'Masters of our own house,' N.L. throne speech declares
Newfoundland and Labrador's government borrowed a rhetorical thread that has been woven in Quebec for decades, with a speech from the throne that openly embraces a nationalist identity.
"Our people are proud nationalists who believe it is only by affirming our identity as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that we will realize our goal of economic equality within the federation," Lt.-Gov. Ed Roberts read in a speech Tuesday afternoon.
"Our people are ready to take charge of our future and, under [Premier Danny Williams's] leadership, our province will achieve self-reliance by becoming masters of our own house," the speech said.
The phrase "masters of our own house" was presented in bold text in the throne speech.
The phrase— as "Maîtres chez nous" — was a rallying cry of Quebec premier Jean Lesage in the early 1960s, and prefiguredthe rise of the sovereigntist movement.
The throne speech comes in the midst of a simmering rhetorical war between Williams and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government.
Williams has blasted Harper for backing away from a written 2006 campaign pledge to exclude non-renewable resources, including offshore oil, from the equalization formula.
An independent analysis has found that Newfoundland and Labrador will lose about $1 billion from the status quo over the next dozen years, while the province would have received about $11 billion more had Harper's promise been maintained.
Speech carries nationalist tone
The throne speech applauded the government's budget-cutting prudence in its early years, and anticipated a healthier fiscal future.
Nonetheless, the speech also reflected a nationalist tone.
"We as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aspire, not to perpetual subservience, but to self-sufficiency," the speech said.
"Our people are not content to tolerate a future of relying on others economically. However, our people have now also learned that we will achieve self-reliance economically only by taking charge of our future as a people."
The speech comes less than six months before a general election, which is scheduled for Oct. 9.