VOL. 4 ISSUE 26
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ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 2-8, 2006
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WWW.THEINDEPENDENT.CA —
$1.50 HOME DELIVERY (HST included); $2.00 RETAIL (HST included)
‘You’ll never see this again’ Could the current political scandal mark the end of tax-free allowances?
CA: Constituency allowance TC: Total expense claims April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005 Source: Internal Economy Commission
STEPHANIE PORTER
WALLY ANDERSON Torngat Mountains CA: $29,538.70 TC: $83,005.27
B
PERCEY BARRETT Bellevue CA: $6,929.55 TC: $37,853.31
etween April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2005, the 48 elected members of the provincial government made more than $820,000 in constituency allowance claims. If that’s considered an average year, it would mean about $14 million of public money has been spent on allowances since they were implemented in 1989. The auditor general, whose investigation only went back to 2002, has found $4 million in questionable spending. The 2004-05 numbers are the most recent available, obtained from a report filed by the House of Assembly’s Internal Economy. The budgeted allowances vary from district to district, based on size and location. The funds have been the subject of intense scrutiny over the past week and a half. On June 21, Ed Byrne gave up his position as minister of Natural Resources after a report by auditor general John Noseworthy indicated Byrne overspent his allowance by some $325,000 over two years. Jim Walsh, the former Liberal MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island, sitting Liberal Wally Anderson, and NDP member Randy Collins have since confirmed they have also been contacted by Noseworthy regarding spending, although the auditor has yet to officially name them. On June 27, Noseworthy released a second report, this time focusing on payments made by the House of Assembly to four companies. Primarily implicated is Bill Murray, the House’s director of financial operations — who has since been suspended. At issue was some $2.6 million spent on magnets, pins, decorative plates, trinkets and $69,000 worth of gold rings. Some of the items may not exist; nothing went to tender. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary began an investigation into Byrne’s spending and has since widened the case to include Murray’s alleged purchases. Although Noseworthy says the investigation into constituency allowances could go back as far as 1989 — and examine the spending habits of hundreds of MHAs — that decision will rest with the Constabulary. As for the auditor-general, his role in the proceedings — and his time in the
JOAN BURKE St. George’s–Stephenville East CA: $10,955.33 TC: $45,989.89 ROLAND BUTLER Port de Grave CA: $12,007.07 TC: $30,993.45
EDWARD BYRNE Kilbride CA: $14,777.50 TC: $14,777.50 JACK BYRNE Cape St. Francis CA: $16,984.29 TC: $16,984.29
RANDY COLLINS Labrador West CA: $19,923.06 TC: $55,639.44 DAVID DENINE Mount Pearl CA: $14,399.73 TC: $14,399.73
KATHY DUNDERDALE Virginia Waters CA: $14,396.81 TC: $14,396.81 ROGER FITZGERALD Bonavista South CA: $6,203.03 TC: $38,200.00
TERRY FRENCH Conception Bay South CA: $13,206.98 TC: $19,495.98 JUDY FOOTE Grand Bank CA: $14,636.07 TC: $38,107.33
KATHY GOUDIE Humber Valley CA: $19,972.35 TC: $45,926.45 ROGER GRIMES Exploits CA: $27,626.42 TC: $34,119.05
HARRY HARDING Bonavista North CA: $6,867.71 TC: $33,057.23 JACK HARRIS Signal Hill–Quidi Vidi CA: $14,140.89 TC: $14,140.89
ED JOYCE Bay of Islands CA: $22,039.74 TC: $43,395.05 OLIVER LANGDON Fortune Bay–Cape la Hune CA: $12,126.95 TC: $54,798.39
media spotlight — may clue up this week. “I have reports to issue on the three other MHAs that I’m looking at and I hope to do that on Tuesday (July 4),” Noseworthy says. “And that will basically be the end of it for me, and then it will be up to the lieutenant-governor and council and the authorities, however that works … I have no idea what, if any, extra work the RNC will undertake.” Whether or not the police follow the paper trail back to 1989, Noseworthy’s investigations have already changed the province’s political landscape. It’s also sent waves through political circles, fuelled speculation and gossip mills, and sent much of the general public — if the call-in radio shows are an indication — on an angry defensive. Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan was out of town when the scandal broke. He says he’s been informed of developments through conversations with the auditor general. “I’m really shocked that something like this could happen,” says Sullivan, a longstanding member of the Internal Economy Commission. “It’s pretty devastating and it’s shocked everybody around.” In a time of sponsorship scandals and public cynicism towards politicians, Sullivan admits even the appearance of misspending can have noticeable effects on careers and governments. “It’s pretty demoralizing to have it happen,” he continues, “because when something happens, in any profession, I think it reflects a bit on that profession.” Sullivan reserves comment on the possible outcome of the auditor general’s reports or ongoing police investigation. “But we want to move forward and take care of people’s money and be accountable … we’re going to ensure we do that.” ••• The constituency allowance is just one part of an MHA’s expense account, designed to allow members a certain degree of flexibility and discretion in how the funds are spent. In 2004-05, for example, Wally Andersen, who represents the large Labrador district of Torngat Mountains, was approved a total of $84,800 in expenses — most of which ($49,000) went to travel claims; $29,538.70 was spent under the constituency allowance heading. Former NDP leader Jack Harris — who
FABIAN MANNING Placentia–St. Mary’s CA: $6,396.18 TC: $30,965.36 ELIZABETH MARSHALL Topsail CA: $15,885.76 TC: $15,885.76
THOMAS MARSHALL Humber East CA: $31,524.84 TC: $40,274.06 KEVIN O’BRIEN Gander CA: $11,069.79 TC: $33,099.80
PAUL ORAM Terra Nova CA: $20,509.80 TC: $37,734.81 SHEILA OSBORNE St. John’s West CA: $14,281.12 TC: $14,281.12
TOM OSBORNE St. John’s South CA: $14,345.86 TC: $14,345.86 JOHN OTTENHEIMER St. John’s East CA: $13,383.94 TC: $13,383.94
KELVIN PARSONS Burgeo–LaPoile CA: $25,610.93 TC: $54,828.03 GERRY REID Twillingate–Fogo CA: $16,172.60 TC: $38,624.37
TOM RIDEOUT Lewisporte CA: $23,626.67 TC: $35,480.18 BOB RIDGLEY St. John’s North CA: $14,397.24 TC: $14,397.24
PAUL SHELLEY Baie Verte CA: $31,961.82 TC: $45,883.96 SHAWN SKINNER St. John’s Centre CA: $14,035.79 TC: $14,397.14
LOYOLA SULLIVAN Ferryland CA: $17,930.27 TC: $32,410.12 GEORGE SWEENEY Carbonear–Harbour Grace CA: $18,732.05 TC: $33,000.00
See “Seemed to be,” page 2
TOM HEDDERSON Harbour Main–Whitbourne CA: $16,575.12 TC: $27,218.19
TREVOR TAYLOR The Straits–White Bay North CA: $31,966.71 TC: $41,374.11
JOHN HICKEY Lake Melville CA: $32,991.15 TC: $52,737.58
ANNA THISTLE Grand Falls–Buchans CA: $15,803.24 TC: $38,198.77
JAMES HODDER Port au Port CA: $14,577.33 TC: $45,977.47
DIANNE WHALEN Conception Bay East–Bell Island CA: $17,503.53 TC: $17,503.53
HARVEY HODDER Waterford Valley CA: $13,952.18 TC: $13,952.18
DANNY WILLIAMS Humber West CA: $21,387.25 TC: $25,114.67
RAY HUNTER Windsor–Springdale CA: $21,161.50 TC: $42,824.60
ROSS WISEMAN Trinity North CA: $6,962.73 TC: $36,947.75
CLYDE JACKMAN Burin–Placentia West CA: $15,311.02 TC: $37,610.61
WALLACE YOUNG St. Barbe CA: $10,375.24 TC: $45,932.70
A business card holder, allegedly purchased by Bill Murray, the suspended director of financial operations with the House of Assembly, was given by Murray to a former page. Paul Daly/The Independent
CHARLENE JOHNSON Trinity–Bay de Verde CA: $12,511.48 TC: $34,101.28
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
IN CAMERA 8-9
“We as a province have to do better at … giving nurses a reason to stay and work here, when there is so much available to them elsewhere.”
YVONNE JONES Cartwright–L’Anse au Clair CA: $23,181.65 TC: $69,217.54
— Debbie Forward, page 4
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BAYCHICK
By Tonya Kearley and Laura Russell
2 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
JULY 2, 2006
MAGNETIC NORTH
Marcus Youssef (left) and Camyar Chai in Adrift on the Sea at the LSPU Hall during Magnetic North Theatre Festival, now underway in St. John's. Paul Daly/The Independent
‘Seemed to be thought out’ From page 1 represents the much more compact Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi district — was allowed a maximum of $14,000 in spending, almost all of which was claimed. In general, Noseworthy says constituency allowance is “to be used for expenses such as travel, rent, heat and light and other district-related expenditures …” He reacts negatively towards terms like “slush fund,” insisting the allowance “seemed to be thought out well.” That is, if the proper checks and balances had been in place. But not all the funds go to maintaining a constituency office or driving to functions. In the past, money is thought to have been spent on artwork, wine, sports teams and charitable donations. St. John’s South Tory MHA Shawn Skinner says he spent $1,705 (plus tax) on 5,500 fridge magnets sporting his image and contact information. Skinner obtained three quotes on the work before going with a local company with, he says, no connections to the House of Assembly. All told, Skinner says he’s eligible for a constituency allowance of $14,700 a year, money he spends on donations to schools and community groups, as well as magnets, letterhead, and lapel pins. Skinner says he wasn’t approached by anybody connected to the legislature for his business. He refused comment on the auditor general’s recent revelations about constituency allowances. “I feel there’s still a lot of investigative work to be done and I don’t want to say something that may cast aspirations on anybody who had not yet had their chance to prove themselves innocent of any allegations,” he says. “I’m not ducking. It’s just that I don’t want to say something that may be misinterpreted, I’m not going to do that.” ••• Premier Danny Williams has already announced his intentions to reexamine tax-free allowances. “We have to try and strike the balance between the autonomy of the legislature … and the need for accountability,” Williams told a June 26 press conference. In 2000, then-auditor general Elizabeth Marshall was barred from examining expense claims of legislators. On April 1, 2004, the Tory government changed the rules and allowed the auditors in. The current scandal is the result. Williams has asked the chief justice of the Newfoundland Supreme Court trial division, Derek Green, to make recommendations about how to administer the funds. He also plans to strengthen internal audits and controls, and ensure the Justice and Finance departments have the resources they need to do so. Williams hopes to have Green’s recommendations as early as this fall. Noseworthy is confident certain things will change from here on in. “I understand it’s all under review now, the premier has indicated that this will now be looked at by the chief justice and that will clarify the amounts and the types of expenditures … “I’m confident you’ll never see this sort of activity again.”
JULY 2, 2006
SCRUNCHINS A weekly collection of Newfoundlandia
L
ong the rage on the island of Newfoundland, Free NFLD. T-shirts are turning up everywhere — and that’s no exaggeration. CBC Radio broadcaster Stuart McLean — host of Vinyl Café, the fictional Toronto record store — was spotted wearing one on June 21 in, of all places, Yellowknife, NWT. Actually, he was spotted in the Yellowknifer, the newspaper serving the community of 20,000 on the shores of Great Slave Lake. Vinyl Café was taped live in the Northern Arts and Culture Centre. Too bad someone didn’t have a booth outside selling more of our shirts. Vinyl Cafe host Stuart McLean But then what really matters (left) and producer Jess is spreading the word — Milton. Adam Johnson/NNSL Free NFLD. forever …
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 3
Power plans Nuclear energy not expected to trump Labrador hydro By Ryan Cleary The Independent
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lans by Ontario to build two new nuclear power plants aren’t expected to impact the demand for power from Labrador’s lower Churchill when it eventually comes on stream. “As long as the price they’re paying for lower
Churchill power is attractive compared to nuclear power and given the risks associated with nuclear power, I’d think they would opt for the lower Churchill,” says Jim Feehan, an economics professor with Memorial University in St. John’s. “The concerns over nuclear power are such that if they can install less nuclear power stations because they have access to hydro, that’s what
MOOSE LOOKOUT Mike Madigan of Pasadena managed to shoot a couple of moose recently as they took in the breathtaking scenery off the highway leading to Trout River, near Gros Morne National Park on the island’s west coast. Mike made it a point to say the moose are real — they’re not statues. Mike took the shots with a camera. As for the moose, it’s not known whether they were carrying film or digital … SCARY SCENE Harold St. Croix of Pointe La Haye, St. Mary’s Bay, has landed a role in the movie, Horrorween. Harold, who makes his home these days in Toronto, plays a policeman in the film, which will be shot this fall in Hollywood. Other stars who have committed to star in the film include Candice Michelle (the Go Daddy Girl in the Superbowl commercials, WWE Raw, and on the cover of the April 2006 Playboy), Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead), Erik Estrada (Chips), Jill Kimmel (sister of talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel), and Ashley Williams (daughter of talk-show host Montel Williams). Stars in negotiation include William Shatner and Mickey Rooney. Look for it Holloween 2007. Or not … SERIOUS STUFF On to more serious news … the political spending scandal that has gripped the province in recent days. Most people know all about constituency allowances by now and some of the items MHAs spent taxpayers’ money on (fridge magnets and business card holders are critical tools of the job). So how about another look at how much our politicians make in the run of a year? According to a 2003 analysis of political salaries across Canada carried out by the Government of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador politicians don’t fare too badly. In fact, they’re among the country’s highest paid. Our MHAs make a base salary of $46,686, plus a tax-free allowance of $23,043 — that may not seem like a lot but keep in mind the tax-free allowance is … tax free. That makes for an annual salary of closer to $90,000 a year, which is more than Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and most every other province and territory besides Quebec. Something else to keep in mind — politicians get paid more for the extra duties they perform in the House of Assembly, on top of their base salary. For example: speaker, extra $48,000; deputy speaker, $24,000; premier, $67,000 (Danny doesn’t collect his pay cheque, remember); cabinet minister $48,000; Opposition leader, $48,000; Opposition House leader, $24,000; government whip, $12,000; and Opposition whip, $12,000. How do they make ends meet? COD BITES The Times of London ran an article in mid-June about cod — more specifically, overfishing. According to the story, cod stocks in the North Sea experienced their heyday in the early 1980s, when British catches totaled 300,000 tonnes a year. “Stricter quotas were introduced but there was widespread abuse of the system in the UK and other European Union states,” the article reads. “By 1996 the cod was officially in crisis. In the past decade stringent efforts have been made to save cod in the North Sea, along the west coast of Scotland and in the Irish Sea. But illegal landings have exacerbated the problem. “The British cod catch today is just over 15,000 tonnes a year and is worth $30 million (Cdn), small fry compared with the 64,000 tonnes of cod sold each year in supermarkets and the 23,000 tonnes served in pubs, bars and restaurants, and the 22,000 tonnes sold in fish and chip shops. “The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas has just cut the Barents Sea cod quota from 480,000 tonnes a year to 309,000 tonnes for next year. It is estimated, however, that illegal catches are 20 per cent over the quota and could be as much as 25 per cent. Without firm international action to tackle the illegal cod catch from countries outside the EU the days for cod remain bleak.” Sounds familiar … ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca
they’d do.” Responsible for the day-to-day operation of Ontario’s electrical system, the Independent Electricity System Operator predicted in April the demand for electricity would grow faster than that province’s ability to generate it, unless more capacity is added to the system. Ontario consumers use up about 23,000 megawatts of power a day. The province expects its power needs to increase by 1.7 per cent a year for the next 10 years. To that end, Ontario announced plans in mid-June to build two nuclear reactors and refurbish several older plants. So where does that leave the lower Churchill? A spokesperson for Premier Danny Williams’ office declined interview requests. “Given the stage we are currently at in the potential development of the lower Churchill, it isn’t strategically in our interest to react to everything that happens in Ontario and Quebec vis-à-vis their energy development,” the spokesperson says. “In doing so, we are disclosing our negotiating position.” Williams’ vision for the lower Churchill project would involve about 2,800 megawatts of power, or enough energy for about 1.5 million homes. In comparison, the upper Churchill generates 5,200 megawatts. The premier announced in May his plans to go it alone on the lower Churchill project. First power could be on stream by 2015. Feehan says the 2,800 megawatts that will be produced by the lower Churchill may be small compared to the overall power needs of central Canada and the northeastern seaboard, but the demand will still be there. “They have to look at all the alternatives,” he says. “They have to squeeze the electricity out of everything they can possibly get their hands on. Power from Labrador would be more attractive.” Feehan says nuclear energy also has its positives — it doesn’t give off greenhouse gases, and the technology has improved. “I think a lot of people are still wary of nuclear power,” he says. “Nuclear power didn’t turn out to be all that successful in Ontario. It turned out to be very expensive.” Feehan, who has done extensive research into the circumstances surrounding the signing of the infamous 1969 upper Churchill contract (which doesn’t expire until 2041), says there’s virtually no risk with hydro development. “The risks are quite large if you have some sort of accident at a nuclear power plant,” he says. “You don’t have the same implications for hydro sites. I think hydro is always going to be attractive for that reason.” Feehan says there would be few adverse environmental impacts associated with a project the size of the lower Churchill development. “You’re just using the same water a second time and the reservoir and so forth has been built so you don’t have to flood a lot of land and kill a lot of trees.” A line of thinking exists that the upper Churchill would never be constructed today given the falls was once one of the world’s most magnificent — at 300 metres, it was six times higher than Niagara Falls. Of the 441 operating nuclear plants in the world, 103 are in the United States and 18 are in Canada. The last new operating nuclear plant in North America was begun at Palo Verde, Ariz., in 1976. In the United States, where no new nuclear plants have been constructed since the 1970s, 11 companies have filed licence applications that could see at least 15 nuclear plants built. ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca
Stockwell Day to tour penitentiary
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ederal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day is scheduled to tour Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s later this month to get a first hand look at conditions there. The province has called on Ottawa to cost-share the construction of a new federal/provincial prison to replace the aging Pen, parts of which are more than 150 years old. A new prison is
estimated to cost up to $80 million. When it comes to incarceration, the rule of thumb is that prisoners sentenced to two years less a day serve their time in provincial prisons. Sentences longer than two years are generally served in federal penal institutions on the mainland. Justice Minister Tom Marshall has said the province may have a
constitutional ace up its sleeve to try and persuade Ottawa to contribute to the cost of a new prison in that the Terms of Union give the province the right to designate where prisoners serve their time. “My point is that this unique constitutional arrangement certainly legitimizes the federal government joining us in a costshared prison here,” Marshall
told The Independent in early June. The province regularly houses federal inmates, a practice that generates revenue for the provincial government. The province charges the feds about $200 a day for each federal inmate, which raised $4 million in revenue in 2005 and is expected to bring in $4.5 million this year. — Ryan Cleary
4 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
JULY 2, 2006
Full time work scarce for nursing grads Nursing out-migration may cause shortage; at least six from MUN’s 2005 class living in California By Nadya Bell The Independent
W
hen Rebecca Ryan graduated from the bachelor of nursing program at Memorial University in 2005, she was looking for a full-time job. She couldn’t find one at home. “It’s hard to come out with a full student loan and work casual,” she says over the telephone from San Diego, where she lives and works. Five close friends from her graduating class also moved to San Francisco, California. This summer, Eastern Health hired just over 70 graduates from the 2006 class as casual nurses in the St. John’s area for the summer. These nurses have temporary contracts — casual work, with the possibility of full-time work, as needed. Ryan says with the average student loan of a nursing graduate between $30,000 and $40,000, most people cannot afford to work for long without full-time hours. In California, Ryan works permanent full-time as a senior nurse in a monitoring unit. “You’d need a few years’ experience in Canada to get that job, new grads just wouldn’t be able to jump into it,” she says. “But here they’re so short for nurses they gave me three or four months orientation and I got the job.” Stephen Dodge, vice-president of people and information services at Eastern Health, says last year 10 per cent of nursing graduates were hired full time, while the rest were casual. Today, 60 per cent of those nurses are still casual workers, 30 per cent are full time. Thirteen per cent have left the
Nursing graduates from Memorial University, 2005: (clockwise from top left) Leanne Gosse, Sara Evans, Amanda Barrett, Kelly Spurrell, Mary Anne Phillips, Kelly King, Rebecca Ryan, Jo-Anne Barker and Stephanie Bursey. Gosse is currently in Bay Roberts, Evans, Barrett, Spurrell, Phillips and Barker live together and work in San Francisco. Ryan is in San Diego. King and Bursey could not be contacted by press time. Paul Daly/The Independent
province. Dodge says Eastern Health had a 3.6 per cent turnover of nurses last year, creating few positions open for new nurses. Debbie Forward, president of Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union, says the outflow of graduates will eventually cause a nursing shortage. Between 2000 and 2003, the province retained 70 to 80 per cent of nursing graduates. But now Forward says only about 60 per cent are staying, which is not enough to keep up with retirement projections. The lack of nurses is affecting Springdale, for example, where nurses cannot take vacation because there is not enough staff. Forward says scheduling a day off can take up to three months. Lisa Little, a senior nursing consultant with the Canadian Nurses Association, says Newfoundland has the youngest nursing workforce in Canada — but retirement is still a concern. The temporary nature of nursing positions is also a national issue. Little says 70 per cent of nurses should ideally work full time, but currently only half of them do. Little says most nurses prefer to work part time because the work is stressful, and many want time
off for their families. However, she says, casual positions are not ideal for young people. According to the provincial government’s Career Search 2004 study, at least half of that year’s bachelor of nursing graduates were working in the province. From a class of 47, 30 responded. Of those, one-quarter worked outside the province. Forward says she hopes the contract currently being negotiated with the province will improve the working lives of nurses. “We as a province have to do better at creating positive work environments for nurses and giving nurses a reason to stay and work here, when there is so much available to them elsewhere,” Forward says. Talks between the union and government began in February 2006. Forward says the process is slow because negotiators on the government’s side don’t know what their monetary mandate is yet. “Everything that we’re talking about is related to the whole issue of retaining nurses, whether that be our new graduates or our current nurses, that is one of the priorities that we identified.” Forward says government’s approach to sick leave in contract talks will be crucial for many young graduates.
