"Won't Talk about No" Joe

Last Friday, the CBC Radio program "The 180" broadcast an interview with federal Resources Minister, Joe Oliver, who, with other members of the Harper cabinet, is presently in BC promoting energy projects to BC First Nations.

Broadcaster Jim Brown asked Joe Oliver whether he would be willing to accept a "No" answer from the National Energy Board whose ruling on whether they will approve the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline is expected in December. He replied that he was not going to discuss "hypothetical negatives".

Would he be willing to accept a "No" answer from the BC government?  He was not going to discuss "hypothetical negatives".

Would he be willing to accept a "No" answer from BC First Nations?  He was not going to discuss "hypothetical negatives".

Clearly the federal government is ready to cover its ears and hold its breath until it gets the answer it wants. I hope that Oliver's discussions with First Nations are a little more open than this.