(Courtesy the National Post)
...“I’m certainly prepared to take a call from Premier Williams or indeed any premier at any time,” Mr. Martin said in Montreal. “But let me just simply say to you that I do not believe that the Canadian flag should be used as a lever in any federal-provincial negotiation.” He added he believes the people of Newfoundland and Labrador share his views. “The flag is a symbol of unity. It should not be used in terms of difference and division,”
Indeed. I have no problem with PM Martin's stance here. Put the flag back up Premier Williams and then talk this thing through.
I am assuming that Quebec's transfer payments are being held up until the Canadian flag appears in their "National Assembly" as well. Alas, this opinion is hardly original...here is a Newfoundlanders take.
Update from Adam Radwanski of the Post:
To say Mr. Williams is bluffing would be too kind. Bluffing means you’re not holding any good cards. The Premier, whose main threat is to refuse to accept more money because it’s not as much money as he’d like, isn’t holding any cards at all. For once, Mr. Martin appears to be standing up for himself. When Mr. Williams first started with the histrionics, the PM was in full damage-control mode. But he’s refused to bend to the latest tactics, bluntly telling the Newfoundland Premier that there would be no further negotiations until the flag was flying again. We’ve heard tough talk before, only to see the PM meekly back off. But to do so this time would be disastrous. One way or another, Mr. Martin’s handling of this issue will prove a defining moment. If he rewards Mr. Williams for trying to humiliate him, he’ll forfeit his ability to stand up to anyone, on any issue. If he draws the line, it will
go some ways toward reversing the perception that he is weak and vacillating. Ralphie’s big stand comes when he takes on a bigger, older kid who everyone else is afraid of. The Prime Minister of Canada need only stand up to a much smaller antagonist. That really shouldn’t be too hard.