336 Freshwater Road
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Dodge says out-migration of nurses was a big issue in the late 1990s. In 1999, over 300 casual and 50 permanent nurses were hired. However, he says he is concerned about aggressive recruitment strategies from outside the province. “There have been some strategies in Alberta and British Columbia, where there are new agreements or nursing recruitment strategies,” he says. “The environments there are categorized by high turnover and competitive recruitment between provinces … Our nurses are very hard working, very well trained, so there is no question we will be part of that competitive process.” Most provinces have a fairly good graduate retention, says Little, adding those who move follow general migration patterns in Canada and move from east to west. Little says governments also want to retain graduates because they would like to see a return on their investment into university education. Although she works in San Diego, Rebecca Ryan is still registered with the Newfoundland Nurses’ Association, because she knows that some day she wants to return home. “California is great, but it’s not like home. We miss it, all of us.”
35 Stavanger Drive
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Glenhill Plaza, Mount Pearl
JULY 2, 2006
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 5
Game on Constabulary chief says bars can legally host poker games; admits rules are ‘tangly’ By Ryan Cleary The Independent
T
here was a time — pre-Joe Browne being sworn in as chief of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary — when it was said to be illegal for bars and pool halls to allow poker games such as the wildly popular Texas hold ’em on the premises. In fact, former chief Richard Deering held a news conference before leaving the force to announce that poker games were against the law. Browne’s stand is just the opposite — although he tells The Independent there’s a fine line in terms of what’s legal and what’s not. “It (the law) seems gray,” Browne says. “It is gray; the answer is it depends.”
RNC Chief Joe Browne
ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca
RCMP gets six-year jump on contract
A
lthough the RCMP’s contract with the province isn’t set to expire until 2012, officials are already preparing for negoti-
ations. Billy Hickey, spokesperson for the Justice Department, says government wants to be ready with an agreement well in advance. “They’re identifying issues and then a ton of research (has) got to be done with the goal of being ready to be in agreement a year or two before,” he says. “The last agreement was signed at the 11th hour, and that just can’t happen again.”
Hickey says he can’t comment on whether that means the next contract will be substantially different from the last one. Canada will have 1,000 new RCMP officers by 2010, according to the federal government’s 2006 budget. The Conservative government set aside $161 million over two years for expanding the police force and hiring more federal prosecutors. Training for the officers will also be improved with $37 million to expand the National Training Academy. — Nadya Bell
SHIPPING NEWS Keeping on eye on the comings and going of the ships in St. John’s Harbour. Information provided by the Coast Guard Traffic Centre.
Carmel. Vessels Departed: CCGS Ann Harvey, Canada to sea; ASL Sanderling, Canada, to Corner Brook.
MONDAY Vessels Arrived: Zuiho Maru #88, Japan from Long Pond; Cape Ballard, Canada, from Marystown; ASL Sanderling, Canada, from Halifax; Maersk Chignecto, Canada, from Terra Nova. Vessels Departed: GSI Pacific, Panama, to Sea; Atlantic Osprey, Canada, to White Rose; Lyubov Orlova, Malta, to Baccalieu Island; Malte B, Antigua and Barbuda, to Aberdeen, Scotland.
WEDNESDAY Vessels Arrived: Maersk Dispatcher, Canada from White Rose. Vessels Departed: Maersk Norseman, Canada to Hibernia; Alex Gordon, Canada to Long Harbour; Maersk Chignecto, Canada to White Rose; Dorsch, Canada to Long Pond.
TUESDAY Vessels Arrived: Maersk Norseman, Canada, from Terra Nova; Maersk Detector, Canada, from Panama; Eastern Tugger, Canada, from Mount
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At the same time, the Manitoba Gaming Commission is in the middle of a pilot project to determine if poker games should become licensed events. The Army, Navy and Air Force Club in Brandon, Manitoba was given a temporary licence earlier this year to hold nine tournaments. The total payout was 60 per cent of the money raised, the rest split between the club and a sports team. The pilot study is looking at a number of things, including game rules, security, venues and financial reporting. The evaluation of the pilot events and recommendations for licensing Texas hold ’em are expected later this year. This province isn’t waiting until then. Browne says the Constabulary has yet to come across a licensed liquor establishment that has taken a rake or share of the winnings. He says the bars that hold tournaments make money on sales of liquor and food — which aren’t directly related to the cards being played. “It’s not directly related to the actual game, but rather to the attendance in the club,” he says. “So therefore it’s a business proposition like having a backgammon tournament or a pool tournament. It’s just another means to attract people into your establishment.”
Paul Daly/The Independent
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NO CASHING IN Under the Criminal Code of Canada, poker is illegal when money is waged, and the bar takes a cut (or rake) of the winnings. Poker is not illegal, the chief says, when the only money that changes hands is the admission fee or cover charge for entering the game. The eventual winner may claim a prize but the chips aren’t to be cashed in. The chief compares legal poker games to the lottery. “You can win but you really can’t lose. All you lose is the opportunity. So if you don’t get the most chips you don’t win your bucket of beer or you don’t win the trip for two to Las Vegas or you don’t win something else.” Browne puts it another way. A game of skill such as chess is not illegal. “If you have a chess tournament that’s purely a game of skill. That’s not gaming — that’s legal. Versus something where you take a chance, you either roll the dice, you wait for the wheel to stop, the balls to drop, that’s a game of chance.” Browne says the force has taken a look at some local poker games but hasn’t found anything illegal or laid any charges. Some complaints have been forwarded to police, he says, but they mostly involved one bar complaining about another, stemming from a misunderstanding of the law. The Constabulary has also gotten legal opinions from other jurisdictions, which Browne says support the force’s take on the Criminal Code. Two or three cases have made their way before the courts elsewhere in the country, he says, but all were thrown out. Browne points specifically to Winnipeg, Manitoba, which he says supplies a legal opinion on its website. In fact, provincial rules in Manitoba make it illegal for an establishment to charge an entry fee, offer a large prize, and stand to gain from running a poker tournament. Officials in the Prairie province shut down at least two illegal Texas hold ’em tournaments earlier this year.
THURSDAY Vessels Arrived: Jean Charcot, Britain, from sea; Cabot, Canada, from Montreal; Maersk Chancellor, Canada from White Rose. Vessels Departed: Maersk Detector, Canada, to Aberdeen, Scotland; Maersk Dispatcher, Canada to White Rose.
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6 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
JULY 2, 2006
Twiddlinggate T
his scandal is impressive enough — it deserves a gate to get into it. From where I type, the size of the illegal fence around Confederation Building justifies a grand opening. The good thing about a gate is the lock we can put on it, to keep our cash from ever again being spent on Puddister rings or chicken McNuggets, whatever those gold chunks were on the evening news. Politicians today (yesterday too) can’t see the fridge for the magnets — Puddister rings only look good on Leo, and even then, only when he’s all decked out at the food court. Why would a politician want their name, teeth and telephone number on the front of a refrigerator? Maybe we haven’t been taking proper advantage of our public servants and their role in our lives. “Hey Randy, how’s it goin’? I’m standing here looking into my fridge scratchin’ my belly button and I see we’re out of ketchup. Would you be a good little NDP member for Labrador West and drop by the house with a bottle on your way to the lawyer’s?” “Ed, I know you’re in Kilbride, and I’m all the way out here in Town, but could you drop me off a fresh turnip and carrot, you can’t beet the Natural
RYAN CLEARY
Fighting Newfoundlander Resources — eh, natural root crops — from out your way.” Baublegate? Someone suggested that for a name. Bauble, as in trinket, but really, is that the right word for a Jim “remember Quiz Kids” Walsh lapel pin and Wally World Andersen earings? We could call it Confederationgate? Watergate was named after the hotel of the same name. Maybe we should name our scandal after the scene of our crime of the century. Nixon was Edged out; Ed was Nixoned. (Give me a break, I’m past deadline.) I’m a fan of Twiddlinggate myself. Twiddle, after what the people in charge were busy doing with their thumbs when the allowances were ignored. And you can’t get more Newfoundland than our iceberg capital, which Twiddlinggate sounds just like. So Twiddlinggate it is, our own special sponsorship scandal. Sure Quebec had one, Sponsorgate, and we’re just like
them. There are differences, you’re right. Our politicians apparently robbed from us and gave it back to us (our fridges anyway); bad mainland politicians robbed from their own and hid the loot for themselves, behind Canadian flags of all things. Our story is more Robin Hood than robin, more Jawdropper than Jaws — although the media smells the blood. The auditor general makes a fresh political cut practically every day and holds the wound over the pool of piranhas. There won’t be anything left to the political flesh by the time the Constab get a firm hold of it. Calls for an inquiry are rising. Quebec got great ratings from its afternoon soap opera. Imagine what Geoff Stirling could do with the House? For an outdoors scene he could superimpose Ed’s head on Smallwood’s body on a beach in Cuba and relive old times waiting for Fidel. There’s no need of an inquiry when we already know what happened: there were no rules for the rulers. Put cheques in place that need co-signers and it won’t happen again. Simple. Only that’s no good for summer ratings on NTV. Never mind the Corp., they’ll settle down soon enough when they leave on vacation for
Ed Byrne speaks with reporters.
a month (just a joke, just a joke). The longer the scandal stays around the longer we’ll be delayed from getting back to business. Just when the world was starting to see us as a changed people — Dannyites from new Newcandoland — we take two steps backwards to where we were. In other news this week: a new ship has been built to deliver Voisey’s Bay nickel to central Canada, where they make the fridges that our magnets cling to; another make-work project, this time for Fortune, of all poor places. It’s not right for us to keep referring to problems
Paul Daly/The Independent
in the fishery as one crisis after the next — there’s only one crisis, we just keep getting distracted and forgetting about it. Today’s scandal will put us back another five years in terms of lost headway. What must the mainland think of us now? The world’s most vast, scenic and corrupt welfare ghetto. Maybe it’s not too late to trade in the new brand Danny has on order for a Pen tattoo. Hold on, there aren’t enough knuckles to spell out T-W-I-D-D-L-I-NG-G-A-T-E. But that’s right, no one thinks we can spell anyway. ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca
YOUR VOICE Ontario isn’t the Bible belt Dear editor, Bird has obviously never longingly Occasionally I pick up The looked at a bottle of wine on the shelf Independent searching for intelligent at his local Irving station here but commentary about issues relevant to couldn’t buy it because it was Newfoundland, but I’m continually Sunday. Second, regarding Puriannoyed by some of the pettiness and tanism, I can only conclude Mr. Bird small-mindedness. has never stepped out of the confines The front-page Quote of the Week of St. Johns! in the June 18-24 issue More annoying is his was a quote by Doug sweeping description of Bird from his column I expect to read everyone he has met in Cottage Country. (Doug, rural Canada as right this kind of The Independent’s carwing, back-to-the-bible stuff waiting toonist, is currently bicyrednecks. If the content cling across Canada. See his column is indicain the line-up of page 10.) tive of his attitude, I’m Quote: “A few conversurprised everyone he at the sations have ended with met hasn’t told him to grocery store. peddle back to Newfolks telling me if I don’t like it I should get back foundland, I certainly to Newfoundland. My answer: as fast would have. I’m begging him now to as I can peddle, buddy.” peddle home as fast as he can, before First, a point concerning his “fresh he leaves more people with the miscomplaint about Ontario,” that all taken impression that liquor and beer stores close at 6 p.m. Newfoundlanders are like him. there, demonstrating the Puritanism As for The Independent, who chose rampant in Ontario. As someone who to put this drivel on the front page, has lived many years there, I assure it’s difficult to take you seriously. I Mr. Bird that you can buy expect to read this kind of stuff waitalcohol/beer after 6 p.m. and seven ing in the line-up at the grocery store. days a week in Ontario, more than David Carlson, you can do in Newfoundland. Mr. Change Islands
Province hiding insurance tax behind GST Dear editor, An issue came to my attention recently that I think everyone in this province should be made aware of, and which your paper may be interested in investigating. Like the majority of adults I carry an automotive insurance policy; like the majority of adults I have noticed the 15 per cent tax added to my insurance premiums; and I think that I was like the majority of adults when I assumed that this 15 per cent was the HST. But I was told differently. Not quite believing this, I accessed the Internet to conduct my own research and in a report by the Atlantic Canada Insurance Harmonization Task Force found this quote: “For GST purposes, automobile insurance premiums are considered financial transactions and the HST is not applicable to these premiums. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick there is no provincial sales tax revenue attributable to automobile insurance premiums. In Newfound-
land and Labrador there is a 15 per cent retail sales tax on insurance premiums. There is no provincial sales tax applied to insurance premiums in PEI.” I feel deceived. It was one thing to think that the 15 per cent tax on insurance was mandated by the GST/HST legislation. It’s another to learn that this is solely a provincial tax in disguise. Government was comfortable in assuming that even those of us who always read the fine print would not be alerted by the fact that on our insurance bills the line above the total reads “tax” — not “HST.” Most other provinces have resisted the urge to profit from insurance. I request that this government correct the situation and treat the citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador fairly. If they do not repeal this legislation, at least tell people what is happening instead of hiding behind the GST. Dr. Shirley Oldford, Burnside
AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
P.O. Box 5891, Stn.C, St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, A1C 5X4 Ph: 709-726-4639 • Fax: 709-726-8499 www.theindependent.ca • editorial@theindependent.ca The Independent is published by Independent News Ltd. in St. John’s. It is an independent newspaper covering the news, issues and current affairs that affect the people of Newfoundland & Labrador.
