a fairer and more democratic electoral system.
* Initiate a balanced, effective and representative political structure.
* Examine a union of the Atlantica region.
* Create a plan in case of Quebec Sovereignty
* Reexamine the terms of Canadian Confederation.



http://www.atlanticaparty.ca/index.html


well I think a couple of people got together in a tim hortons and dreamed up that one. Considering it came from a wantabe news organization like ACL thats how much creditiblity I would place into a report from that place.
Until they have open and free letters to the edtior and open forums they are just basically Nerds with computers posing as reporters on nothing of an importance to anyone except their own narrow minds
jim jones

well I think a couple of people got together in a tim hortons and dreamed up that one. Considering it came from a wantabe news organization like ACL thats how much creditiblity I would place into a report from that place.
Until they have open and free letters to the edtior and open forums they are just basically Nerds with computers posing as reporters on nothing of an importance to anyone except their own narrow minds
jim jones
Thats a little harsh dont you think? Narrow minds? The information was posted on A.C.L. but no A.C.L. members are party founders/members as far as I know. This information was posted on a variety of political forums not just the A.C.L.

Somebody's bitter...

they are just basically Nerds with computers posing as reporters on nothing of an importance to anyone except their own narrow minds
You could really say that's what all of us are, some more than others.

Thats a little harsh dont you think? Narrow minds? The information was posted on A.C.L. but no A.C.L. members are party founders/members as far as I know. This information was posted on a variety of political forums not just the A.C.L.

You see the reason I call a spade a spade as far as ACL . My father was a real jounralist for 35 years with the halifax herald and the postion ACL and these other poser news sites seem to take is that IN camera sessions of council or secrecy surrounding the commonwealth games goes against all tenants of professional journalism . The Attack they had in a op ed peice about bruce devenne and myself ,faltering to both of us as it was just showed how they would prefer a non elected body working in secrecy would have us the blind bat being lead off a cliff with our wings broken .

I wrote the writer of the piece and asked how he feels that Bruce Devenne gets to write op ed pieces for the Halifax Herald while he would be laffed out of a news office for licking the body parts of a city council or other non business bodies trying to hi jack the next couple of decades of provincial , federal and city budgets. I said Bruce devenne gets op ed peices in the halifax for a reason and you dont get the opportunity that Bruce does for a good reason.You pose as a journalist from the comfort of your basement. LOL

Marilla Stephenson, AJ Walling ,Valerie Payn, Pat Connolly get their say cheerleading, Ralph surette, Roger Taylor, Chris Cochrane and other the anti games side.

There is plenty of balance with the real media but that appears to be missing at ACL for the quest to go for the fools gold of sports festivals the commonwealth games. If ACL and its cast of so caled journalist really want to be taken seroiusly then have a completely open letter to the editor section like the real media does. Otherwise you are looking two very dirty words in jounralism censorship and propaganda.

jim jones

You could really say that's what all of us are, some more than others.

no I would not qualify you , me , haliguy, haligonian or anyone who has had a counter view to mine or anyone as that here . Basically we can debate the issues and for some it can get to the point of calling names. Yuo might not like the opinion of others but formt he most part you do counter and say what you want. I think when you are getting into HTML webpage composing making the look of a news organization then you are way beyond what we have here in a forum . A forum could exist without this media and pre internet by cheaply have hand bills in the city for a coffee house or town hall decussions on issues concerning the citizens.

Outside the internet A poser newpaper would not exist without huge dollars and advertizment revenues. The numbers dont matter on the internet and the advertisers ,few as there may be, are only concerned with Hits and not circulation and thus content that attracts circulation in traditional media.
a purely internet news organization is not concerned with demographics or circulation. They are mostly considered with their own agenda. I actually beleive event he fringe media in print like "the coast" have way more creditbility because they actually have big bills to pay to keep their publication alive year after year.

Jim Jones.

Maybe if we rip Canada apart it will be a better country???

Like how cutting up an orange makes it last longer.

Maybe if we rip Canada apart it will be a better country???

