2007-03-09

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VOL. 5 ISSUE 10

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 9-15, 2007

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SPORTS 29, 31

Continued coverage of the 2007 Canada Winter Games

Nelson Hart is led into Gander court; Hart has a quick word with his wife, Jennifer (right).

Photos Paul Daly/The Independent

Standing by him

Wife of the man accused of killing their twin three-year-old daughters says the two will go on together STEPHANIE PORTER GANDER or the first seven days of her husband’s murder trial, Jennifer Hart haunted the lobby outside the courtroom. Not permitted to watch

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the proceedings — not until she gave her testimony, at least — she waited and watched as her husband was led to and from the holding cell, sometimes walking beside him, managing to exchange a few words, a few glances. Nelson Hart stands accused of two counts of first-degree murder for the 2002 drowning of his three-year-old twin daughters, Karen and Krista. The

trial, now two weeks old, is expected to stretch well into April. The case is being closely followed in the local and national media, a hot topic of conversation and speculation among many. The details of the day of the tragedy — not to mention the elaborate $400,000-sting that seems straight out of a detective novel — are intriguing and irresistible for armchair jurists.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “"Basically (Air Canada) can do as they damn well please … that is something that hasn’t percolated into the general public.” — Michael Janigan, executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. See page 4.

NEWS 5

Is province on a collision course with Ottawa? BUSINESS 13 Stan Marshall

Paul Daly/The Independent

The art of the deal ‘How many people can pick up a phone and get $1 billion tomorrow?’ asks Fortis president IVAN MORGAN

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tan Marshall makes coffee for his guests in his boardroom on the 12th floor of the Fortis building in downtown St. John’s. Last month he nearly doubled the size of his company, closing a deal to buy Terasen Gas in British Columbia. When congratulated on his $3.4 billion deal, he smiles and corrects. “$3.7 billion … but who’s counting?” Marshall is president and chief executive officer of Fortis, a multina-

tional company he has grown from humble roots as a holding company for Newfoundland Power. Fortis is one of the few investor-owned utilities in an industry dominated by Crown corporations, and the only one to operate in five provinces. Marshall says Fortis is “by far the biggest business based in this province.” Although it would be more convenient to live elsewhere, as almost all of his business is conducted outside the province, Marshall says he remains based in Newfoundland because he was born here. See “We would all,” page 11

West coast wood woes LIFE 17

Susan Rendell chats with songstress Sherry Ryan Paper Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Life Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noreen Golfman. . . . . . . . . . . Movie reviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . Style. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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As questions arise in the courtroom and out about Hart’s intentions, health, and personality, Jennifer has stuck with her husband — with the exception of a brief separation in 2003. On March 6, as jurors heard the province’s chief and deputy medical examiners discuss autopsy results for the two girls, Jennifer, as usual, waited outside the heavy wooden doors. When

the court took a recess, she spoke quickly to defence lawyer Derek Hogan in the hallway, then walked down the corridor, ready and waiting for her husband to walk by yet again. Approachable and willing to chat, Jennifer’s eyes nonetheless barely leave the doorway Nelson will soon step through. See “I know,” page 8

Seal for your supper Stats show only fraction of seal meat makes it to market MANDY COOK

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ow much seal meat do people eat? Besides a scattered flipper pie, the answer may be not

much. In 2006, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans pegged the total allowable catch at 325,000 seals. According to the general manager of Carino Company Ltd., one of the province’s largest seal processors, the beater seal — the animal most favoured by hunters (less than a month old) — has about 12 kilograms of meat on its frame. A quick tally shows that should work out to 3.9 million kilograms of available meat for consumption. According to figures provided by the provincial Department of Fisheries, 272,155 kilograms of seal meat went to market in 2006 (a third of which was exported to Asia). Another 100,000 kilograms were consumed locally in — you guessed it — the form of flippers. That leaves about 3.5 million kilograms of meat unaccounted for. Although his company deals primarily in seal pelts and oil, John Kearley of St. John’s-based Carino Company says there are several reasons why the majority of seal meat is not making it to more supper tables. He points his finger primarily at Ottawa. “The biggest hindrance back seven or eight years ago, or probably more, the federal government and provincial