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The Independent welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be 300 words in length or less and include full name, mailing address and daytime contact numbers. Letters may be edited for length, content and legal considerations. Send your letters in care of The Independent, P.O. Box 5891, Station C, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X4 or e-mail us at editorial@theindependent.ca
Protecting privacy E
veryone has the need to be alone. For some it’s a walk in the woods. Others prefer to read a book, while some like to disappear in the impersonal downtown crowds. Whatever form it takes, people have an innate need to get away from others. There are also things that we do not want to share with others. They may be matters that we are not proud of, but more often they are feelings or actions that we consider private because they are just too personal to be scrutinized by others. More importantly, privacy is the glue that holds our human rights together. Human rights are the basic building blocks of a civilized society. Therefore, they are crucial to a democratic society. For example, freedom of conscience means that one must be able to exchange ideas without being monitored. Freedom of religion and association can only be achieved without the government or its agents looking over our shoulders. In short, for every human right identified in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, there is an accompanying need for privacy. There are many threats to privacy. The business sector collects information on us and we have no real control over its use. Technology is so advanced that thousands of telephone calls can be monitored simultaneously. Then there is the state and its institutions. Governments have always been interested in our private lives. This may be necessary and sometimes even desirable. However, without clear guidelines and rules, the need of government institutions for information can grow until it exceeds normal requirements. We have an obligation to prevent those who collect information from pushing the envelope too far. In the case of government institutions, we recognize their need to collect information and to prevent abuse. However, it must be exercised in a manner con-
JERRY VINK
Guest column
To protect our privacy requires constant vigilance. Once it has been lost it can never be retrieved. sistent with the rule of law. The recent move by the Medical Care Program, MCP, to re-register all clients is a case in point. Obviously, the system needs to be renewed and updated. To my knowledge there has never been a provincewide update of the client list. Millions of dollars can be saved for health care delivery if we provide services only to those who are qualified residents. This should result in better care through more appropriate allocation of resources. However, in this process of re-registration, the MCP must act within acceptable constraints. The recent circulation of the application for re-registration contains two examples of unnecessary and unacceptable intrusion in our privacy: In the first instance, they request that we supply our Social Insurance Number. It is my understanding that unless the legislation governing MCP specifically states that they are entitled to ask for it, we are under no obligation to provide the information. The question then is, why does MCP ask for it when they know they have no legal right to it? To me it is the height of arrogance to demand information such as the SIN and then state, when asked by the media, that people have the option not to provide it.
The second instance is more insidious. By submitting our application to be re-registered, we are agreeing to the conditions listed on the back of the form. One of the terms and conditions states “MCP may conduct any investigation and obtain information from any person, at any time and in any reasonable manner that it considers necessary, to determine and verify eligibility for coverage under MCP for the persons named on this form.” In other words, they can do anything they want that they consider reasonable. This is a blanket permit for MCP to act as a police force. It is again rather arrogant for MCP to believe that it is their right to contact our neighbours, friends, and employers … in fact anyone they want, to discuss our eligibility. Does this also include using our SIN to access personal records? Do they require a subpoena for these actions? This particular term and condition is so unclear and so broad that it must be the envy of all police forces in Canada. Obviously MCP must be able to verify client eligibility. However, there are means and methods governed by legislation and regulation. Moreover, if they feel there has been abuse, then they have the option of contacting the police so that there can be an investigation according to the rule of law. To protect our privacy requires constant vigilance. Once it has been lost it can never be retrieved. Therefore, we have to call bureaucrats to task anytime they feel that they have powers that are not provided to them by law. They must be reminded that they are “civil servants” and that pushing the envelop by assuming draconian powers has to be stopped. Jerry Vink is with the NewfoundlandLabrador Human Rights Association and has a special interest in privacy issues.
JULY 2, 2006
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 7
Tale of two Newfoundlands Is Danny Williams keeping this province together?
A
s dearly as I love to take the piss out of Danny Williams, I have to admit it looks like he is dragging the whole political culture of this place up a notch. I initially thought his dramatic press conference in the middle of the evening news hour was overblown. For the record, I also thought his lower the flag thing two Christmases ago was a little overwrought, and said so in print. I was wrong. What can I say? I am a born septic. But this time I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. His instincts were sound. He did not want to be on the defensive on this one. It would have been great to find corrupt Liberals and squeaky-clean Tories, but it didn’t work out that way. I am a fan of Ed Byrne, and I hope this investigation exonerates him, but the fact remains that there appears to be a ton of money unaccounted for. What does this expense scandal say about our political culture? There is so much at stake: the fishery, the Hebron oilfields, the lower Churchill, our very
IVAN MORGAN
Rant & Reason goddamned future as a people, and now we find out there are serious concerns as to whether we can trust the institution we have created to make decisions for us on these issues? Danny was out in front of this in a heartbeat, and so he should have been. I like his style. I am not going to risk libel charges and lawyers, so let me assign you a parlour game. Think of a few of the previous residents of the eighth floor office. How many of them do you think would have opened this can of worms? How many of them do you think would have either buried this, or not allowed it to happen in the first place? Do you feel you have a pretty good idea who would have done what? Me too.
expect from the NOIA crowd. They should hire some fancy advertising company to make pretty ads with sweeping coastal vistas overdubbed with mystical Celtic music — anything to get our little nationalistic hearts a-poundin’ — and then loot the place. It’s a strategy that has worked for the past 500 years. Maybe I am naïve. I expect it from the oil companies, but not from locals. Is owning a BMW that important? The House expense scandal has all the hallmarks of a story steeped in greed. The statements from NOIA even more so. The fishery? Don’t get me started. The “new” Newfoundland wants what it wants and to hell with anyone who gets in the way. And here is Danny Williams, getting in their way. I honestly believe he is doing his best to hold it all together. But I have believed in politicians before. I thought Ed Byrne was doing a great job. Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com
imagine that others anywhere on the globe are thinking the same thing, “Wow, that move, that shot, that setup is clever, what a brilliant play!” Perhaps by 2010, there could be a Canadian team, or Newfoundland and Labrador player(s) actually in the competition. We certainly have a lot of soccer talent, especially from the remarkable Town of St. Lawrence, home of the Laurentians. For now I am content to watch many evenly matched teams compete for the glory and the pride they will bring to their countries. Will it be Brazil, Holland, Iran, South Korea or one of the African nations this year? Where games are often won by one goal, it could be a surprise. It would be great to see an underdog win. In any event, it’s interesting to see the pride and excitement of players and fans from around the world. Charles Cheeseman, Mount Pearl
King Charles the Last? Dear editor, Bravo on the denominational education issue (‘You lost’ by Ivan Morgan, June 18 issue). Well thought out, well argued, well done! I am at a loss, however, to understand how a liberal like yourself could still embrace the monarchy and lieutenant governors et al. Mind you, I’m not advocating an off-with-their-heads
land disappears, and if you don’t fit into the new plan, then you can pack up and leave. Those enjoying the boom don’t give a hoot about the people packing up and leaving. That’s a problem. Want a good example? How about the local oil industry’s attempt to put pressure on Danny Williams to restart the stalled development of the Hebron oilfields. Liam Mallon, president of ExxonMobil Canada, is quoted as saying that the project is commercially and technically risky. That comment shows exactly how stupid they think we are. The very temerity of it is breathtaking. Risky? Like Iraq risky? Like Saudi Arabia risky? Risky like Iran or Nigeria? They should get down on their knees and thank whatever they hold sacred — besides money — that there is an oil supply right off the strongest democracy on Earth. But instead they get their local cheerleaders to lean on the premier to cut a deal favourable to themselves, at our expense. It’s pathetic. That’s all we can
REMEMBER
YOUR VOICE Could a Laurentian play in next World Cup? Dear editor, The World Cup of Soccer is a quadrennial event that draws billions of viewers worldwide for one month, for one thing. While a universal tournament like this may bring out a country’s patriotism, political differences and some hooliganism, it still unites the world in a way that few, if any other event does to the same degree. In addition to physical skill, it is interesting because it links the world together through a common passion of the beautiful game, soccer. That is, it brings diverse peoples together in not just the physical gathering in venues across Germany, but also mentally, in the sense that people around the world have something in common. They have a love of this particular type of skill, an appreciation for individual players’ attempts to reach the pinnacle of their Godgiven abilities. As you watch a player’s dazzling footwork or his clever moves, or quick intelligent thinking, you can
If I may be allowed to get a little dramatic myself, I think Danny Williams may be holding this province together. Let me explain. Like the much-vaunted economic revival in Ireland, we here in Newfoundland are also experiencing a mini-revival. And like Ireland, two Newfoundlands are emerging. One Newfoundland, in and around St. John’s, is typified by huge brand new houses that pop up like mushrooms, fancy expensive cars on the roads and lots of money for the bars and restaurants downtown. This Newfoundland is booming. Sure they fly the Pink, White and Green, and some of them have probably even kissed a cod, but that is more a Friday-night thing than a way of life. Then there is the other Newfoundland, the Newfoundland being left behind. The Newfoundland that sits in the kitchen, loved ones all around, fighting back the tears as the decision is made to move to Alberta. Their government has no solutions for them. St. John’s grows as rural Newfound-
Lt-Col Sean Leonard, Cmdr 1st battalion Royal Newfoundland Regiment, stands with his troops during parades into Gueudecourt. The Regiment’s trip to France this year marks the 90th anniversary of the battle of Beaumont-Hamel. Pool photo
position — the old lady did her best I’m sure. In any case, she was just another pawn or captive of history. But can’t we just let it suffocate from the burden of its own pomposity and let it be Charles the Last? Old cultural hang ups die hard I suppose. Robert Rowe, St. John’s
Trade make-work for science jobs Dear editor, If the ocean is overpopulated with Even an amateur concerned with seals, what feeds on the remains of the Newfoundland and Labrador fish- seals that die of old age? Big fish eat eries can reasonably attest to the vari- little fish, says the sage. But little ety and complexity organisms may of the issues, includreverse the formula. ing gross underfundSurely one way of ing for research and providing meaningful Generalizations the human problem beyond-the-overpass of the lack of comemployment that such as “cod munication between could benefit science scientists, adminiswould be to replace eat caplin” hide trators, and fisheries make-work projects the intricacies workers in particular. with routine aspects From the scientific of stomach-content of feeding webs. angle, the relative analysis, on a much weight to be attribexpanded scale. The uted to climate same could apply to change versus overfishing is probably the insertion, tracking, and recovery an insoluble puzzle. of electrodes used to map migration Generalizations such as “cod eat patterns. caplin” hide the intricacies of feeding Little is gained by sticking blame webs. What consumes what, where, on any group or individual. when, why? What’s the role of microorganisms at various depths and John Hare, localities? St. John’s
Beauty lessons Dear editor, The pageant industry has been quite fragile in the last 20 years, yet it has managed to survive. Perhaps the reason is that, like any industry, the pageant has evolved. It is no longer a search for the most beautiful woman — it is now a search for much more than what one sees on the outside. The pageant industry in Newfoundland and Labrador has been one of the strongest in the country. Our Miss and Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador titleholders have worked hard for years,
giving freely of their personal time to attend events, festivals and assist with various charities throughout the province. They are high achievers with strong academic and leadership skills, with a genuine interest in making a difference in our community. To see a new Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador at her winning moment is one thing, but even more special is to see her grow throughout the year. For the first time, however, I am truly concerned for the industry. It seems
there are pageants for everything these days — some in Canada, but especially in the United States where pageantry is big industry. These pageants charge young women to enter, and then provide them with a “title.” Sometimes, for an additional cost, they receive a crown and sash. Personally, I believe a title should be earned and not purchased. Isabelle Fry, executive director Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador Pageant
Ashamed to have worked at legislature Dear editor, I write at this time with great disgust and utter discontent with our political system and its politicians of all colours. As a former page within the House of Assembly and a former political assistant, I am absolutely astonished and amazed at how naive I once was. Imagine, working in a political environment and being associated with so many guilty people. Am I right in saying “guilty as sin,” or should I await the outcome of the Chief Justice or the RNC in their investigations? I’m almost ashamed in saying that I once worked for the House of Assembly for politicians X,Y, and Z. As I see it from the sidelines, I’m almost embarrassed to look at my own curriculum vitae. Thinking back to my days as a page and
marching so proudly into the House of Assembly accompanying the Speaker in his daily parade, I’m amazed at what went on before my own very eyes without even noticing. The hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally changing hands for petty trinket boxes, one of which I have proudly displayed on my home office desk, gold rings that I have yet to see, and hundreds of thousands of lapel pins that must have been given by the bag to each and every visitor to the public gallery in the legislature. It’s unfortunate that the clerk of the House of Assembly, John Noel, will be retiring later this summer with this scandal associated with his office. For all those politicians, former politicians, and public servants reading this letter and having had the opportunity to
know Mr. Noel, I’m sure that all these people will agree with me in saying that John Noel was on of the finest men ever to walk through the doors of Confederation Building, and to leave on such a sour note with a record of impeccable service must be truly disappointing. In order to prove their innocence, I invite all MHAs to publicly disclose copies of each and every expense claim. If I were one of the innocent politicians, I’d have absolutely no problem in displaying every expense claim submitted, including the measly $1.50 for the large coffee on the drive back to the district on a Friday afternoon. I wonder how many MHAs will freely disclose? Rodney Mercer, Paradise
JULY 2, 2006
8 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
JULY 2, 2006
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 9
IN CAMERA
More than medals Kate Power’s family has watched her grow from a two-year-old terrified of the water to a 23-year-old national-calibre athlete. As Kate prepares for her upcoming trip to the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, her sister Kristine reflects on her accomplishments. Independent photo editor Paul Daly spent an afternoon with Kate and her mother Cindy, accompanying them to a swim practice in Mount Pearl.
Kate (right) and her friend Tanya.
By Kristine Power For The Independent
I
t’s Sunday afternoon at the swimming pool in Carbonear. A whistle pierces the humid air. Two swimmers stand on the starting blocks with their bodies arched towards the water in anticipation. There is a reverberating, slightly muffled voice: “take your mark.” Muscles twitch. A coach makes a sound that’s supposed to sound like the electronic beep of a race start. Bodies unfurl and lengthen. They enter the water. The drill begins and the hours of lap time fade away. They will rehearse
When Kate was born she came with her own manual about Down’s Syndrome. The book ended up in the junk drawer until it was thrown out a few years later.
this drill — getting the start right — over and over. There are five swimmers representing Newfoundland and Labrador at this month’s Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Manitoba, July 18-23. One of them is my sister, Kate. She has Down’s Syndrome. Although we torment Kate, joking she has fins instead of feet because she adores the water so much, she wasn’t always this way. When she first started swimming lessons, she cried every time her feet touched the warm water of the tiny tot pool at the Aquarena. She was only two then. She’s been swimming seriously since she was 10 years old. Now 23, Kate is old enough to go downtown, as she reminds the rest of the family quite often. Arranging rides to the pool, changing out of swim gear in winter, and drying wet hair in sticky change rooms all take longer with Kate, but have also contributed to her love of swimming. At the pool, Kate feels the most independent, the most free — and has the most fun. Long gone are the days when our mother would hide behind a towel so Kate would stay in the water and not run to her. When Kate was born she came with her own manual about Down’s Syndrome. The book ended up in the junk drawer until it was thrown out a few years later. My siblings and I were indoctrinated from the start by mom. Kate would have the best life possible, and that meant trying everything the rest of us kids did, right down to the ’80s spiral perm. Special Olympic swimming allows Kate to
achieve athletic excellence through hard work. But her motivation through all the years of training and pool time is the sense of enjoyment and wonderment based on belonging and mutual respect — you only have to watch her in the water with her teammates to see that. That’s the spirit behind the Special Olympic movement: although these are serious athletes competing to be the best at their sports, there’s also an emphasis on sociability that brings together people who are often marginalized in their day-to-day lives. “Winning is not everything for these guys,” says Jean Stoyles, the provincial Special Olympics aquatics coach. “They are just as excited for someone else to do well in a race then they are themselves. In fact, they are even more excited if one of their friends or their teammates swims a good race.” Stoyles, who also works with the Mount Pearl Marlins, says she needs extra patience and understanding as a Special Olympics coach because the athletes’ need constant motivation and encouragement. Many of the athletes are not self driven, but rather rely on positive reinforcement. But, she is quick to say, she learns more from coaching these swimmers than they learn from her. “My hope for them is that they swim the very best they can swim that day and have fun,” she says. “(Even) when we are not at the pool, we are having fun.” I ask Kate what she’s looking forward to in Brandon. She leans forward, with her towel around her shoulders and red rings from her goggles around her eyes. She tries to look serious. Then she giggles and says she’s
looking forward to hanging out with her friends and going shopping. It is about the competition and hard work — but the drive to keep at it comes from the fun. Although the starting-block exercises aren’t the same as the real thing, they will have to do. In less than two weeks, Harry Fitzgerald, Jonathan Seaward, Jody Michelin, Eleanor Hobbs and Kate — along with 19 other Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who play other sports — will get on a plane to Manitoba. Once there, they will compete against more than 1,000 other Special Olympians from across the country. They earned the right to represent the province with the best qualifying times last June at the Special Olympics Provincial Summer Games. Those who qualify in Brandon will go on to Shanghai, China in 2007 for the Special Olympics World Summer Games — which will be the largest international sporting event in the world that year, with 7,000 athletes from 150 countries participating. In the change room Kate says she would like to go to China because she is physically fit and wants to come home proud. She says she isn’t nervous. She’s ready for the electronic beep. And as she talks, Eleanor, another Special Olympian and Kate’s friend, walks out of the changing stall. I ask her about how she hopes things will go at the games. “We have to leave it in the pool,” she says. Kate looks at me, smiles and nods her head. “That’s it,” she agrees. Then they head out the door, excited by the prospect of going out to lunch after practice. kristinepower@yahoo.com
“Winning is not everything for these guys. They are just as excited for someone else to do well in a race then they are themselves.” — Jean Stoyles, provincial Special Olympics aquatics coach
JULY 2, 2006
10 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
LIFE STORY
Pluck, optimism, and 52 years of fish Brigus native Nicholas Smith wrote with clarity and insight, detailing a life of fishing off Labrador NICHOLAS SMITH 1860-1944
By Ivan Morgan For The Independent
W
e have all heard, at one time or another, people say “I should write a book.” I always encourage them, but they never do. It’s a shame. There were probably a thousand reasons why Nicholas Smith might not have written his, but fortunately for us, he did. After retiring from the Labrador fishery in 1934, Smith sat down in his home in Brigus and wrote his autobiography Fifty-Two Years at the Labrador Fishery. We are all the richer for his doing so. His autobiography is a light that illu-
minates a Newfoundland now long gone. Smith was a no-nonsense, matterof-fact fellow; hard-working, honest and possessing a wry joie de vivre that is evident on every page. But make no mistake, the life he recounts was a hard one. Born in Brigus in 1860 to parents Nicholas and Harriett (Cooper), Smith grew up the son of a ship’s carpenter. In 1880, when he was 14, like many boys his age, he got it into his mind to go “down North” to the Labrador fishery. He begged his parents to allow him to go and they eventually consented. “I cannot express,” he wrote, “how delighted I was to go, poor foolish boy.” He writes of the exuberance he felt in preparing for the trip, and of the anticipation of seeing St. John’s for the first time. As they sailed out of Brigus har-
bour on the brig William Whelan on Queen Victoria’s birthday (May 24th), 1874, you share in his youthful excitement: “It wasn’t long before Skipper Job … had every tatter on her, and she began to chatter and make ginger beer with her bows. I spent my evening … looking over the bows at the foam of sea and spray.” After a hard summer he was paid $50 for his efforts. He recalls his fear of carrying such a large sum, and how relieved he was when he was able to give it — all of it — to his “poor old mother.” That winter his father suffered a stroke and died. As the oldest boy, Smith faced the prospect of caring for his mother and younger siblings, “a very hard proposition to face a cold world with the burden of family, but thank God I did it, and never knew the want of the com- Nicholas Smith mon necessities of life.” “were very intelligent and active men, It was that pluck, that optimism, and terrors for work; those whom they which was to sustain him through his employed had to get a move on.” long and productive life. And so he did — for the Horwoods or With a family to help support, he had whomever else he worked for. This was to quit school and was back at the a man of prodigious energy and unfailLabrador fishery in the spring with a ing optimism and good humour. renewed purpose. He had a terrific spirit of adventure Barely 15, he writes “I was in a man’s and was very much a poet, as the chapplace now in the fishing boat, and it was ters of his book reflect: A Sweet hard work, all day fishing until dark, Digression — 1896 (on his marriage) or and then in the stage until one or two Paddy and the Dreambook: The Doings o’clock in the morning splitting and of Two Summers. One chapter could salting and properly curing the fish; we have been the sub-title of the book: got only two or three hours sleep when Persistence in the Face of Disapwe were called again at daylight. Such pointment Brings Success. Such was the is a fisherman’s life.” theme of Nicholas Smith’s life. Yet he thrived. By 21 he had his first He is described in various books as a “command” as skipper of the schooner fisherman and sailor. To that I would Coronella, shipping lumber for the add writer. He wrote with insight and Horwood Brothers, whom he noted passion. Whether describing the seal
fishery, the Labrador fishery, his recollections of happy winters in Brigus, his writing and reflections on his life are clear and compelling. And what a life. Writing of a nightmarish encounter with a hurricane aboard the Barbadian schooner Nellie Louise that saw them blown across the Atlantic — twice — he recalls a grim moment on a deadly night. The ship had been stripped of her sails and rigging, and was wallowing helpless in monstrous waves. He and the Captain were at the wheel when “we heard another big sea roaring astern. The captain told me to lash myself securely, as he was doing, and as the sea drew near, he asked ‘Are you lashed firmly?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He then said, ‘Mr. Smith, put your trust in Jesus Christ …’” Nicholas Smith placed his faith in his saviour, his own abilities, and in the abilities of his crew, in that order, and lived to see his family and Brigus again. At the end of his remarkable book he tallies up the number of fish he figures he split, the number of seals he skinned, the number of quintals of fish he shipped. It is here for the first time his insight fails him. For a more accurate summation of his life, we have to turn to the introduction of the book, written by the then Governor of Newfoundland, Vice Admiral Sir Humphrey Walwyn, who I suspect must have read it, as he wrote: “Greater indeed than the mere commercial value of the total catch are the character and resourcefulness which go into the production of a single quintal of codfish.” Or into a life well lived. Nicholas Smith died in Brigus in 1944, at the age of 84.
