The Sunday Independent, March 28, 2004
NEWS
Page 11
The other side of power After 15 years on the government side of the House, Roger Grimes finds himself across the floor By Jeff Ducharme The Sunday Independent
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pposition leader Roger Grimes sits at his cubelike desk in the House of Assembly. He looks like he’d rather be anywhere else but there as he adjusts his cuffs and reads from an unassuming sheet of paper. After 15 years on the government side of the legislature, the left side, he now sits to the Speaker’s right, the Opposition side. Later, in a lobby area outside the House, Grimes talks about his new role opposite the seats of power. “One of the techniques in the legislature is try to make people believe you’re not trying to pay attention while you’re listening to every word they’re saying,” says Grimes, sitting in an ornate leather wing-back chair with a sly smile on his face. “Because they sometimes blurt out some things that you just make a mental note of or you jot down and they sort of think you’re not really interested, you’re not really paying attention and sometimes you can surprise them.”
It’s an “act,” says Grimes, one bles notes. He’s looking for the The premier stands and accuses that he admits to using “fairly perfect sound bite. Grimes and the Grits of leaving effectively” in the House. When question period begins behind a financial nightmare. “I enjoy the legislature very just after 2:30 p.m., it’s as if a bell When Grimes criticizes MP much. Some MHAs would rather rings and Grimes comes of his John Efford, the province’s reprenever go in there.” corner like a gentleman boxer. He sentative in the federal cabinet, Back in the House, Grimes hits attacks the Tories, in this particu- for comments about the Atlantic his stride when question period lar round, over the Atlantic Accord and equalization paybegins. His voice cuts through the Accord. ments, Williams accuses Grimes childish jibes that are continuous“The problem is they (the fed- of having personal issues with his ly hurled across the floor between eral government) have got our one-time political rival. Grimes the Tories and Liberals. ran a heated battle against Question period, he Efford for leadership of the says, is what he enjoys Liberals after then-premier “It was one of the reasons, when most. Brian Tobin returned to I was a school teacher, I wouldn’t “It’s a great place to lay Ottawa. out the very basics of the “I was very disappointed bring my students to this place.” democratic principles. in the federal minister,” says — Opposition Leader Roger Grimes Grimes, sitting in the lobby This is your chance as an elected member to say outside the House. claiming what you believe. And there’s no bad blood they can either agree or disagree cake and are eating it too,” Grimes between him and Efford. with you, but it doesn’t matter, says as the Liberals hurl barbs “We are entitled to it (equalizayou’re allowed to say your piece. across the floor. tion). It’s a constitutional proviYou can ask whatever question His prime adversary, Premier sion that the government of Canayou want. They can give whatev- Danny Williams, sits across from da is short changing us on and er answer they want and then you Grimes (in Grimes’ old seal-skin John Efford is the minister. That can fight it out afterwards in the chair), clasping his hands like he’s means he’s sided with Ottawa … media to see who people might presiding over a board meeting. It’s not right and it’s not enough believe.” Grimes’ appearance is more like and he’s down (here) trying to say On this particular day in the that of a school teacher, which is to us you shouldn’t be asking for House, Grimes continuously looks what he did for a living before any more.” at three sheets of paper and scrib- entering public life. After a term as premier that last-
ed about three years, Grimes says life on the other side of the House isn’t that bad. It may even have benefits. “You do get to, as much as anything, set the agenda by deciding which items you are going to ask about (during question period).” Grimes admits the verbal salvos being launched from both sides do, at times, take away from the business of running the province. “For the theatre that’s in there, because it is a bit theatric, the players in there, at least the experienced ones, understand it and they don’t get distracted from the debate by that.” The schoolyard antics of the MHAs, says Grimes, can be distracting and unnerving to newcomers and visitors to the House. “It was one of the reasons, when I was a school teacher, I wouldn’t bring my students to this place.” After months of trying to teach his students to put up their hands and wait their turn, the one time that Grimes did bring students to the House left his classroom in a state of disarray. “It took me half a year again to get order back in the classroom.”
Consumers spent in January OTTAWA The Canadian Press
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onsumers went on a spending spree in January to make up for weak Christmas shopping, says Statistics Canada. Retailers also benefited from the increasing popularity of gift cards, which are predominantly redeemed in January, the agency said Friday. “Retail sales advanced 1.6 per cent to $26.4 billion, after falling 1.3 per cent in December,” it said. “Excluding sales by motor and recreational vehicle dealers, the largest component of the auto-
motive sector, retail sales jumped 2.2 per cent in January, reaching a record high of $20.1 billion.” The January spurt brought sales back to the level seen in September 2003, with all provinces except Saskatchewan posting higher sales. However, while retailers were ringing up sales, wholesalers were singing the blues. Wholesalers saw a drop of 3.2 per cent in January from December as they sold goods and services worth $35.8 billion. “The drop in January was largely attributable to the motor vehicles, parts and accessories sector,” Statistics Canada said. “Excluding that sector, sales
fell 0.4 per cent.” Seven of 11 trade groups surveyed, accounting for 60 per cent of total sales, posted decreases. In addition to the automotive sector, which was down 15.2 per cent, industrial machinery was off by 2.3 per cent and lumber and building materials fell by 3.3 per cent. Some sectors, such as food and beverages, drugs and tobacco products, saw gains. Seven provinces contributed to the decrease in wholesale sales, with the largest declines in British Columbia at 5.3 per cent. Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario, both saw four per cent declines.