government at that time were giving subsidies to sealers to bring the meat ashore,” he says. “But at that time, one of the ingredients that must be in there (was) a product called sodium nitrate which is a preservative and colour enhancer — you can’t put that with fish. “Under the Fisheries Act, under DFO, everything that comes out of the sea is deemed a fish so seals are deemed a fish by DFO.” Kearley says it took several years before the regulations were changed to exclude seals from the rule — but by that time “the damage had been done.” The subsidies had dried up and no foreign market was interested. Kearley also says sealers have precious little room in their vessels to sacrifice for seal carcasses when the pelts are worth so much more. Provincial Fisheries Minister Tom Rideout agrees. “The pelts are of such value and the meat itself of such low value that despite efforts to encourage harvesters to bring in meat it hasn’t been met with a lot of success because there hasn’t been an economic incentive to do so,” he says. “Whatever space it takes up it displaces a seal pelt.” Rideout says the industry has seen some success in Asian markets. Korea certified seal meat several years ago for consumption, while most other countries still require a veterinarian’s inspection certificate — virtually impossible to obtain while hundreds See “We make no,” page 2


2 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

MARCH 9, 2007

Take it to the bank

Randy Simms argues big banks may be entitled to service charges

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ounting a defence can sometimes be difficult, if not impossible. Take defending the seal hunt. It’s easy to do in Newfoundland and Labrador, but try it in downtown America and it gets a little more daunting. So I hope you can appreciate my reticence when approaching the task of defending Canada’s big banks. Hating big banks and condemning them for overcharging us is an accepted practice in this country. Banks make huge profits and we feel as if they take bits of our cash every time we turn around. With profits topping out at $19 billion last year you can understand the challenge. Arguing that a bank should be allowed to charge you for a service beyond what we already pay is a tough sell, but I’m going to try. Federal NDP leader Jack Layton understands this challenge and in January he came out with a suggestion he knew would hold sway with Canadians. He says the banks shouldn’t charge us for using our debit cards at institutions where we are not regular

RANDY SIMMS

Page 2 talk customers. Automated banking machines are now ubiquitous and we use them with wild abandon. However, there is a financial catch. If you are a Scotiabank customer, for example, but happen to use a banking machine at a rival bank, you get hit with a charge, usually $1.50. According to Layton, that means you are being charged to withdraw your own money. He argues that we should be able to go into any bank and take out money and not have to pay for the privilege. After all, it’s your money. He also argues that in other countries — and he mentions Great Britain specifically — you can do exactly as he proposes. In other words, the service offered to customers among competing banks is free to everyone in the motherland. He thinks we should enjoy the same in Canada.

It sounds nice. But like anything else went into providing the convenience of in life there is little free. Going between banking machines. banks and withdrawing money is not When you, as a Scotiabank customer, free either. go into a competing bank and withdraw The actual technolofunds from your gy that makes it possiScotia account a couble for a Scotiabank ple of things happen. customer to go into a First, the competing Defending big banks bank gives you the rival bank and withdraw money from their money and they have is difficult but in Scotia account is quite to retrieve it from a feat. Not only must your bank, which this case they are all of the machines be takes it from your able to “talk” to each account and passes it doing it right and other they also have to on. Like it or not, this we should leave be secure and the activity costs money. records of withdrawal The only debate is well enough alone. and deposits must be who should pay for accurate. There is a it? labour cost attached as In Great Britain, well. These machines where convenience have to be loaded with cash and when fees of the type we are describing are they break down repairs have to be not charged, it shouldn’t surprise you to made. learn regular banking fees are higher, According to the Canadian Bankers’ because there is no free ride. It has to be Association, our six major banks have paid for. spent more than $4.4 billion on techI’ll use myself as an example. I pay nology since 2005. A good portion of it $9.95 per month for my regular bank-

ing. I think it’s a fair price for the amount of business I do and I don’t want to pay more. In the last year I have withdrawn money from my account through a competing bank exactly twice: $100 each time. Total costs to me: $3 bucks. No big deal. I don’t want to pay $15 a month instead of $9.95 because I am allowed to go to a rival bank and withdraw money without an additional charge. I would much prefer to continue paying that $1.50 each time I have to do it. In other words, user pay is a far better program than spreading the costs among all customers whether they use the service or not. While Layton’s idea sounds sweet, it doesn’t take a lot of research to see how his proposal will fail us. Defending big banks is difficult but in this case they are doing it right and we should leave well enough alone. Mr. Layton should drop this idea before we all end up paying more. Randy Simms is host of VOCM’s Open Line radio program. rsimms@nf.sympatico.ca