Separated at birth Editor’s note: Doug Bird, The Independent’s cartoonist, is currently bicycling across Canada, providing the paper with regular updates on his journey.
Q
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uebec and Newfoundland are twins separated at birth, one educated in French to love good food and wine, the other nearly educated in something close to English to make cuisine out of salt fish, hard bread and beer. There are so many similarities it’s frightening. Imagine how I felt on Saint Jean Baptiste weekend (May 24th for the Quebecois) when I saw them gravel pit camping. Yes! And in the eastern part of the province there were even Irvings nearby to get more wine. They are friendly folk who — contrary to the fears of English Canadians — do not have horns and gladly try to communicate with a couple of pudgy, cereal box French speaking Anglo cyclists. Their knowledge of the rest of the country is also similar to Newfoundlanders: they have little. Even when I pulled out the map and showed them they still didn’t know where Newfoundland was, and hadn’t heard of it. Not surprising given the rest of the nation’s lack of knowledge about Quebec. Like Newfoundland, Quebec is the only other part of Canada with a culture beyond the homogenized American celebrity television crap that passes for culture in most of North America and other parts of the world. They have their own movies, music and traditions and they support their own. It reminded me of how the schools were closed so we could all watch Brad take the curling gold or how young people in Newfoundland have musical tastes that include great Newfoundland bands from the Novaks to the The Navigators. The respect for family and tradition are similar because Quebec and Newfoundland have the oldest cultures in North America (excluding aboriginal cultures, which are
long gone anyway). In Quebec you can haggle over the price, eat a lot of fat, have a kitchen party, buy beer everywhere (and wine too, we really have to get on top of that here) and expect the average person to cheerfully supply directions and advice. The downside: it’s all in French. If I could speak French I would have understood that the lady meant don’t go that way and I wouldn’t have had to climb the craziest piece of road in the country between Bay St Paul and Lamal Bay on Highway 362. It is a must-see but perhaps not on a bicycle. The hills were so steep I nearly fell over backwards. I did manage to break 80 kilometres per hour on a couple of the down hill runs (have video on the speedometer to prove it). I love Quebec and plan on returning for a holiday as soon as I can. Too bad they all have a distinct lack of respect for human life once they get behind the wheel. I’ll return in a Hummer and show them a thing or two. We are crossing the New Brunswick border as this missive travels through hyperspace. Back in the saddle from here. Doug Bird is making his way home to Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s.
Anti-seal hunt campaign draws to a close
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nti-seal hunt advertisements on VOCM taken out by the Humane Society of the United States appear to have fallen on deaf ears, says the station’s general manager. “Frankly I don’t think the campaign is having any impact on the community at large,” John Murphy says. “(The campaign is) directed to well-informed Newfoundlanders about a situation that Newfoundlanders have already made their minds up on.” The ad says the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is misleading people about the effect of the global boycott of Canadian seafood products. It goes on to ask listeners to tell Loyola Hearn to end the hunt. Tracy McIntire from the Humane Society of the United States would not disclose how much money was spent on the advertising campaign. The advertisements began running this spring, and the contract has been renewed several times since then. The campaign finished June 30. Murphy says vocal opposition to the ads decreased substantially over the months. “We had some e-mails, some letters and some telephone calls, particularly in the early days of the campaign and that has dwindled down now to virtually nothing,” he says. “As long as it is within legal boundaries we have no right to tell somebody you’re not allowed to advertise just because we disagree with your point of view.” — Nadya Bell
JULY 2, 2006
INDEPENDENT SPECIAL SECTION • 11
David Francey
Photo by Beth Girdler
Common ground ommon ground is a programming initiative undertaken by the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival that explores the musical and cultural connections between this province’s artists and musicians and those in other parts of the world. The St. John’s Folk Arts Council feels the best way to do this is to let visiting artists share their music, stories and culture in performances on the main stage and in workshops throughout the festival weekend. This year’s Common Ground theme is Founding Cultures of Newfoundland and Labrador and one of the featured musicians who will share his musical traditions, influences and some of the ways he keeps his culture alive is Scottish songsmith David Francey. He will visit Bannerman Park for the second time via Ontario where he has made quite a name for himself in the folk music world with his poignant songs that remind us of the beauty of everyday life. So many of Francey’s songs are about the rewards and challenges of hard work, which he got his first taste of at a young age delivering morning papers in Scotland. By age 11 he was devouring the news in those papers. He developed a keen interest in politics and world events in the context of a deep social conscience that grew out of the realities he saw in the lives of the people around him. He was 12 when his family emigrated to Toronto. During weekend family drives exploring their new country, the Francey family kept the Scottish tradition alive by singing traditional tunes and songs. David traces his love of the land, history and people of his adopted country to those family drives and as a result the Scottish flavour is still prevalent in most of his work. Francey’s list of achievements in the folk music industry is outstanding consecutive JUNO awards for Far End of Summer and Skating Rink, a JUNO nomination for his fourth CD, Waking Hour, first place in the folk category of the 2004 USA Songwriting Competition for Saints and Sinners, and multiple Penguin Eggs Magazine Album of the Year Awards. He will be accompanied on his visit by Terry Tufts, a superb award-winning singer/songwriter in his own right. Francey’s attachment to Canadians of every region surfaces in his songs about rail lines, truck drivers, farms and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Look for David Francey and other artists with English, Irish, aboriginal and French backgrounds as we explore the many influences that have converged to give us our unique cultural palette. The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival runs Aug. 4-6 in Bannerman Park, St. John’s. For more information look for this page in The Independent each week and visit www.sjfac.net.
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JULY 2, 2006
12 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
The last summer
SCATTERED PAST
Just out of high school, Leia Feltham plans a season of comfort and warmth — before September hits and the wind in the trees beats the sound of snow blowers any day. Summer is like the light at the end of the long dark tunnel also known as school. Students spend the whole year working towards this short span of time, a much-needed break from a life of routine and structure. Somehow during these months everything seems more hopeful with so many walked out of my high school for the last worries and obligations behind you. time. I never thought I’d see the day come. The friendships and relationships formed in There was a time, not too long ago, when I summer feel like they’ll last forever. Each day told myself, “only six more years, that’s not bad.” can be spent the way you want it, endless hours Where did the time go? Somehow it slipped lying in the grass beneath clear blue skies and through my fingers, or were my eyes always evening walks gazing at shooting stars. These closed? scenes are fitting, like they belong to summer and The end of something this important in my life are more reality than a beautiful dream. should leave me feeling a little more … a little Then the leaves begin to fade and the nights more anything really. I didn’t take any pictures, get colder and despite how strong those bonds or join in any tearful embraces. There were casu- may seem, those fall breezes have a way of tearal goodbyes and mentions of ing people apart. How many possible get-togethers. Twelve times have I heard, “I wish it years of my life drawing to a could be like last summer There’s comfort close, and it was like any other again”? I know I have a few day. memories I’d like to go back in knowing that Over the past decade I’ve and revisit, but time keeps experienced a lot of firsts; the moving forward and all I can even in the darkest first day of school, first exam, do is fall victim to the seasons first love. All those kinds of that bring so many changes. moments you can events and milestones that Despite knowing that not find an old friend. make you chew on your own everything beautiful lasts, I can heart from anxiety. The only still enjoy this summer. I need thing you can do is hope for the to indulge in what it can offer; best because there is no way you’re getting out of spare time, sleeping in ridiculously late, and my it (even the first love part — there’s no choosing favorite — bonfires at the beach. when and who when it comes to that). Despite There’s nothing like sitting around a fire, tasting my organs on occasion from fear of the laughing and roasting marshmallows and trying unknown, I made it through. Here I am, a high to ignore the fact that everyone smells like they school graduate. It’ll be a while before I’m used just stepped out of an ashtray. I love stumbling to saying that. around in the dark and seeing only a vague silWhile I’m waiting for my new status to sink in houette but knowing immediately who it is. and the eventual panic attack of “what the hell There’s comfort in knowing that even in the am I doing with my life?” that will follow, I’m darkest moments you can find an old friend. Then enjoying what could be my last summer here in there’s the always awkward moment of jokingly Newfoundland. grabbing someone’s butt — that you thought was I always find summers here strange, like sud- your close friend — and then later in the night denly finding myself in a foreign land. It’s warm finding out there’s an angry stranger searching out, and the sun is shining? There aren’t 20 feet out the pervert that groped them. of snow and black clouds of death? Looks like I’m holding onto times like those to keep me we’re not in Kansas … I mean Newfoundland from facing the fact that I won’t be returning to a anymore. familiar and safe place once summer is over. Two The weather really isn’t that bad, but I find worlds are colliding right now, and I’m torn after spending months bundled up in layers and between the past that I know and love and the struggling through piles of ash-coloured slush future that terrifies yet fascinates me. This sumI’m left feeling embittered. Through the long mer may be the last of its kind. I just hope it’s a winter months I forget how amazing summer good one. really is. Even the simplest pleasures like being able to sleep comfortably with my window open Leia Feltham is a graduate of Gonzaga High and fall asleep listening to warm rain showers School.
LEIA FELTHAM Falling face first
I
Torbay Museum
Paul Daly/The Independent
Harry Hibble and Torbay’s past to see her light pink girdle on display. It’s really no different than anything worn by an actress today — although the fabric is stiff with age. t’s a pity museums can’t capture the smells of Emma Butler would also be surprised to see a the past — salt water and seaweed on the kil- good deal of her old clothing on display. Her lick, lady’s perfume and rouge to go with a daughter Regina Tilley donated her collection of dress, or freshly poured tea in china cups. 12 hats, and her and her mother’s school lunch Instead the Torbay Museum leaves the unmis- boxes. takable smell of mould, rust and dust. Among the hats from Millie’s Millinery on In two small rooms and an alcove, collected Water Street, there’s a man’s black top hat called objects of Torbay’s past are piled into the corners a beaver. The other ladies’ hats are fur and felt like snow banks. A nine-piece furniture set is all with feathers or a red bow. One is purple velvet but obscured by doilies, dresses, stockings, books, and tulle (a veil) with plastic gems. sewing baskets, blankets … “It was supposed to be kind of sexy looking A Jesus with broken knees on a crucifix hangs when you pulled it down over your eyes,” on the wall. One of over 600 artiPellegrinetti says, giggling. “I facts, it came from St. Michael’s don’t know if it was, I never asked Convent in Torbay. Textured a man.” Torbay has stained glass doors and windows Mr. Peanut Head salt and pepper from the convent are incorporated more bizarre and shakers are an example of a shortinto the walls of the room, but lived fad in design — they are fascinating relics made of brittle bakelite plastic. there is no sunlight to shine through them, as the museum is in Pellegrinetti says she remembers of history than the basement of the city hall and when the Mr. Peanut Head van fire station building. go around in the 1950s and could ever fit in this would One artifact is labelled “Cheese distribute tiny packets of peanuts. Dish, 70 years old.” Curator Jerri An old Spartan model radio the small museum. Pellegrinetti says she labeled that size of a small fridge was reassemback in 1992, so it’s probably bled after Pellegrinetti found it in a closer to 100 years old now. barn in sections. This dense collection draws 500 to 700 tourists “The last time I played it my hair was standing a year, she says. on end — I think there’s something not good Then Pellegrinetti runs into the back room to about the wiring,” she says. find Harry Hibble — a dancing wooden doll built The portable foghorn is the most mysterious and painted by George Woodfine, a Torbay man broken thing in the museum. Stage-paint black who was blind from birth. The doll is folk-art with a conical mouth on one end, Schrödinger’s interesting, with hinged knees made to clatter on cat is as likely to live inside as the dried-out bela wooden board along with music. lows that apparently produced the foghorn sound. The pride of the museum is a pair of skis from “I couldn’t believe some of the things he used to do — like use a drill press,” Pellegrinetti says the failed Robert Scott expedition to the South Pole. Pellegrinetti has put them in a precarious of Woodfine. She is equally proud of Captain Jack Dawe’s place — to one side of the door between rooms. Newfoundland flag, a tilted Pink, White and An unmindful visitors might nearly trip over them. Torbay has more bizarre and fascinating relics Green displayed on the wall. Dawe, author of The Wind in the Rigging, submitted the flag as an of history than could ever fit in this small museoption for the provincial flag when Christopher um. “We’re far enough away to still hang on to our Pratt’s was eventually chosen. Pellegrinetti says own identity — but people here have always she is a real rebel: she likes the old flag best. The fur-topped brown plastic galoshes once worked in St. John’s … even when fishing was belonged to her mother. They look clean — big people would still sell their fish in St. John’s,” apparently her mother never wore them because Pellegrinetti says. Pellegrinetti can only continue to pile things up they were brown, not black, and she only wore as they are discovered, and she hopes that the new black shoes. The mink stole the dressed mannequin wears is air exchanger they are getting soon will slow down the rust growing on the edges of the metal also from Pellegrinetti’s mother. Jenny Dale’s mother would likely be mortified tools.