Like how cutting up an orange makes it last longer.
The goal of the Atlantica party is not seperation. Its goal is to find the best course of the Atlantic region. Whether it be a united atlantic province, increased regional co-operation, seperation from Canada is there last option. It is namely an Atlantic reform party, not seperation.

The goal of the Atlantica party is not seperation. Its goal is to find the best course of the Atlantic region. Whether it be a united atlantic province, increased regional co-operation, seperation from Canada is there last option. It is namely an Atlantic reform party, not seperation.


like I said back on topic a few people in a small room dreamed up that. I cant imagine provinces in the atlantic region uniting. The capital would become halifax and that is enough of a mess in nova scotia that I am sure new brunswick, prince edward island and newfoundland would all not want into an arrangement like that. There are too many provincial employees in the different capitals that would have their jobs on the line with such an idea.

To me how do you maintain democratic purpose if it is a one party , one state system that is very much like communist russia or china. A central office of everything. People want less government influence and policy not more.

It is more likely that we will see a huge tidal power project in the new minas basin then we will every see a concept of atlantica come to reality.

jim jones

like I said back on topic a few people in a small room dreamed up that. I cant imagine provinces in the atlantic region uniting. The capital would become halifax and that is enough of a mess in nova scotia that I am sure new brunswick, prince edward island and newfoundland would all not want into an arrangement like that. There are too many provincial employees in the different capitals that would have their jobs on the line with such an idea.

Halifax a mess? Nonsense Jones, Its no more a mess then any other town or city in "Atlantica". Halifax is still the economic engine of N.S. whether you like it or not. I think that if an Atlantic province or country was created the best capital would be Moncton. Central location close to all three provinces.

To me how do you maintain democratic purpose if it is a one party , one state system that is very much like communist russia or china. A central office of everything. People want less government influence and policy not more.

One party state like communist Russia? Where did you get such an idea? I've read their website and they have also released some of their policies..lets see.

The Atlantica Party will:

* Reestablish the independence of the House. The House will be free and will offset the Executive. The Executive will now have the burden to prove through open public debate to non-government representatives in the House that the proposed legislation is good and should be passed. A strong House will provide strict oversight making the Executive truly accountable to an truly independent House.

Make the political decision making process more transparent, simpler and more approachable for citizens. How can citizens support a political system that is not easily understandable?

* Examine the implementation of various direct democracy structures.

* Replace the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system with a system that is fair, where there are no wasted votes while maintaining effective local representation.

* Ensure that each election is a level-playing-field for candidates. This will encourage more candidates, increase the voter choice and make elections more about ideas and personality and less about partisanship, image and resources. It will also break the dominance of the major parties both at the ballot box and in the House. Many different and competing points of view from many different representatives will make the House a much more lively place where no one party can exercise control over the House.

* Eliminate the discretionary timing of elections. Being able to advantageously game-play when citizens can vote represents an unfair advantage for the ruling party.

* Ensure equal male and female representation in the House.

* Make the election of the Premier more democratic.

* Examine a union of the Atlantica region.

* Create a plan in case of Quebec Sovereignty.

* Reexamine the terms of Canadian Confederation.

YES, If this doesnt sound like Communist Russia or China I dont know what does. :scouserd:





It is more likely that we will see a huge tidal power project in the new minas basin then we will every see a concept of atlantica come to reality.

jim jones

You are probably right...which is a shame....but u never know.

I'm confused.. I thought Atlantica was some sort of trade agreement between Eastern Canada and New England? Or is that something else?

I think that it would be a good idea for the Maritimes to merge. Hopefully a large number of provincial government jobs would be eliminated in the process. Currently we all have to pay for those workers with our taxes. They are a burden on the economy that we cannot afford, not "free jobs" that are helpful to the region's employment picture.

The Maritimes need to become a region with low taxes and liberal trade regulations. That is what they were when they were successful.