‘We make no apologies for that’ From page 1 of sealers hunt in dangerous conditions out on the ice. Rideout also says seal meat is being used for some animal feed, but there’s been little research done on the possi-

bility of seal meat becoming a source of fish feed in the aquaculture industry. Santosh Lall, a leading researcher in fish nutrition at the Institute for Marine Biosciences in Halifax, also says there hasn’t been enough exploration into the idea. He says as long as the product

quality is high and the supply is stable, seal meat would make a good component of fish feed. However, he says the negative stigma associated with the harvest is causing problems. WELL AWARE “Ten years or 15 years ago it looked quite promising, but what happened was last year people started to ask the question, even though it’s not right, if there was seal meat included what impact it would have, especially if it was going for the U.S. market because they were boycotting the Canadian product.” Rideout is well aware of the farreaching effects the anti-sealing movement has had on one of the province’s most historic industries. He says 100 per cent utilization of the entire seal can only help the sealers’ cause. “The more of the meat we can utilize and the less wastage there is of the animal, then the more legitimate in my view is our argument that we’re utilizing the whole animal and we’re not just hunting for the skins. “And that’s important and we make no apologies for that … to be able to say we’re doing that is a positive message and the better off we’ll be.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

The most high-profile seal protestors last year were Paul McCartney and his then-wife Heather Mills, shown above with harp seal pup during their trip to an ice floe in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on March 2, 2006. Paul Darrow/Reuters

Line in the land The City of Mount Pearl addressed the media this week to outline its arguments against the City of St. John’s claim to the currently vacant 132 acres of land known as the former Sprung greenhouse property. Amongst the arguments put forth by city administrators are: historical ties to the area because of Sir James Pearl’s original homestead being located on the site; the creation of an “isolated enclave” if the land were to be awarded to St. John’s; municipal services being delivered via Commonwealth Avenue; and previously established precedents by the province when establishing past boundary adjustments. — Mandy Cook


MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 3

SCRUNCHINS A weekly collection of Newfoundlandia

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he life of an MHA is no doubt a challenging one, given the reputation that precedes them, but imagine what it must be like to be married to one. Stan Marshall, the ultra successful head of Fortis, a St. John’s-based power company, is married to Beth Marshall, Tory MHA for Topsail. Beth doesn’t need to work (Stan most definitely makes enough for two), but she’s never been the sit-at-home type. A former auditor general — the same one who was kicked out of the House of Assembly a few years ago for trying to do her accounting job — she went on to become a politician and senior cabinet minister. Beth soon resigned from cabinet after a spat with Danny. She sure has grit though. Beth told The Independent in early January that she “definitely made the right decision” when it came to her resignation, which was a message to the premier (in case it wasn’t obvious). But, like every other MHA elected in the past 15 or 20 years, she’s taken a few knocks for the political spending scandal. Beth may have refused that secret $2,875 cheque MHAs awarded themselves in 2004, days after the public sector strike (imagine what Leo Puddister could have done at the time with that little nugget), but she also didn’t say a peep about it when it happened. Other than that, Beth has an impeccable record (premier qualities even). Back to her

man … Stan was asked this week what it’s like being married to an MHA.“I think, again, it’s always difficult to portray MHAs as being all alike. I live with my wife; I don’t live with the other MHAs.” Stan has a whole lot of sympathy for all politicians, in the sense that he could never be one. “And when I say that, I am always loathe to criticize people doing a job that I don’t want to do. Or could not do.” Sounds like you’d make a fine politician, Stan … BUSHWHACKER Speaking of businessmen, the late Craig Laurence Dobbin was the most successful Newfoundland businessman of them all. The Northeast Avalon Times carried a piece recently on Dobbin’s will, and how he left a little something to a former president of the United States. Dobbin left George H. W. Bush Sr. a one-week-a-year stay at either his fishing lodge in Long Harbour or at his lodge in Adlatuk, Labrador — free of charge — for as long as Bush shall live. Oh, and Dobbin also threw in access to the lodges by chopper and seats for up to 30 of Bush’s buddies. The Globe and Mail carried an obituary on Dobbin last October, a story that noted how Bush fell into a Newfoundland “boghole” in 1995 and almost drowned. Bush can’t mind the murderous bogholes that much, he’s back here all the time … CHEQUE PLEASE Dobbin definitely wasn’t a 9-5 guy. “I