By Nadya Bell The Independent
I
INDEPENDENTWORLD
SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 2-8, 2006 — PAGE 13
Forty new Canadians were welcomed in a ceremony
Paul Daly/The Independent
A strong sense of belonging A new survey shows the depth of the attachment immigrants have to Canada By Laurie Monsebraaten Torstar wire service
M
eet Zafar Khawja. The 49-year-old former cloth merchant came to Canada from Bangladesh in 1990 searching for a better life for his young family. And like the vast majority of immigrants probed in a new poll on Canadian diversity, Khawja has found more than he ever dreamed in his adopted country. “We are so lucky to be here,” he says. “I have been able to give my kids a good education, a good society and a very good culture that is peaceful and very safe. I have been deeply touched by people here — how they respect us and give us our rights.” In the wake of this month’s terrorism arrests and the questioning of Canada’s policy of multiculturalism versus the American melting pot, the poll shows that Canadian immigrants feel great affection for this country, while maintaining strong ties to their native cultures. Eighty-one per cent of immigrants and their offspring say they feel a strong or very strong attachment to Canada, while 78 per cent feel similar bonds to their racial, ethnic or religious group, according to Diversity in Canada, released in June. Agreement with the statement, “Canada is the best place in the world for me to live,” rose from 81 per cent for immigrants here less than
10 years to 86 per cent for those here longer. An impressive 92 per cent of second-generation Canadians agreed. “The surprising thing for me about the poll is that it shows quite strongly that diverse communities are proud to be both Canadian and part of their cultural heritage. And this pride in Canada only grows over time,” says Kaan Yigit, director of Solutions Research Group. “It shows that multiculturalism does, in fact, work to create a Canadian identity among people of diverse backgrounds.” The poll was conducted among 3,000 Canadians 15 years of age and over in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver between June and August, 2005. In addition to immigrants’ strong attachment to Canada, the poll also shows that they view Canada’s respect for legal rights, security and safety, health care, cultural diversity and education system as much better or somewhat better than their birth countries. Khawja certainly concurs. Even though the family’s Toronto neighbourhood is viewed by some as crime-ridden and underserviced, Khawja calls it a “very good place to live.” Reports that gun violence is holding the city hostage make him laugh. “It’s nothing compared to the violence where we come from.” The older of Khawja’s two daughters is on scholarship at the University of Toronto and
has just completed her third year studying English and history. She is hoping to become a teacher. “Not many people send their daughters to university where I come from. It’s very expensive and really just too dangerous,” Khawja says. And don’t get him started on our health-care system. Khawja still can’t believe he had openheart surgery to fix a faulty valve — and it cost him nothing. Khawja admits he’s not as financially successful as he was in his birth country, a sentiment shared by many in the poll. Fifty-six per cent rank job opportunities in Canada as only fair or poor. Khawja went from a respected businessman in the wholesale cloth trade to a dishwasher when he moved to Canada. However, he managed to work his way up to chef until heart troubled forced him to quit. Khawja has been driving a cab for the past two years. “Back home they say if you want to make a lot of money, don’t go to Canada,” he say. “But if you want a peaceful, more civilized way of life, there is no place better.” As Statistics Canada’s census data have shown, the number of visible minority Canadians — either born here or newly arrived — will nearly double in the next 10 years. Immigrants today are younger and have bigger households, and although they lag econom-
ically during their first 10 years in the country, they catch up to their Caucasian peers after that. Their Canadian-born children tend to do even better, exceeding average incomes and quality of life. This growth is already having a profound effect on our political, cultural, social and economic life. Understanding what motivates these newcomers will be important to Canada’s continuing success, Yigit says. There are several things to watch out for: • Underemployment, discrimination and lack of cultural and political representation are immigration flashpoints reflected in the poll. • The lack of recognition for foreign-trained professionals has made a cliché out of the taxi driver with a PhD. Employment is ranked as the most important issue governments should address among immigrants here less than 10 years. • Although not a dominant sentiment among visible minority groups, a worrisome 37 per cent say they have personally experienced discrimination. The way Canada has embraced immigrants — by welcoming each wave of newcomers and inviting them to share their culture as they learn about those already here — has become a cornerstone of the Canadian identity. By not insisting newcomers abandon their See “Rich tapestry,” page 15
VOICE FROMAWAY
‘Nothing better than Newfoundland’ Now based in Washington State, Elizabeth Chatfield can’t wait to bring her young son home this summer By Nadya Bell The Independent
College as a Laboratory Technician in 1992. After that she worked in Riat in Saudi Arabia for one year, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for two. She says she sees the good in everything, so she enjoyed it over there. “It was hard because, as a woman over there you have a lot more restrictions placed on you than what you’ve got over here in the west,” she says. “But I found some really really good friendships, and it’s just an incredible culture to see and learn about.” Her next job was in Bermuda in a year, and then on to Vancouver Island for nine months before she got a job in Seattle. She says she went to the states “on a lark” because she was able to get a work permit after the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed. She met Brad in Washington, and has been living there for the past six years. She enjoys Washington, especially taking Liam hiking in Mount Rainer National Park. “The people are somewhat friendly — but nowhere near what they are at home, Newfoundlanders I think are pretty
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ne day, Elizabeth Chatfield hopes to move back to Newfoundland from Washington with her husband Brad and her son Liam. “It’s good to live away for a little while, see other parts of the world, do some travelling,” she says. “But it’s also really really good to come home, because there’s nothing better than Newfoundland.” For now, Chatfield and Liam will settle for one-month vacation in Sandy Point in central Newfoundland this summer. It has been a year since they last visited. “July month is the best time to be home,” Chatfield tells The Independent over the phone from her house in Washington. “We’re looking forward to playing in the water, just hanging out, relaxing, enjoying summer in Newfoundland.” Originally from Newfoundland, Chatfield has lived in Washington State for the past six years. She first moved away after she graduated from Cabot
Elizabeth Chatfield with her husband Brad on their wedding day
Paul Daly/The Independent
See “Healthcare contrasts,” page 15
14 • INDEPENDENTWORLD
JULY 2, 2006
JULY 2, 2006
Rich tapestry of diversity From page 13 cultural roots and quickly adopt Canadian culture, are we inviting trouble? On the contrary, says Yigit, who maintains the poll shows exactly the opposite is true. A rich tapestry of diversity and tolerance is what immigrants like Khawja and others queried in the poll cherish and respect most about Canada. But when minority Muslims are caught plotting terror attacks here, the rule of law prevails. And while other Muslims may feel ashamed or singled out, they don’t fear for their lives, says Khawja, a faithful Muslim who prays daily. “For me, religion comes from here,” he says, pointing to his heart. “It is in what you do and in the respect you show other people. Those people aren’t religious. They are crazy.” Yigit says “Muslim Canadians rate most aspects of Canadian life at least as positively as diverse Canadians generally, and most of those who are new Canadians rate Canada higher than their home countries on all dimensions,” Yigit says. But are they integrating? Absolutely, Khawja says. Both his wife and older daughter wear the hijab, or head covering, symbolic of their faith, while his younger daughter, “dresses like you and me,” proof, he says, that his family has adopted Canada’s respect for individual rights. “It is her choice.”
Healthcare contrasts From page 13 much known for how friendly they are and outgoing, but I find here people really stick to themselves.” One of the most noticeable differences between Canada and the U.S. is the private healthcare system, she says. “If you don’t have any health insurance and you go to your doctor, you’re going to get a nice hefty bill at the end of your visit,” she says. “Most people here don’t even have insurance, so they can’t go to a doctor at all, unless they are incredibly sick, and at that point for most people it’s too late and their bill is going to be even larger than if they had gone at the first signs of something going wrong.” She disagrees with anyone who wants a private healthcare system in Canada. “You don’t know how lucky you are, at the end of the day, not to have a bill coming in that you have to pay.” Her son Liam is now 14 months old, with dual citizenship. He was born in Washington, but was christened in the Riverside United Church in Norris Arm when he was 10 weeks old. Chatfield says they will celebrate Canada Day in Washington before they leave. As Liam’s laughter and gurgling in the background Straining to be heard over her son’s laughter and gurgling, Chatfield says Liam will visit his nanny, poppy, cousins and other relatives on his mother’s side while on the island. “His new favourite toy is the remote control: he’s trying to see what he can bang it on while he runs around pulling books off the shelf,” says Chatfield. “He’s a little monkey that is into everything. “We just can’t wait to see everybody. It’s going to be very hard to leave Newfoundland again to come back here, it always is. One of these days, if the immigration process goes smoothly, we will be there.” Do you know a Newfoundlander or Labradorian living away? Please e-mail editorial@theindependent.ca
INDEPENDENTWORLD • 15
Kidnapping latest Palestinian tactic ITAMAR SETTLEMENT, West Bank By Mitch Potter Torstar wire service The Israeli military redoubled its efforts last week to locate a teenage Jewish settler amid growing fears the missing man is but the latest hostage in a brazen new kidnapping campaign that marks a tactical shift for Palestinian militants. Eliyahu Pinchas Ashari, 18, a resident of the isolated West Bank settlement of Itamar, was last seen at a hitchhiking post outside Jerusalem looking for a ride into hostile territory. And if the repeated claims of one Palestinian militant group are to be
believed, he is now in the clutches of a newly launched unit of the Popular Resistance Committees dedicated to snatching Israelis. Early today, the PRC threatened to kill Ashari in response to Israel’s incursion into the Gaza Strip. On June 25, a tunnel-borne Palestinian assault on an Israel Defence Forces outpost on the Gaza Strip border led to the abduction of Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Abu Abir, a PRC spokesman, told the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth that both abductions fall under an operation code-named “Cavalier’s Wrath.” The mission’s stated purpose: to kidnap Israelis.
The IDF hasn’t confirmed if it believes Ashari, who moved to the hilltop settlement of Itamar 15 years ago, is in the hands of Palestinian militants. But the army last night mobilized a new series of flying checkpoints through the territories, with focus on Ramallah and Bethlehem. Asked about the implications of a Palestinian kidnapping tactic, Itamar Mayor Moshe Goldsmith declined comment. “I don’t want to talk about that. Right now Eliyahu’s situation is not certain. We’re waiting to know his status before we go beyond that.” Hitchhiking is a notable dimension of Israeli culture, a phenomenon driven largely by the needs of young army
conscripts who routinely traverse the country, heading home for leave. But nowhere is it more pronounced than in the West Bank, where thousands of settlers rely on like-minded souls to move back and forth among the hundreds of settlements. “We may very well be getting into a new game of kidnapping. And if that is the case the implications in the West Bank are obvious. The settlers present a relatively soft target in very high numbers,” says Nachman BenYehuda, professor of sociology and dean of Social Sciences at Hebrew University, adding: “As long as the victims are still alive, that is preferable to suicide bombs.”
JULY 2, 2006
16 • INDEPENDENTWORLD
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INDEPENDENTLIFE
SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 2-8, 2006 — PAGE 17
Sean Panting (left) and Adam Staple with a guitar and a paintball gun — two of the instruments used in an upcoming performance.
Paul Daly/The Independent
Percussion by paintball Paintcussion is about music, noise, exploration and spectacle — just what you’d expect from Sound Symposium By Mandy Cook For The Independent
T
he name Sound Symposium — Newfoundland and Labrador’s nineday, world-class, gleefully unorthodox festival of sound — brings visions of Dr. Seuss-worthy noisemakers to mind. But paintball guns? As instruments? On the grounds of the Anglican Cathedral? Did the masterminds behind such a scheme have to pray for somebody’s blessing? “Not at all,” laughs Adam Staple, onethird of McKudo, a St. John’s-based improvisation trio. “We called the (Constabulary) and cleared it with them, then called the director of the church and they said, ‘Sure!’ “I even double-checked and asked if they
realized that we would be shooting paintballs in their cemetery, and they were still incredibly supportive.” To be fair, Staple and the other two members of the group, Sean Panting and Rob Power, are not in the business of desecrating anybody’s holy plot. Imagine a wide swath of tarp forming a protective plastic semi-circle around four stands of maple trees. Inside the tarp is a collection of noise-producing targets, including metal plates, thunder sheets, pre-tuned drumheads and the inner guts of a piano, or a “chromatic paint-strainer,” as Staple puts it. It’s precisely the kind of innovative sound production the Sound Symposium fosters and is famous for. Besides McKudo’s Paintcussion performance, this year’s line-
up features the Symposium’s signature harbour symphonies, sound workshops for kids, evening music, dance and theatre performance, the always boisterous Cape Spear jam, an orchestrated bell tour of the city’s church towers by trumpeter Pat Boyle, and a Signal Hill boom box event which will broadcast an electronic mix of city sounds over four (willing) pirate radio stations. The enthusiastic support from the community inspires and encourages participating musicians, says Panting. “That’s one thing about Sound Symposium that never ceases to amaze me,” says the singer/guitarist. “The entire town seems to get behind whatever people feel like doing. So just when you think people are going to be resistant to an idea they jump right on board pretty readily. Which is
great.” Kathy Clark Wherry, co-ordinator of the Symposium, says Paintcussion represents exactly what the festival stands for — a celebration of sound. “It was fun,” Clarke Wherry says simply. “We encourage people to try new and exotic things. We encourage cross-over art among the visual and sound. It sounded like an intriguing, off-the-wall kind of thing to do.” She easily acknowledges the idea might sound crazy to some, but says there is music to be found in Paintcussion. But outdoor, offthe-wall performances are not the only source of music to be enjoyed during the event. “(People) probably think we’re a bunch of nuts,” Clarke says wryly. “But if you See “It’s pure music,” page 20
LIVYER
The Laughing Policeman’s new target Carleton Showband’s Gregory Donaghey takes anti-bullying act to schools By Devon Wells For The Independent
W
hen Gregory Donaghey laughs, the sound rises from his gut and puts the whole room at ease. For the former Carlton Showband singer, who has built a career around the character The Laughing Policeman, it only makes sense. But the smiles fade quickly when Donaghey starts talking about bullies.
Pushed around himself as a child, the father of two knows the problem well. “This guy beat me up twice a week … It went on for two years and I never told my parents,” he says. “One day, I gave him a real good hidin’ — which means beating, in Irish.” These days, Donaghey is still taking action. When he isn’t driving a taxi for Jiffy in and around St. John’s — “Music is feast or famine,” he says of his other career — he aims to stamp out bullies with a concert program,
Bullying is Not Cool. The hour-long show teaches schoolchildren about the dangers of bullying and how to help stop it. Hailing from Sion Mills in Northern Ireland, Donaghey landed in Newfoundland once the Carlton Showband — the house band for CTV’s popular variety show The Pig and Whistle — split up in 1996. Yet, Donaghey kept the music coming. Once here, he released a solo album, Through the Eyes of an Irishman, fol-
lowed by another in 2004, Your Wedding Day. Even with those accomplishments, Donaghey’s hallmark is still his recording of More Than Yesterday with The Cadets from 1966, which reached number one on the singles chart in Ireland. Despite the topic of his school program, the concert is anything but dour. Donaghey is a natural showman who loves to interact with his audience, both as himself and as The Laughing Policeman, a character from an old
British music hall song that he discovered in Ireland. The tune is about a jolly cop who would get sour looks in church, but Donaghey has expanded the character into a full variety show, including jokes, magic tricks, music, and water pistols. “The kids go nuts,” says Donaghey. He feels the spoonful-of-sugar method is a great way to make children listen to See “Bullying,” page 19
JULY 2, 2006
18 • INDEPENDENTLIFE
GALLERYPROFILE
A
lthough she’s due to give birth to her first child in a matter of weeks, Tia Connolly still makes time in her schedule for drawing and painting — her table is covered with small watercolour and acrylic work, in various stages of completion. But she admits there are certain themes she just can’t get away from these days. “I’ve been doing kid’s stuff, little bugs and fish, because of this crazy kid that’s coming,” she says, one hand resting on her belly. “It’s in my mind all the time.” Connolly graduated from Sir Wilfred Grenfell’s visual art faculty in 2002 — as did her husband, Mike, an accomplished artist working at St. Michael’s Printshop. For the last two years, Connolly has been managing the Leyton Gallery of Fine Art in downtown St. John’s. When starting the fine arts program, Connolly says her focus was on photography, but her interests evolved through other media.
TIA CONNOLLY Visual Artist “I did a printmaking course and fell in love with monotypes and all those spontaneous types of printmaking at once,” she says. “The ones that are most like painting.” She points to her recent works for the gallery — most are textured acrylic work, brightly coloured and practically begging to be touched. And most are of birds, which she admits have been a constant in her work for years. “I did crows in school, and I think my dad got me into that because he’d actually talk to the crows,” she says with a smile. “We had a pet crow, they’re great birds, they’re scavengers — they’re better for the Earth than we
are.” She also has an affinity for penguins and, since she moved into her current apartment on Gower Street, starlings. “I feel like I moved into the woods,” she says. “These guys, hundreds of starlings, they wake us up every morning about 6 a.m. and we have to get up and turn on the (bathroom) fan to get them to go away … “Only now, I just figured, I have something in common with the poor little guys — all they’re doing is nesting and trying to get ready for their babies.” Her latest picture of a starling shows the bird perched on the edge of a crib, with a mobile floating above its head. “I wanted to play with them together,” Connolly says of the bird and baby imagery. “It makes me feel better about the whole situation.” There’s also an unfinished piece of a bird, beside a nest full of eggs. Inside the eggs, the faint outlines of human-like fetuses can be
seen. Connolly has also recently done nursery rhyme-inspired drawings on hand-dyed paper. “See where my head is?” she laughs. “Everything is babies! I can’t help it, I’m just obsessed.” With time off from her demanding gallery job, Connolly hopes her first months as a parent will also offer some opportunity to produce art. “Parents are amazing,” she says. “They seem to get so much accomplished.” Meantime, Connolly — along with 14 other artists — will participate in the upcoming annual summer group exhibition at the Leyton Gallery. It opens July 8 and continues through Aug. 20. “It’s going to be a huge show,” Connolly says. “And it’s the first show at the gallery in two years I’m not going to be hanging. “This takes some getting used to.” For more work by Tia and Michael Connolly, visit www.theleytongallery.com. — Stephanie Porter
JULY 2, 2006
INDEPENDENTLIFE • 19
Click lacks finesse
POET’S CORNER
Even a universal remote can’t save Adam Sandler’s latest film Click Starring Adam Sandler, Christopher Walken and Kate Beckinsale 1/2 (out of four) 98 min
A
s Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) sees it, he almost has it all. With a beautiful wife and two great kids, the only thing missing from his life is the promotion that is just out of his reach. All he has to do is nail down a big contract with a prospective client, and he’s sure to make partner in his architectural firm — but it means cancelling the Independence Day camping trip that the family has planned. While attempting to watch a video that relates to the project, Michael has trouble finding the television’s remote control, so he sets out to purchase a universal remote. His search takes him to the only retail outlet that’s open at that hour, Bed Bath and Beyond. Exploring the store’s sections, he makes his way through a door at the back bearing the department heading: Beyond. It’s here where he meets Morty (Christopher Walken), a technician who correctly recognizes Michael as a good guy who needs a break. For this reason, he provides him with a brand new, stateof-the-art product perfectly engineered to meet his needs: a truly universal remote control. In jig time, Michael discovers that this device affects more than just electronic components, but every aspect of his life, allowing him to “pause” everything around him, jump backwards in time to review past events, leap ahead to avoid unpleasant moments — such as his cold — and even to change the loudness of his dog’s barking. Unfortunately, this wonderful gadget can’t actually roll back time to allow him to repeat events, and worse still, it’s self-programming, like most of the new hard-drive television recorders that save programs based on your previous choices. This latter feature becomes particularly troublesome for Michael, creating havoc with his life. If this seems a tad familiar, just think back to a couple of years ago when Jim Carrey took over God’s job for a while. Coincidentally, both films share the
TIM CONWAY Film Score same two screenwriters, who seem to be trying to carve out careers ruminating on omnipotence, pushing the notion that power can be fun, but it can also be dangerous. In contrast to Bruce, Almighty however, Click’s protagonist is as much a victim of his own carelessness as anything else, and the concept of fate enters into the picture as choices he makes early on determine the way his life plays out later. Whatever the case, Michael has a bit of fun with the remote, but ultimately rues the day he ever acquired the thing, but by this time, of course, it’s too late. The fun he had early on, which provided most of the film’s best laughs, is far behind him, and a moral tale reminiscent of Frank Capra’s movies plays out for the last third of the show, with the occasional gag forced into the story. Good intentions count for a lot here, but a lack of finesse on the part of those behind the scenes impedes the film from achieving any great emotional height or moral weight. Perhaps, in his day, Mr. Capra could have tweaked the script and guided the story into something much better than what we find here, especially since the cast seems fairly capable of handling whatever comes their way. Click is entertaining, and the filmmakers should be applauded for trying to give the audience something more than an endless string of pratfalls. It’s just a shame that their collective talents don’t match their ambition. A Prairie Home Companion Starring Garrison Keillor, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin and Kevin Kleine (out of four) 105 min. Most of us have no idea who Garrison Keillor is, and I would guess that most of us who do, are more familiar with his written work. An American icon — some suggest an American relic — he hosts a weekly radio variety show, A Prairie Home Companion, primarily out
of the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, Minn., and has done so for more than three decades. Although broadcast live, the show is recorded for play on public radio on almost 600 stations in the U.S., and is also carried by stations in the U.K. The show’s mix of homespun stories, folksy songs and commercials all seem pulled out of a time capsule, reminiscent of days gone by, or as some suggest, a time that never was. In its big-screen incarnation, A Prairie Home Companion is filmed on location, with many of the show’s regular musicians, with the fictionalized scenario that the Fitzgerald Theatre has been sold and the program cancelled. We catch up with all hands on the night of the last broadcast, a night during which the show goes on, as it must, with no looking back. Behind the scenes, however, the sense of impending loss extends beyond the show itself, as the performers look back on their lives in the business and remember those they’ve left behind along the way. Director Robert Altman orchestrates this process with the ease of someone who has been one of the show’s family for years. We’re immediately immersed in the lives of the characters, played by an incredible ensemble of acting talent, and welcomed into the cozy world that they’ve built for themselves over the past three decades. Certain aspects of the production won’t appeal to everyone — the music, that Kevin Kline’s character seems to channel Steve Martin for comedy, and the touches of a ’40s film noir thriller, for example. Otherwise, A Prairie Home Companion is a neatly executed motion picture that creates believable characters in interesting situations, and brings the whole thing to life with the benefit of skilled craftsmanship. We don’t yearn to be with these folk on the night of their last broadcast, for in no time at all, we’re already there — plucked out of our seats and carried to the stage of the Fitzgerald Theatre. Tim Conway operates Capital Video in Rawlin’s Cross, St. John’s. His column returns July 16.