People also need to realise that certain parts of the region simply don't have economies that can reasonably support their population. That is why there are unemployed people and that is why wages are low. If some of those people were to move away they would be able to bring in higher incomes and those who remained behind would also do better. The vast majority of growth in the region is going to happen in the area from Halifax to Moncton and in some nearby towns that can take advantage of their position. If this area is allowed to grow then everybody in the region will be better off.

As for separation from Canada, well, I doubt it will happen. However, those who dismiss it out of hand probably don't know much about the region. Atlantic Canada is not Ontario or Quebec. Its economy is naturally different and its interests aren't necessarily the same. Canadian economic policy is probably responsible for a pretty large chunk of the region's current ills, although if you listened to some people talk you'd think that the region is being held back by divine edict.

The Maritimes need to become a region with low taxes and liberal trade regulations. That is what they were when they were successful.


Perhaps taking the path followed by Ireland?

Thing is skyscraper there is no economic engine in halifax, moncton or any part of the atlantic region . The drive for economic growth is in the united states and their economy. Alberta, Ontario , Quebec and all the Atlantic Provinces are dependant on exports south.

As to halfiax being a mess. well Fire Stations that dont met building codes, a victoria general hospital that you cant have patients taking baths or showers with the water in that building, A sewer line system that is in crisis mode for maintainance and a 280 million dollar debt for the HRM. Seems to me that priorties are not straight with the operation from city hall and the provincial offices concerning the VG. Those health department offices are located in the HRM and there is a Local HRM health authroity to boot.

Out here in the boonies we dont seem to have these problems and can pay for sports facilities ourselves to a great extent. Having a good corporate citizen like sobeys in our town certainly does not hurt.

Then you have little neighboorhood issues like the north commons baseball field that has the halifax senoir baseball team on probation for the league. How is it that a city like halifax thinks it can host a commonwealth games with elite athletes, world sports bodies and keep this under 2 billion dollars when it cant even complete a baseball field properly for very minor league play. The cost to complete the baseball field is about the same as what had been spent on the domestic bid for the unsucessful 2003 biding no teh CWG's.

jim jones

'Go home, Lee. You're drunk.' :)

Well, I already responded to the debt thing in another thread. $280M might seem like a really big number to somebody from a small town like New Glasgow but it's not that large for a municipality with 385,000 inhabitants. It's debt per capita that is important.

Similarly, the smaller towns throughout the region are not growing and aren't expected to provide the same kinds of services.

Well, I already responded to the debt thing in another thread. $280M might seem like a really big number to somebody from a small town like New Glasgow but it's not that large for a municipality with 385,000 inhabitants. It's debt per capita that is important.

Similarly, the smaller towns throughout the region are not growing and aren't expected to provide the same kinds of services.

No we just take care of business in regards to sewer, roads and recreation facilities. 280 million is a big number by any standards unless you are exxon or any of the other oil companies. $ 280 million and not much to show for it versa vee the state of the sewer lines according to the city's engineer which he estimates will be a 600 million dolar bill to upgrade the entire system. If you can just grasp interest payments on a balance sheet 280 million at prime is about 14 million dollars a year or a little over the annual budget of new glasgow a town of 9400. What could 14 million dollars do . Welll since the construction of the metro centre in 1978 you would be looking at the main stadium for a summer sports festival like the commonwealth games and a cfl football stadium paid for by the savings in interest charges from 1978 to 2006. I know halifax did not have that type of debt load since 1978 but debt load has always been there.
As to same type of services sure there is not transit system in new glasgow but we do have sidewalks cleared for snow removal unlike the HRM. One against the other you are looking at great costs either way.

jim jones

Well, you still seem to be missing the fact that the HRM's scale is different. $14M in interest (if that is what they have to pay) works out to $36 per taxpayer. Halifax's annual budget is something like $600M. The sewage project will cost $300 million. $14M is not a huge chunk of money for Halifax. Similarly, if you went to a larger city like New York they'd be talking about $250M in the same way. Yes, it might seem big to you personally, but it comes from 8 million people and goes to pay for services for 8 million people.

Parts of the HRM have sidewalk snow removal. The people of each district decide whether or not they want the service. It's a bit silly to compare services like that to transit or the police department.