The Northern Strategic Unplan

Some interesting tidbits emerged from Trevor Taylor's long-distance sit-down with Tony Dawson on CBC Labrador Morning last Friday:

Tony Dawson: Let's talk a bit on the marine transportation because you brought up the Sir Robert Bond, once the road is complete, Phase III is complete, what's this going to mean for marine transportation in Labrador?

Trevor Taylor: Obviously, y'know, we would anticipate that after next season [i.e. after 2010] the Bond would be removed from service, and between now and then, we'll have to, in consultation with the people of the North Coast in particular, have to figure out how, what the configuration for North Coast freight service will be. We have to decide on what our go-forward plan is going to be on the Straits crossing, you know it's fully expected that there'll be a fairly significant increase in the volume of traffic between Blanc Sablon and St. Barbe.

[...]

Again, you know, similar to the South Coast configuration with the Strait of Belle Isle crossing and with the Sir Robert Bond, over the course of the next two years, there will be a fairly in-depth analysis of how we should provide service to the North Coast, how we should provide passenger service, and how we should provide freight service.

For a government fuelled on the twin engines of Danny's ego and the triumph of planning over doing, there are a lot of conditional and future-tense verbs in Trevor's answers.

The Trans-Labrador Highway megaproject, in its present incarnation, was announced in 1997. (With the promise, it should be noted, that "the province will provide additional funds to complete ... the link between Cartwright and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.) The province re-committed to Phase III, the link between Cartwright and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, in 2002. (With the caveat, it should be noted, that "Discussions have already taken place with the federal government but we have not yet received a favourable response.")

Construction on Phase III began, after an environmental assessment, in 2004. That is, on the watch of Mr. Strategic Plan Ourself. By 2005, the timeline for completion of Phase III already contemplated 2009 — a date which Trevor Taylor is sticking to. Sort of.

So why in blue blazes are the Strategic-Planning Masters of Our Own Domain only now getting around to talking about how they will, in the future, study the options for marine transportation to, from, and within Labrador, in contemplation of a Trans-Labrador Highway which is, supposedly, mere months away from carrying its first vehicles Trans-Labradorly?