Concert at Cape Spear By Wade Kearley In a headland bunker deep beneath the bog, hooded refugees shiver on plastic chairs, nursing coffee. others crouch in car-trunk blankets with their dogs.
Beneath the tuckamore, the knee-high canopy, under dense-stemmed spruce and juniper, lies the bitter, ground-hugging crowberry.
I escape the bunker as a barrage of hail falls, bird cried pipe a quick alert, oust grey-black juncos from lichened walls.
Their roots obey the moon, all passion spent. The world evolves to this, no genesis, but a ripe retreat, a waning crescent.
As a boy on this cape I defied rogue waves, clung to cliffs, netted frogs with my shirt while the ocean dragged tourists to their graves.
Reprinted with permission from Let me burn like this, by Wade Kearley, published by Killick Press, 2006.
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Paul Daly/The Independent
‘Bullying is a problem’ From page 17 his message about bullies, as they really pay attention once they’re loosened up with songs and laughter. “As soon as I finish the Policeman, I’ve got the kids in the palm of my hand … I get them to say ‘Bullying is not cool’ 50 to 60 times throughout the show.” The bully-awareness program was developed with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. It stresses bullying is not just physical abuse — it can include spreading rumours, isolating other children, and provoking other bullies into attack. Donaghey says the worst type is
cyber-bullying, which involves the use of cell phones, e-mail, and websites to intimidate and hurt others. He also says it’s important to remember that bullies can be both girls and boys, and that bullies thrive on an audience — the best way to get rid of them is to ignore them. As well, children should tell their parents, their teachers, or other adults about bullying when they see it, even if they are not the victims. “Bullying is a problem in schools across Canada and, if I can help, I’d take this [show] across Canada,” he says. Donaghey’s deep love of children is at the root of his efforts. Even from his time with the Carlton Showband, he
most fondly remembers singing Jailhouse Rock at a Janeway benefit with a recovering boy named Tyrone, who later became a dear friend. More recently, after a Laughing Policeman show in Gander Bay, two little girls with autism sat on his knee and begged him to stay. “I never had a greater feeling in my life than those two kids,” he says. This fall, Donaghey hopes to have his program implemented in schools across the province. Over the summer he plans to meet with the school boards to show them his work. “I’ve been at this for almost a year. (Now) I’m just trying to get it off the ground,” he says.
Their season past, yellowed raspberry bushes yield tumbling berries, cold and tasteless. I spit out the legend of their bloodshed.
A harp-led choir conjures forsaken coves, recalls the slaves of the merchant fishery, summons brutal Nor’east winds and snow.
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20 • INDEPENDENTLIFE
Smoke and ash
MARK CALLANAN On the shelf
I
f review copy is to be believed — and I am bound by occupation to say that it does have its moments of intuition — then Drawing on Water, Wade Kearley’s 1994 book of poems, was something of an event. George Elliott Clarke of Canadian letters wrote that Kearley “shows great promise” as a poet, while The Telegram announced the arrival of “a major new voice in the field of Newfoundland poetry.” That being the case, Kearley’s recently released follow-up, Let Me Burn Like This, has quite a bit to live up to. I should admit an aesthetic bias right now: for some reason, I get inordinately excited when I find a collection of poetry of around 60 pages — a short collection in other words. It’s not that I think less is necessarily more, but rather that I’ve read so many longer collections that would have benefited from a few weeks on the treadmill that I unconsciously associate lighter with tighter. So, when I received a copy of Let Me Burn Like This and saw it was just shy of 60 pages, I got a little worked up. The opening poem of the collection, Detour, reaffirmed this prejudice. “The garden slumps under the threat of frost,” it begins: “On yellowing / tomato vines, hard green fruit refuse the fattening blush. / Scarred beans collapse. A sunflower leans across the path.” The use of slantrhyme here (“frost” and “blush”; “collapse” and path”) gives the opening a meandering lyricism that is countered by the tension of circumstance.
Let Me Burn Like This: Prayers from the Ashes By Wade Kearley; Killick Press, 2006 This resulting tension is maintained throughout the poem as the speaker wanders about the garden, observing bees clinging to the aforementioned sunflower, “immobile at / life’s source.” The sunflower is both fallen plant life and a “sinking sun” that pairs itself with the actual “failing sun” of late evening in the last line of the poem. What seems a simple meditation on the passage of time is doing more work than one might give it credit for at a glance. The birth of Shem, a poem in eight parts, is another particularly strong piece. Drawing on a quotation from Ted Hughes’ uncollected poem Crow Wakes, Kearley’s poem tells us the tale of a contemporary Shem, a kind of wandering minstrel for our century. At the outset, Shem vows to remain “on the bus stop bench / in fish-nchips alley” for 40 days and 40 nights — an allusion to the time the biblical Shem spent on his father Noah’s ark during the flood. While the evenly numbered sections are written as third person, present tense descriptions of the title character’s actions, the odd sections seem to be written in the voice of Shem himself. They are mad ramblings characterized by joyous punning and a jazz improviser’s sense of thematic connections: Dog is man’s beast friend. It is beast and it has no other friends. It is bred to be friends. We break bred together. Every friend is a beast when you hold out your hand. The combination of the two voices presents us with an unsettling vision
of urbanity and a darkly comic theological argument. Hughes is not the only influence at work here. Aside from the poem written specifically for Leonard Cohen, some of the work here otherwise bears Cohen’s influence. Thematically, many of the poems in Let Me Burn Like This are characterized by Cohen-esque desire — desire to leave a mark, to love, to break, but also to be marked, loved, broken. The phrase “Let the fiddles / mourn with joy at my graveside” from the last poem Let me burn like that is probably the best example of this shared sentiment. There are a few poems here that fall short of the mark. Before you wrote me would be better labelled as unprocessed emotional output than crafted poetry: “I have nothing but time / the time you gave me to wait / tell me the words you want from me // this blade in my side what is it”; No failure-proof vest employs a lame conceit (in which the speaker’s memories of a loved one “snipe” at him) that simply hasn’t the fortitude to carry itself for the length of an entire poem; The murderer in me showcases a vacantly poetic fire “throwing smoke / thick as desire into the sky.” This is all to say that while Let Me Burn Like This is commendable for its many successes, it is flawed in its execution. I guess it goes to show that my predilection for shorter collections of poetry is just that — a preference, a bias not corroborated by any actual evidence. It is a notion best done away with. Kearley’s new collection, by contrast, is something best kept around. And read. Mark Callanan is a writer living in Rocky Harbour. His column returns July 16. callanan.mark@gmail.com
‘It’s pure music’ From page 17 hang around awhile you’ll hear that we also do very serious concert works. “We do a mixture of things. We’re interested to hear what kind of noises (the paintball guns) make. There is an actual musical intent during this experiment. It’s not just silliness.” Although McKudo have yet to rehearse, they are not worried in the slightest about composing music, paintball-style. They will be careful with
the event’s set-up so as not to run into any physical or logistical problems, but they want to ensure the performance is mostly an on-the-spot creation. The musicians will focus on improvisation, creating new sounds by incorporating traditional instruments like electric guitar and hand drum with paint guns — or by firing paint pellets into the selection of musical targets in their shooting range. “The purpose is not so much to script out
International Festival of New Music and Performing Arts
Schedule of Events: Week 1-Tuesday, July 7th to Sunday July 9th. Tuesday, July 4 - Friday July 7 9 PM: PETRO CANADA HALL: Nightingale Artistic Fraud (co-produced with Magnetic North) Friday July 7 12 PM HARBOURSIDE PARK: Delf Hohmann &The Cape St. Mary’s All Stars. Dzolali, African Drumming & Dance Ensemble. 12:30 PM Harbour Symphony 2 PM ANNA TEMPLETON CENTRE: Workshop Paul Steffler, Harbour Symphony composition. 8 PM ANNA TEMPLETON CENTRE: Reception with The Black Auks and Warren Burt 10 PM PIER 7, NOUVELLE ORLEANS Dockside Jam Saturday July 8 10 AM CHRISTINA PARKER GALLERY: Ivika Kivi & Sulo Kallas, Surrogate to Natural Harmony 11 AM ST MICHAELS PRINT SHOP Kay Burns, Converse (Interactive Installation) 12:30 PM Harbour Symphony 1:30 PM ANNA TEMPLETON CENTRE (2nd floor) Tom Hamilton, London Fix 2:30 PM THE ROOMS: Janet Cardiff, Forty-Part Motet (sound installation) 6 PM CHURCH CIRCLE, downtown Pat Boyle, "Bell Walk" starts at Anna Templeton Centre 7 PM COCHRANE ST. United Church -Early Concert. Duo Concertante: Nancy Dahn & Timothy Steeves. 8:30PM COCHRANE ST. United Church, Concert. Elinore James & Brian Way. Piano & Mezzo-Soprano. Angella Pickett, viola: Re-Tuning by Ann Southam. Teresa Doyle & Kate Poole, Voices and Rhythm.
10:30 PM ANNA TEMPLETON CENTRE Night Music - NOIZERY?!?! plus jam session 11 PM QUIET MUSIC CONCERT(location tba) Neighbours Trio: Bill Brennan, Rob Power, John Wyre; with guests Sal Ferreras and Trichy Sankaran (tickets must be purchased in advance)
exactly what’s going to happen or to plan out a specific musical moment,” Panting says. “The purpose is to become better at improvising as a group, whether we’re shooting stuff with paintballs or whether we’re playing regular rock instruments or using computers and loops or whatever. That way we have a rapport as a group and that’s the most important thing.” Their rapport can be blamed for the genesis of Paintcussion. That, and alcohol. Panting got married two summers ago, and in an effort to make the bachelor party extra-memorable, Staple and the rest of the wedding party decided on paintball as a substitute for strippers. In the midst of shooting wooden manufacturing spools, metal gas tanks and an old, hollowed out husk of a school bus, the percussionist experienced his brainchild. “That was the original impetus, us out there at this bachelor party getting really drunk and shooting things at each other and saying, ‘Wow, that sounds really good,’” Staple says. “At some point I thought it would be really cool if we got a bunch of people together and did a show out there.”
Over time, the performance venue changed from the paintball park to Signal Hill (nixed because of wind issues) to, finally, the cathedral grounds. Staple says the group decided on the location because it’s in the middle of the city — people wandering by can happen upon a wacky, musical spectacle in a pleasant, grassy spot. Scheduled for the final day of the Sound Symposium, Paintcussion promises to be memorable. The musicians predict the piece will last between 10 and 15 minutes, as ammo will be in finite supply. But it is the bending of musical boundaries the performers are focussed on. “It’s pure music,” Panting says. “Nobody’s trying to get signed to a major label, nobody’s looking for a Top 40 hit. It’s all music and none of the crap that often accompanies it.” The 13th Sound Symposium kicks off at noon on July 7th at Harbourside Park and continues until July 15th. Check out the website at www.soundsymposium.com for a full schedule of events.
Sunday July 9 12:30 HARBOUR SYMPHONY 2 PM DF COOK RECITAL HALL: CONCERT Judy Loman, harp, with Eleanor James, mezzo-soprano, Alison Black, violin. Paul Vaillancourt, percussion 8 PM DF COOK RECITAL HALL: CONCERT Sylvie Proulx, guitar: Trichy Sankaran, mrdangam and kanjira SAFA: traditional Persian music ...with improv. 10 PM THE SHIP INN - NIGHT MUSIC McKudo: Sean Panting, Rob Power, Adam Staple; plus jam session 11 PM QUIET MUSIC CONCERT, Charlotte Hug, viola tickets must be purchased in advance Tel: 709-753-4630 E-mail: soundart@nfld.com Web: www.soundsymposium.com LSPU Hall Box Office: 753-4531 (after July 5)
Harbour Symphonies Outdoor performances World Music Jazz Sound Installations Electronics Experimental Music Improvs Radio Art Workshops Night Music Quiet Music World Premiers Classical ...and much more!
36 for 12 issues tax included
$
1-888-588-6353 www.downhomelife.com
Includes VIP Club membership
INDEPENDENTBUSINESS
SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 2-8, 2006 — PAGE 21
Jerry Byrne, CEO of D.F. Barnes at the Orphan Industries manufacturing plant off Logy Bay Road.
By Nadya Bell The Independent
J
erry Byrne takes three tea bags in his mug of tea. While the CEO of D. F. Barnes Ltd. talks, he’s constantly in motion, drafting curves on paper, scribbling and circling crucial numbers. On June 20, D.F. Barnes announced they had landed a multimillion dollar manufacturing contract with Oceaneering International, Inc., beating out 23 other companies. The deal is for the production of launch and recovery systems for deep-sea robots. Buoyed by his company’s recent success, Byrne says he’s never had more energy. “It’s proof to other companies that it can be done here,” he says. “Especially with the way the world is on fire now with the petroleum industry, the opportunities in Newfoundland are starting to grow.” The launch and recovery systems handle delicate deep-sea robots about the size of a minivan, lifting them off the deck of the ship and placing them in the water. Each weighs 30 tonnes — 10 times a much as a car — and has about 600 parts. Orphan Industries, a subsidiary of D. F. Barnes, handles the manufacturing of the systems. They were awarded the contract after completing the first order of five units on time, on budget, and with what Byrne calls “the highest quality value package.” Orphan Industries has five production locations for the systems in St. John’s, as well as facilities in the
Paul Daly/The Independent
‘It can be done here’ D.F. Barnes Group lands multi-million dollar international contract, plans to build expansion facility in St. John’s
Maritimes, Ontario and the United States. Currently 25 per cent of their production is done off the island. “The problem with it is that it’s quite disjointed and it’s not efficient because it’s spread out all over the city. Ultimately all this will come together under one roof,” Byrne says. A new export facility will allow the company to manufacture their products entirely in Newfoundland. The company is currently looking at sites in the St. John’s area for the 40,000 square foot building, to be completed in the next 12 to 14 months. In outfitting the new shop, Byrne says they will purchase a boring mill, Computer Numerical Control
(CNC) machinery, a radio frequency identification tagging systems, overhead conveyors and cranes. Byrne says they will also install state of the art communications equipment to facilitate meetings with Oceaneering headquarters in Houston, Tex. Oceaneering also has a facility in St. John’s, enabling the American company to check in on local operations. “It will allow them to monitor our operation and give us orders, track what we’re doing on a realtime basis,” Byrne says. “It will be as though we were an extension to their own manufacturing facilities. “That’s the goal then, to make up the distance with technology.” A small company just six years ago, the D.F. Barnes Group current-
ly employs 175 people. They are aiming to grow to $40 million revenue in three years, and increase their workforce to 250 people. Byrne says the company will be vertically integrated, from making large winches for moving the systems, through to maintenance and repair. “I don’t want to be project-oriented. I don’t want to make one launch and recovery support for Hibernia or Hebron. I want to make it for all over the world.” He says Newfoundland is ideally positioned as a hub for the oil industry — halfway between the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and between Calgary and Europe. “One of the single greatest assets
is that we have so many people now trained and working outside the province that want to come home. That’s an asset that no other province or region can talk to, but it’s a great opportunity for companies like us to bring our people home.” The company is exploring other opportunities for expansion, including the Buchans steel factory. They are in preliminary discussions with several larger international corporations, including a potential project with Technip manufacturing concrete spars in Bull Arm. “We’ve learned a lot over the last three years trying to get this order, we’d like to pass that information on to any other companies,” Byrne says. The grind of welding can be heard out the window on the steel for the second batch of 11 units for Oceaneering. “The more around here that we can draw on the less we’ve got to bring in from outside the province and the more competitive we’re going to be.” Byrne came to work for D. F. Barnes in 2002. He graduated in ‘77 from Memorial University with a degree in electrical engineering. “It’s been nothing but a success story,” he says. “Phenomenal. In the 30 years I have been in business in Newfoundland and Labrador and elsewhere, the last three years are by far the best three years I have ever experienced.” The D.F. Barnes Group of companies includes OMI Services Ltd., Extreme East Rigging Services Ltd., NewTech Coatings, Orphan Industries Ltd. and Alberta Orphan Industries Ltd.
Reconciling accounts
F
inance Minister Loyola Sullivan has protested too much about his role on the Internal Economy Commission (IEC). He does not want his leader to believe he participated in any way in the ongoing controversial affairs of the IEC. Ironically the minister has sat on the IEC for all periods currently reviewed and reported on by the auditor general. Sullivan claims he did not vote to keep the auditor general out of the House of Assembly’s business. Let’s look at the facts in this somewhat tragic tale. In 2000 there were amendments to the Internal Economy Commission Act which solidified the powers of the IEC to do a couple of things. The first is to independently determine what, if any, documentation the commission would give to the comptroller general. The second is to
SUE KELLAND-DYER
Guest column state categorically that the IEC will appoint an auditor of its choosing under their direction and control. Byrne and Sullivan did not say much during debate over the bill. In fact, it was unusually quick in its passage. For the record, here’s a partial quote from Sullivan: “I think as members of the House we have no problems with being subject to an annual audit here, and as elected representatives I guess we should be accountable there.” He didn’t say, “I protest and believe the auditor general should be the one checking the books.”
He also didn’t say, “All documents should be available to the comptroller general.” In 2001 when former auditor general Elizabeth Marshall conducted her audit, she pointed out that as a result of the amendments made to the act in 2000 the IEC decided not to submit any supporting documents for the constituency allowances to the comptroller general. What did Byrne and Sullivan say to that? They unanimously complained that the auditor general was essentially being picky when she noted to the Speaker of the House, the chair of the IEC, that she found paintings and wine among items purchased under the MHA allowances. This surprise and disappointment was outlined in a news release issued by the IEC in February, 2002. I say
Ed and Loyola did not say much during debate over the Bill. In fact, it was unusually quick in its passage. unanimously because the IEC does not require solidarity like cabinet — Sullivan or Byrne could have put out a news release of their own and could have quit the commission over it. Keep an open mind here. If the auditor general was about to reveal that a government member — a cabinet min-
ister at that — misused or at the very least squandered their MHA allowance, members of the official Opposition would be salivating to reveal it to the public. But no, Byrne and Sullivan remained silent and allowed the Liberals to walk — yeah right. Why did they allow that Liberal member to walk? Why did they sit silent in the bowels of Opposition and not reveal the irregularity to the public? The final nail in the coffin of our departed minister occurred in 2004. From the Tory Blue Book of pre-election promises, Byrne knew Danny would change relevant acts to achieve more accountability for public money. He knew the auditor general would be looking at the books of the House of See “Only just begun,” page 23
22 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS
JULY 2, 2006
Fish farm evolution
Ownership concentration reflects food production world we live in, says aquaculture alliance executive By Chuck Brown Telegraph-Journal
D
avid Rideout wants the world to eat more seafood — particularly more farmed seafood grown in cages off Canada’s shores. “What we do is produce a high-quality, Omega-3 rich product in most cases, with finfish particularly like salmon and trout,” says the executive director of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance. “Those are the things that consumers are going to want so we need to be able to make sure that we’ve got production that can meet those consumer demands.” Rideout recently took part in the Canadian Farmed Seafood Summit. The summit brought experts on economics, food marketing and the Canadian culture to St. Andrews to explore the world market and fish farming’s potential place in it. Rideout says Canada has a strong place in the market and there is
Banks, dentists win as GST cut By Dana Flavelle Torstar wire service
B
anks, landlords and dentists are among a select group of business owners who could benefit from the cut in the federal goods and services tax July 1. The tax is embedded in their cost structure, so their costs are about to go down. Are they going to pass those savings on to consumers in the form of lower fees or rents? “The banks’ cost structure will go down but does anyone think interest rates will go down?” asks Toronto accountant Deborah Taylor. In fact, the amount of GST banks pay is so small that the tax cut would have no impact on the service fees they charge their customers, the Canadian Bankers Association says.
high demand for Canadian farmed seafood in the U.S. because the fish can be delivered fresh. “We have a very strong industry,” he says. Canada’s aquaculture industry is worth between $700 million and $800 million. Aquaculture boomed in New Brunswick with the salmon farming industry of the 1980s and 1990s. Companies have fallen on tough times in recent years — the result of disease, declining prices and negative publicity about fish health and environmental impacts. The industry in the province has changed and ownership has consolidated. Rideout says concentration of ownership is part of the industry’s evolution. “To me, it’s not a problem,” Rideout says. “It’s just a change. It just reflects the food production world that we live in and companies make decisions that they’re not going to be in this business anymore and they sell.”
Canada’s insurers say they would pass on any savings when premiums are renewed, if all other costs remain the same. Ontario’s residential landlords, who are highly regulated, say provincial law determines how and when they can pass on their costs. Any reduction in costs would benefit both landlords and tenants, they say. Canada’s dentists were unable to respond by deadline yesterday, so it’s unclear what they will do. The overall impact of these exceptions is probably fairly small, Taylor says. On most purchases, the impact will be immediately apparent to consumers when the tax is lowered at the cash register. “We may not end up with much in the consumers’ pocket at all,” says federal New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton. “Harper should have put in some measures to ensure companies don’t pick the consumers’ pockets.” Even on goods and services where the GST is added at the cash register, Layton warns there’s nothing to prevent companies from raising their prices to make up the difference. And not all companies fulfill their obligations to Ottawa in the same manner. Banks, insurance companies, dentists and other health care providers all fall into a special tax category that includes child care services, charities and legal aid, Canada Revenue Agency spokes-
The industry in New Brunswick is evolving in another way this year with the implementation of a new system of farming sites on a three-year-rotation. That initiative is viewed as key to preventing the spread of diseases and minimizing the impact of fish farming on the marine environment. Rideout’s organization has been getting aggressive with marketing through its “Say Yes to Salmon” campaign and part of the summit involved looking into how other livestock producers market their products.
person Beatrice Fenelon explains. They all provide what are called “tax exempt” products or services. In other words, they don’t collect any GST from their customers. When the bank lends you money, or the landlord charges you rent, or the dentist fixes your teeth, no GST is added to the bill. As a result, Ottawa doesn’t get its share of the tax revenue from the consumer. Instead, the government collects the tax directly from the business. All other companies charge the GST directly to consumers and get a rebate from Ottawa on any GST they pay in the course of providing that product or service. The idea is to ensure Ottawa isn’t collecting the tax multiple times along the supply chain, but only once at the end. In most cases, it’s easy for consumers to see how much GST they’re paying because it’s added on to the price of the product or service at the cash register. But in a handful of cases, such as vending machine products, parking meters and taxi fares, the GST is priced into the product. And, in other cases, where a consumer doesn’t pay any GST, the tax is embedded in the cost. So, in a way, consumers are still footing the bill, but indirectly. Canada’s banks say the GST cut would have no impact on service fees, because the tax is a relatively small portion of the bank’s costs.
“I think what aquaculture is going to learn from that discussion is don’t build volume, build value,” Rideout says. “Yes, you want to grow and you need to grow and you should grow. But the way you’re going to meet consumer demand is to build value into your products.” Still, criticism has dogged the industry with environmental groups condemning fish farmers for everything from garbage on the beaches to polluting the water and destroying marine ecosystems.
Rideout says the industry must convince the public that it is environmentally accountable and that fish farming is sustainable. “We run under some of the best environmental standards anywhere in the world,” he says. Rideout says the future of Canadian aquaculture depends on salmon as a driving force, backed by a diversity of products including cod, mussels and seaweeds. “The opportunity is tremendous,” he says.
Tourism expected to rise except from U.S.
T
he Canadian tourism industry is on the upswing, but will see some turbulence as U.S. passport requirements kick in, according to an annual report on travel and tourism. Strong consumer confidence and government tax cuts will boost domestic travel this year, while the soaring Canadian dollar and high gasoline prices will keep more U.S. visitors from venturing across the border, the study from the Conference Board of Canada found. The number of overnight visits in Canada was about 116.5 million in 2005, up 3 per cent from 2004. The vast majority — about 94.9 million trips — were domestic. Domestic travel rose by about 4.1 per cent last year, while visits from the U.S. fell by an estimated 4.6 per cent to 15.7 million. “Certainly it’s a good story overall, mostly thanks to really strong growth in domestic tourism,” says Alexander Fritsche, an economist with the Conference Board, a non-partisan research group that specializes in economic trends. “The only bit of negative is the outlook for the United States. “The good news is, because we
have strong growth from other international markets and because we have a solid domestic tourism industry, we can handle that. It’s not like all of a sudden all hell is going to break loose.” The number of overnight visits by overseas travellers rose an estimated 6.8 per cent to 5.9 million in 2005, the report found. That’s expected to rise by 6.4 per cent to 6.2 million visits in 2006, with the greatest tourist traffic coming from the U.K. Proposed legislation in the U.S. would require everyone entering the country to have a passport or equivalent document, starting Jan. 1. Canada’s tourism industry worries the new requirements, which have yet to be passed, would discourage U.S. visitors from leaving their country. There’s no doubt places such as Windsor and Niagara Falls, Ont., whose casinos cater to U.S. visitors, stand to lose the most when the changes take effect, Fritsche says. “Certainly in the short-term it’s going to cause some period of adjustment that’s going to be very costly. But long-term, Americans are going to want to travel.” — Torstar wire service
JULY 2, 2006
INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 23
No major equalization boost After finance ministers’ conference, federal and Ontario finance ministers see eye to eye — but not all premiers are in agreement
I
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty at a winery near Niagara-on-the-Lake June 28.
urer and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Greater Toronto Area political minister, is more cautious. “Equalization, as you know, is a federal constitutional responsibility and at the end of the day the federal government, in the absence of a consensus, will have to act on that issue and do so in budget 2007,” the federal treasurer says. “The government of Canada has not taken a position on (how to fix equalization) and that continues to be our position now — that we haven’t taken one.” But Flaherty warned that the era of side deals — such as the one former prime minister Paul Martin signed with Newfoundland and Nova Scotia early last year, which provoked McGuinty’s fiscal fairness campaign — is over. “Agreeing as we all did on a principle-based approach to equalization is very important because of the ... lack of principlebased approach to equalization previously,” he says. However, he stressed that the 2005 Atlantic Accord would be honoured. Newfoundland and Labrador Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan says the meeting was a “refreshing
change. “We have an opportunity to have input into equalization rather than being told what it is,” he says. “There was very strong support (at the conference), if not unanimous support, that it be a principle-based formula, not the fixed pot of money that’s there now. “And I’m pleased to say at the conclusion that the federal minister concluded the Atlantic Accord was safe … equalization is not going to turn the clock back.” Manitoba Finance Minister Greg Selinger flatly rejects Flaherty’s and Sorbara’s contention that it is unnecessary to increase equalization payments to “have-not” provinces. “There’s definitely room to improve equalization,” Selinger says. Saskatchewan Finance Minister Andrew Thomson says the provinces received no answers from Flaherty on how the Conservatives would fulfill their election promise to fix the socalled fiscal imbalance. “We wanted to know how much money they were prepared to commit to equalization or fiscal
J. P. Moczulski/Reuters
imbalance agreements, and essentially we have come away no better informed than we started out,” he says. Thomson and other treasurers say Flaherty’s pledge to keep the special Atlantic deals greatly complicate the job of developing a new, one-size-fits-all formula for determining how much “havenot” provinces should receive from Ottawa in future. Meanwhile, Quebec Finance Minister Michel Audet is playing down the urgency of reaching a deal before a Quebec provincial election that could be called as early as August. That’s because Harper has made it clear he wants the fiscal imbalance in part to boost federalist fortunes in Quebec and help re-elect Premier Jean Charest. “We are not in a quick election scenario. Mr. Charest will make this decision. It’s not on the table right now,” says Audet, who admitted he was delighted by a new poll showing the Liberals ahead of the separatist PartiQuébécois for the first time since 2004. — with files from The Independent
Nortel to cut 1,900 jobs
T
hough it won’t say where or precisely when, Nortel Networks Corp. will cut 1,900 jobs throughout its global operations by 2008 as part of a restructuring move that will also change how it delivers pension and health benefits to North American employees. The telecommunications firm, still in its first year under CEO Mike Zafirovski, says the cost-saving moves are intended to help expand Nortel’s operating margin by more than $1.5 billion (U.S.) in 2008.
“One can only hope this (layoff) is the last. It must be awful to work there,” says Iain Grant, managing director of the SeaBoard Group, technology research and strategy consultants in Montreal. But the news isn’t all bad, with Nortel announcing 800 new jobs at what it dubs “operations centres of excellence” in Mexico and Turkey, where engineering, purchasing and data analysis work will be done. As for the job cuts, a company spokesperson said, “No decision has yet been taken
From page 21 Assembly. The last of Byrne’s questionable cheques were written in May of 2004, just a few short months before Bill 39 placed the auditor general squarely in the jealously guarded confines of the House of Assembly. That must have made Byrne a little queasy, right? During the debate on the Bill, Byrne put in his two cents worth. Was he really worried about the auditor catching up with him? Here’s part of his contribution to the debate: “To be honest, the impetus for this piece of legislation came from the Speaker of the House, no more to it than that … there was obviously a piece of work that we needed to do in the House of Assembly to define our precinct and it was absolutely fundamental on a go-forward basis …” That last comment was telling — Byrne was OK with the auditor general coming in on a go-forward basis, but not before. His concern, I believe, can be found in his passionate debate that day: “… and those within government continue to understand how important the House of Assembly functions are, whether it be its precinct, which we have defined tonight, whether it be amending our own act as it relates to government objectives, that we just do not automatically fall in, that we have our own business to partake in and that we must continue to jealously guard that.” Whether Sullivan knew anything is really not the issue. The IEC process satisfied him for at least six years. We must question the competence of a minister of Finance who did nothing in full knowledge of what his current colleague, Beth Marshall, the former auditor general, told him and other members of the IEC. We have only just begun with this whole fiasco. As taxpayers, do you think Beth Marshall is qualified to watch your money? A cabinet shuffle may help bring credibility back to politicians and our system.
By Robert Benzie and Les Whittington Torstar wire service n a significant development in the ongoing wrangling over equalization, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara agree the national wealth-sharing program does not need a massive cash infusion. The two treasurers emerged last week after two days of talks by federal and provincial finance ministers in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Canada’s fiscal imbalance singing from the same song sheet, saying Ottawa has limited resources and improving equalization payouts to “have-not” provinces is not a top priority. “I guess the short answer is, I think we’re more or less in agreement on that,” says Sorbara. Flaherty had gone into the meeting saying that it’s unrealistic of the provinces to think that Ottawa has “billions and billions of dollars” to fix the problem of fiscal imbalance. Sorbara agrees after yesterday’s meeting. “There are limited resources. You have to make choices as to how you will apply the additional resources and I think Jim and I are ad idem (share a common understanding) on the notion that this is not a period where the application of those additional resources to expanding in a significant way equalization is the best road to go down,” he says. That’s a shot in the arm for Premier Dalton McGuinty’s crusade against boosting equalization. Ontario taxpayers now send $4.9 billion to the $11.5 billion national fund Ottawa redistributes to “have-not” provinces like Quebec, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces, so they can provide services comparable to those in wealthier regions. McGuinty has argued the fiscal imbalance, which sees Ottawa amassing budget surpluses while many provinces struggle, should be rectified through increased transfer payments on a per-capita basis so all Canadians can benefit. “Ultimately the decision will be with the federal minister. Equalization is a federal program,” says Sorbara. Flaherty, a former Ontario treas-
Only just begun
regarding the existing Nortel locations. We’re working to finalize these proposals and they may be subject to consultation with employee representatives in some jurisdictions.” The net layoff of 1,100 amounts to about 3 per cent of the workforce at Nortel, which employs 35,370 regular full-time workers, with 13,390 in the United States and 7,775 in Canada. — Torstar wire service
Sue Kelland-Dyer was a policy advisor to former Liberal premier Roger Grimes.
24 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS
JULY 2, 2006
WEEKLY DIVERSIONS ACROSS 1 At any time 5 Remark to the audience 10 Preserve 14 Desert of SW Africa 16 Doctor’s replacement 17 Entirely 18 Endangered whale (St. Lawrence) 19 Ascend 20 Quebec site of summer music festival 22 Equal 23 In addition 25 Mohawk chief who fostered relationships between Iroquois and British 27 RPM part 28 Throw 30 Poet, songwriter, Buddhist 33 Don’t just sit there 34 Hot 35 Free (professional services) 37 Robin sound 39 Moan and ___ 41 Soup server 43 Equine utterance 46 Flirtation under the table 48 Ball holder 49 Taller 51 It may be coddled
52 Park on L. Erie: Point ___ 54 Shoe width 56 Shinto gateway 57 Water (Sp.) 59 Spring runner 60 Vancouver time 62 Citrus trait 63 Like some operators 65 Spanish relative 67 First black woman MPP (B.C.): Rosemary ___ 69 Adversary 70 Having a valid will 72 When Paris is blooming 74 Necessary 76 Glisten 77 Vocalizes 79 Nostrils 80 Roman hearth goddess 82 Dramatic domain 84 Percent of Canada that is arable land 87 Lawn material 88 Birthplace of Da Vinci 89 Wale 93 Did some carboloading 94 Is inclined 96 ___ Me Down, Nfld. 98 Nanette’s neck 99 Sheerness indicator
101 Ont. town on Grand River 104 First documentary film: ___ of the North 106 Food from heaven 107 Saint Kitts and ___ (Caribbean) 108 Ills 109 Sleigh 110 First aid mop-ups 111 Dueller’s piece DOWN 1 January in Juarez 2 Hollows (lit.) 3 Down Under bird 4 Capital of Latvia 5 Perfume base 6 The sun (myth.) 7 Here in Honfleur 8 Mute 9 Hug 10 Skater Browning 11 Mischievous little being 12 Run away to wed 13 Heat-proof glass 15 Sites for city tanning 17 Italian cheese 18 Flying mammal 21 Needing water 24 Shed tears 26 German exclamation 29 Dog’s name 31 Related on mother’s side
32 Centre point 34 Faucet 36 Coarse file 38 Dollars for quarters? 39 Eye protection 40 Rascally 42 Meadow 44 Long-necked ruminant 45 Odious 46 Sumptuous spread 47 Make beam 49 Basement gas hazard 50 Star in Orion 53 Upon: prefix 55 Taxing mo. 58 Getting exercise 61 Age of majority, once 64 Golfer from P.E.I. 66 French friend 67 Wild ___, Nfld. 68 Getting warm 71 Mosaic tile 73 Not for 75 Sketched 77 Makes sorrowful 78 Endangered ocean fish 81 Heavy weight 83 100% 84 Passing fancy 85 Agenda units 86 Open to bribery 90 School in Soissons 91 Not tied up
92 N.W.T. hamlet, for short 94 Care for
95 Killed biblically 97 Signal goodbye 100 -ish
102 Eggs 103 Torso bone 105 Hamburger in
Winnipeg
WEEKLY STARS ARIES (MAR. 21 TO APR. 19) You clever Ewes and Rams love nothing more than to rise to a challenge. So, by all means, if you feel sure about your facts, step right up and defend your side of the issue.
CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) Your aspect indicates some uncertainty about one of your goals. Use this period of shifting attitudes to reassess what you really want and what you’re ready to do to get it.
TAURUS (APR. 20 TO MAY 20) You’ve done some great work recently. Now it’s time to reward yourself with something wonderful, perhaps a day at a spa or a night out with someone very special.
LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) Your social life is picking up, and you’ll soon be mingling with old friends and making new ones. But ‘twixt the fun times, stay on top of changing workplace conditions.
GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) You love to talk, but don’t forget to make time to do a little more listening; otherwise, you could miss out on an important message someone might be trying to send you.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 22) A trusted friend offers understanding as you vent some long-pent-up feelings. Now, move on from there and start making the changes you’ve put off all this time. LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) You might well feel uneasy as you
face a difficult situation involving someone close to you. But you know you’re doing the right thing, so stick with your decision. SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) You’re a good friend to others. Now’s the time to allow them to be good friends to you. Rely on their trusted advice to help you get through an uncertain period. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) Family and friends are always important, but especially so at this time. Despite your hectic workplace schedule, make a real effort to include them in your life. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) That project you’ve been working on is almost ready for presentation. But you still need some information from a colleague before you can consider it done.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) Don’t let those negative attitudes that have sprung up around you drain your energies. Shrug them off, and move ahead with the confidence that you can get the job done. PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MAR. 20) Aspects favor some dedicated fun time for the hardworking Piscean. A nice refreshing plunge into the social swim can recharge your physical and emotional batteries. YOU BORN THIS WEEK: You love to travel and be with people. You probably would be happy as a social director on a cruise ship. (c) 2006 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Fill in the grid so that each row of nine squares, each column of nine and each section of nine (three squares by three) contains the numbers 1 through 9 in any order. There is only one solution to each puzzle. Solutions, tips and computer program available at www.sudoko.com SOLUTION ON PAGE 27
JULY 2, 2006
INDEPENDENT SPECIAL SECTION • 25
Racing days The Independent presents a new column leading up to the Royal St. John's Regatta
T
his year’s Royal St. John’s Regatta is slated for Aug. 2nd (the first Wednesday in August, weather permitting), marking the 186th installment of the historic sporting event. Newfoundlanders often talk about what we don’t have, but here we have the oldest running sporting event in North America and it seems public interest dwindles every year. That thought struck me about a week ago when the CLB Armory and the Regatta committee put off a tribute to the Blue Peter (an historic racing shell that burned in the CLB Armory fire of the early 1990s). The ceremony was wonderful: the cadets, accompanied by a horse and carriage, were in full uniform; a miniature replica of the Blue Peter was even presented. But there was something very wrong. The seats were empty. In fact, the cadets outnumbered the onlookers. Is it lack of interest? Was there a communication problem in that nobody knew about it? I think it’s a little of both – how do you raise interest and excitement over the St. John’s Regatta if nobody knows what’s
The Merry Regatta Do you want to hear the band, playing the banks of Newfoundland? It will put smiles on your faces; are you going to the races? Do you want to view the scene, of all the tents upon the green? Where you will meet familiar faces; are you going to the races? – Tom Delahunty, 1952. The poem, from an old Regatta program, was contained in the 2003 book, A Day at the Races, by Jack Fitzgerald.
going on? Unless you’re a rower, a coxswain, a coach or at the lake every morning and evening with your eyes peeled and your stopwatch running, how are you supposed to know the news, stories and crews associated with this year’s derby day? Mike Dwyer (Mickey), a well respected, 50-plus year Regatta veteran, says years ago there used to be a write up on the Regatta every day leading up to the event. “Now there’s nothing,” he says. Nowadays the only lead-up to the Regatta happens about twodays prior (if you’re lucky) in a local newspaper – and then it’s often a controversial article to get the backs up of rowers and The Independent Rowing Crew won the men’s championship last year. coxswains. Pond side will run in The Independent every week leading up to the And why are the men’s crews dwindling big day. The column will publish all the each year? Did you know that the boathappenings around lakeside in an informahouse manager for the past several years is tive and enlightening manner (that’s the a member of the record breaking 1981 goal, anyway). Its intent is to keep you Smith Stockley crew? Did you know that informed about this year’s Royal St. John’s the Regatta committee has purchased 10 Regatta, and, hopefully, generate excitenew practice shells? Who are the favourites ment. leading up to the July 8th time trials? Each Did you know that both the men’s and and every week I intend to bring you ladies champions of 2005 are not returning answers to these questions and many more. to defend their titles? Why aren’t they? To all my fellow rowers, coxswains, Who are the contenders this year? Did you coaches and true Regatta enthusiasts, I know that only one men’s team has know you know the answers to the above returned from the 2005 championship race? questions. I also know you are going to the
Photo by Paul Daly/ The Independent
races come Aug. 2, but wouldn’t it be great if everybody joined us? For those of you who consider the Royal St. John’s Regatta just another day off work, I ask you to reconsider. I ask you to keep an open mind. I ask you to head to the top of the lake on Regatta morning with the older gents as they listen to their wireless radios, clench their fists, and hold back tears as the first gun fires. Finally, I ask you to look at the faces of the rowers as they cross the finish line – sometimes in glory, sometimes in tears – but always in pride.
TOP 5 CREWS More than 60 teams participated in the Discovery Day Regatta (June 24th). Most of the crews took part and it’s usually a good indicator of the crews to watch for the remainder of the rowing season. The top 5 crews in each category included:
Ladies
Men
North Atlantic: 5:21.29 Smith Stockley: 5:26.44 St. John’s Racing Entertainment: 5:33.93 Central Dairies: 5:37.71 Target Women: 5:43.13
Crosbie Industrial: 9:22.58 O’Dea Earle: 9:37.82 Lamb’s Rum: 10:09.84 Ron Fourgere & Associates: 10:15.58 IKM Testing: 10:29.66
26 • INDEPENDENTSPORTS
JULY 2, 2006
PAUL SMITH
The Rock
Outdoors
J
ust a few days ago there was a black bear wandering around Shea Heights. It made the news, much to my embarrassment. The day before, I guided an outdoor writer from Calgary and his wife during a day of Avalon Peninsula salmon fishing. As we walked along the trail leading to the river our chit-chat turned to bears — the wife was somewhat concerned about large lurking carnivores. The path was lined with tall, overhanging spruce that filtered the midmorning light into a naturally occurring laser show. Smaller upstart spruce jostled for position amongst the timber-sized trunks, reducing visibility to nil. I suppose the atmosphere was kind of eerie, especially for visitors from the Prairies. I reassured her there are no bears on the Avalon. She was very relieved. I hope they missed the next day’s news. I didn’t actually lie — there is no resident bear population on the Avalon. I guess the Shea Heights bear was either lost or running from a former life, taking on a new identity maybe. In any event he disappeared into the woods before wildlife officers had a chance to whisk him off to more appropriate surroundings. The Newfoundland black bear has quite a reputation. They eat more meat and less plant material than any of their North American cousins. I’ve read that our bears have developed a special taste for moose and caribou to compensate for our island’s lack of nutritional veggie growth. Even bears have to be extra tough to forge out a living on this rock. A study conducted by the Newfoundland wildlife division revealed that our male black bears are 37 per cent larger, and female black bears are 55 per cent larger, on average, then their cousins in New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Maine, and Alaska. Males can weigh over 700 lbs. That’s a lot of carnivore. And they can run too. Lean bears can run up to 50 kilometres per hour, but fat fall bears in winter coats overheat and tire quickly. I’ll keep that in mind if I’m
Bear necessities
Black bears can out-run and out-swim humans — be prepared to shout ever chased by a fall bear … just kidding. Never run from a bear of any kind: a hungry bear can outrun a racehorse. Stand your ground and shout and scream. The shouting and screaming should come naturally. I’d suggest plenty of cussing. Black bears can swim too. I know this from an up-close-and-personal experience with a Labrador bear. Labrador’s black bears are among the smallest in North America but they are exceptionally bold — not aggressive, just bold. I was fly fishing for Arctic char at Char Lake, just north of Hopedale. I had waded out in the water up to my waist, trying to place my offering amidst a fine school of char that were lazily milling about off the mouth of a small feeder brook. I was so intent on hooking a fine
fat fish that I forgot about the bear tracks all over the sandy beach. My hunter’s eye caught some movement on the opposite shore. Sure enough, a small black bear was standing at the water’s edge looking right at me. “Look over there, he must be interested in fly-fishing,” I shouted back toward the beach where my guide and fishing partner, Doug Wentzell, was taking a break. Mr. Bear watched me intently for three or four casts before he splashed not so gently into the water. “He can swim,” I added, trying to play the fearless woodsman. Picture me, up to my waist in water, with a bear swimming towards me. The time for bravado was over. “Is he going to eat me or what?” “Nah, he’s just a bit brazen,” Doug
responded casually. I have to say, I was getting a bit nervous but the coolness in a much more experienced voice calmed my nerves. This must happen every day. The bear swam right past me, only about six feet away, and continued on to the beach like I wasn’t even there. It turned out that he wasn’t interested in my casting after all; it was our lunch bags lying on the beach that grabbed his attention. This was a real life Yogi Bear. He shook himself off and poked his nose into our packs. Doug was standing about 20 feet down the beach with a rifle pointed at the poor critter. I felt sorry for him now, he was just hungry for a ham sandwich and now facing certain death. “I don’t want to shoot him,” said
Doug, still as cool as a cucumber. “Think you can swat him with that stick?” I felt a surge of confidence. I splashed ashore, grabbed the driftwood bear swatter, and landed him a stout blow across the arse while Doug kept the gun steady on the bruin’s chest. The bear disappeared into the woods in a split second and thankfully never returned. So bears can out-run and out-swim us. I’m not sure about climbing trees. That would be very good to know. I’ll have to look into it for another time. Paul Smith is a freelance writer living in Spaniard’s Bay, enjoying all the outdoors Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer. flyfishtherock@hotmail.com
JULY 2, 2006
INDEPENDENTSPORTS • 27
Top pick From page 28 cup as big-city franchises. However, if Pronger and his wife Lauren start a trend, it could be something other than finances that leads to troubles for places like Edmonton. ••• On a different note, the Toronto Raptors seem to be moving in the right direction. Since new general manger Bryan Colangelo came on board a couple of months ago, the Raptors have managed to trade away some undesirables, win the first overall pick in the draft and pick up a proven veteran big-man in Rasho Nesterovic. With the top pick in last week’s draft, the team selected Italian big-man Andrea Bargnani, who has been likened to Dirk Nowitzki. Bargnani should be able to step in and contribute right away, and could blossom into star. However, I don’t think the Raptors are done with the reconstruction of their roster, but the most positive sign is that stud forward Chris Bosh, coming off his first all-star team appearance last season, has agreed to sign a contract extension and stay in Canada. Bosh is a keeper and will continue to improve. If the team gets a decent point guard, the Raptors should make the playoffs next season. ••• A few weeks back, I predicted Germany would win the World Cup, and as of press-time, they were still alive. However, Argentina and Brazil seem to be the class of this year’s tournament. It would be a surprise if a country other than those two comes out as champ. whitebobby@yahoo.com
‘Camaraderie amongst all ages’ From page 28 horseman” who did it all: shoe-making, harness-fixing, breeding and racing. His grandfather, Robert, raced back in the day at the Bella Vista track in St. John’s, off Torbay Road. Hailing from Maddox Cove, Hamlyn is proud of his family’s horsing background and hopes to bring about a resurgence in racing in the province. “I would love to see it boom like it used to and we’re working towards that,” he says. Hamlyn, 39, raced for fun last year for the first time in 18 years. He says back in 1981, a total of $1.4 million was bet on local races. He’d like to see the sport get back to that level. For the moment though, the track concentrates on doing what needs to be done to retain the current group of horse owners and attracting new ones. Owner Jim Whelan purchased the racing facility in 2004. Whelan lives in PEI and owns horses in Ontario, but, Hamlyn says, he’s committed to injecting new life into the Goulds facility. “He’s spent the money and provided the equipment to improve the facility and that doesn’t go unnoticed.” The enthusiasm around the barns is evident, Hamlyn continues. He’s especially pleased to see younger people around, picking up whatever they can about horses and racing. “You see the 15, 16 and 17 year olds around the horses and the camaraderie amongst all ages, and you see the growth,” he says. The facility hosts live races, featuring drivers from as far away as Carbonear, every Wednesday and Sunday until October. It also offers simulcast racing 363 days of the year for those who wish to try their luck on races elsewhere. Hamlyn is also working to create a more family-oriented atmosphere at the facility, organizing other activities to cater to children and families. And for a third-generation horseman like Shane Forward, that seems like a smart approach. “For me, it feels good to be keeping the family tradition,” he says. “And it’s also something that young people can have a lot of fun at.” Solutions for crossword on page 24
Keep your eye on the ball.
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INDEPENDENTSPORTS
SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 2-8, 2006 — PAGE 28
Harness racer Shane Forward
Photos by Paul Daly/The Independent
Horsing around With new management — and the province’s solid horse-racing history — the St. John’s Racing and Entertainment Centre is ready for a resurgence
By Bob White The Independent
S
hane Forward, a 20-year-old rookie driver at the St. John’s Racing and Entertainment Centre in Goulds, is grateful for the help his father, Scott, has given him throughout the years. “Yeah, I’ve got a good teacher, and hopefully things can work out and I’ll continue to improve,” the younger Forward says. “I wouldn’t be anywhere without his help and the rest of my family.”
Given the fact that Forward has a Universal Driver Rating of 4.9 and is already one of the top drivers at the track, it’s no wonder he’s being looked upon as a leader of the new generation. Forward is fine with that, and would love to help bring in new blood to the sport. “There is a sort of a gap between the last group of young people to break in and drivers my age,” Forward says. “Hopefully, I can help generate some more interest among the younger crowd.” A hockey player with the Southern Shore Breakers in the St. John’s junior league, Forward is trying to convince his hockey
teammate Sheldon Keough to get in on the action. Forward credits his father for getting him started with racing, which has been in his family since the days of his grandfather, Bob. The younger Forward stared off in amateur races as a 13-year-old and couldn’t wait for the day he got his driving licence to race with the big boys. Now, he’s hoping he can one day join the ranks of his cousin, Brad Forward. Brad, who competes out of Ontario, is one of the top drivers in the country and has earned millions of dollars, according to information posted on
a Canadian horse racing website. While that kind of success is a lofty goal and one he would love to achieve one day, Forward is happy for now to continue a family tradition. Chuck Hamlyn, general manager of the racing centre, is glad to see the Forward family keeping harness racing alive. Hamlyn, who took over as manager this past January, knows a thing or two about horse racing — it’s in his family as well. Hamlyn’s father, Charlie, was an “all-around See “Camraderie,” page 27
Pronger and wife set bad precedent
T
he Chris Pronger fiasco in Edmonton really caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting that one
at all. Pronger, who let it be known through his agent that his family is not happy living in Edmonton and he wants out, was poised to be named Conn Smyth winner had the Oilers won the Stanley Cup. More than any other player, Pronger led Edmonton to the brink of the league championship. Here’s a guy who is in the prime of his career and captivated the hearts of Edmonton and Oilers fans everywhere. He was in the early stages of a multi-year contract with Edmonton and all signs pointed to Pronger being a major contributor to the team’s future success. He was the team’s best player.
BOB WHITE
Bob the bayman Now it seems his other team, his family, is calling the shots. I’m really confused. Apparently, he wants out because his wife doesn’t like Edmonton. But the Oilers are more than willing to pay him the remaining millions of dollars (over $6 million per season for the next four years) he signed for just last year. The former Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, Pronger knew where Edmonton was on the map when he signed, and now he’s
letting his wife dictate where he can or cannot play? I’m a family man too, but under the circumstances, I’m sure Pronger must have consulted with his wife before he signed the Edmonton deal, so there should be no surprises. In a nutshell, Pronger has two contracts pulling at him: one that pays no money, yet is priceless (says the sappy guy in me); the other pays him millions to produce on the ice, which he has done in fine fashion. Does he opt out of the marriage contract? That would most likely end up being a more expensive choice. What kind of a precedent does this set for NHL players and the teams that pay them?
Should Edmonton not play hard-ball when this kind of situation presents itself? Players want out all the time for various reasons, but you don’t hear this excuse too often (although former Toronto Raptor forward Antonio Davis weaseled his way out of TO because his wife didn’t like the city or the Canadian education system). In reality, players of Pronger’s status can get away with it. That’s the part about this that sucks — but it’s undeniable. A fourth-line guy who tries to pull this off would be ushered out of the league in seconds. A star can get away with it, and Pronger will get what he wants. Kevin Lowe, Edmonton’s general manager, has his hands tied because he has to move the big defenseman and
every other team and GM knows it. Lowe has to find a deal that gives Edmonton equal value for Pronger. And with the season he just had, that is not going to be easy. Then again, Pronger is arguably the league’s best blueliner, or at least in the top five. With his recent offseason and how he carried the Oilers, his value has never been higher. So there’s probably a GM out there who has visions of Pronger leading another team to the Stanley Cup finals. After the NHL strike and the way the 2005-06 season played out, it seemed like small-market teams like Edmonton could have just as much chance at winning the See “Top pick,” page 27