never had a desk in 25 years; I never opened my mail or wrote a cheque,” he once said. Dobbin’s friends marveled at how he could jump out of bed in the early morning and plunge into a cold stream in his underwear. “It feels very tough at first,” Dobbin reportedly said (as quoted by the Globe), “but you’re invigorated when it’s over.” That’s what good Newfoundland water (as opposed to the bad boghole water) will do to you … BORDER GUARDS The same edition of The Northeast Avalon Times carried a review of Independent photo editor Paul Daly’s book, Straight Shooter. The reviewer, Jean Graham, wrote of how there’s a funny little story circulating about why the official launch of Daly’s book was postponed a few weeks. “It seems the book’s title made customs officials a little antsy and it was held at the border,” Graham wrote. “A couple of boxes of the books were destroyed before somebody realized it was not a guide for terrorists, but rather a fine example of what makes news so important to a democratic society.” Continued Graham, “Come to think of it, there are those who would rather see Paul Daly and his Independent confreres held at the border and muzzled, if not burned, but I’m wandering.” No worries about being burned alive, we’d just dive into the nearest boghole … JACKPOT LOSER Doctors are getting scarce these days. Ontario’s Leamington Post reported this week that the hospital in the town of 27,000 on the shore of Lake Erie has a new chief of staff, expected to be on the job by May. Good for them, bad for us. The new doctor is none other than Dr. Ejaz Ghumman, current chief of staff at the Peninsulas Health Care Corporation, which services the Bonavista and Burin peninsulas, as well as the Clarenville area. “We hit the jackpot,” said Warren Chant, CEO of the Leamington hospital. Named the best place to live in Canada by MoneySense magazine, Leamington is said to be a place where “breathtaking sunsets, secluded beaches, after-supper sails and friendly faces are a way of life.” Wait a minute, isn’t that the place Ghumman is leaving? SEALING THEIR FATE A Quebec filmmaker says animalrights activists have complained after he used footage of them ignoring a

Craig Dobbin

dying seal for more than an hour in a documentary on Canada’s seal hunt. The National Post reported that Raoul Jomphe said the activists were filming a promotional segment for a fundraising campaign when the incident occurred. Almost seems like the activists are in it for the money … BRUTAL BEATING Alberta radio station 630 CHED reported this week that a Newfoundlander had been convicted of second-degree murder in the brutal beating and stabbing of a mentally disabled senior in September 2004. The trial was told Walter Anderson and his wife had only recently moved to Bentley from Goose Bay. Court was

told he was desperate for money because he owed $6,000 to a credit company and $18,000 in child support to a former wife in Newfoundland … BRICK IN THE WALL Finally, kids seem to be much more fond of Education Week today than when I was a kid. But then when your seven-year-old brings home a note from school that says there will be “no homework and no tests (honest!),” you can understand the change in attitude. My Grade 2 student went off to school Thursday with a blanket in his knapsack. “It’s relaxation day,” he told me. I’ve got to bring that idea up with Independent management … ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

‘One good bird’ Turr population improving thanks to regulation, high fuel prices, and the out-migration of hunters By Pam Pardy Ghent For the Independent

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hether you call them murres or turrs, many in Newfoundland still consider them a good meal. But at one time, turr meat was a staple of many traditional diets — the birds were readily available and they only cost what you had in your gun. “We never tasted chicken back then, all we had was what we could kill by ourselves,” says Roy Keeping, 75. “Nothing for a string of birds to be hung outside the house on a nail.” They kept there all winter. Keeping started hunting turrs with his father as a boy. He remembers them being in groups of 200 or more, and each shot seemed to meet its mark. “One time the old man killed nine with one shot,” he laughs. “We always got what we went for in them days.” But times have changed. Now he says he’s lucky to get a meal out of a hunting trip. “The turr is an easy bird to kill, but the numbers aren’t like they used to be. You could go out now and you might get one or you might not.” There are two types of murres, says wildlife technician Pierre Ryan. The common murre breeds in Newfoundland, and the thick-billed murre (also known as the northern turr) comes down from the Canadian Arctic. There are about half a million pairs of common murre and about two million pairs of northern murre, he says. In winter, seven million murre may use Newfoundland waters and the Grand Banks to nest. While those numbers sound high, they must be closely monitored. Murres raise one chick a year and they don’t nest until their fifth summer. The hunt is now regulated — it wasn’t always. “If you lived here before Confederation you could hunt murres, then virtually overnight we lost our right to hunt all seabirds,” Ryan says. The House of Commons was in an uproar. “We were still a people living off the land in ’49.” Regulatory amendments to the Migratory Bird Convention Act were passed in 1955, and Newfoundlanders

and Labradorians were able to hunt turr once more. By 1982 the registered number of kills was 400,000, with another 200,000 estimated non-registered ones. Turrs were also being killed in nets and by oil spills. “The numbers were dwindling and our population was going to be depleted,” Ryan says. “We ran into problems with market hunting (selling seabirds is illegal) and under ministerial order we closed the season altogether in Fortune Bay for ’91 and ’92.” It wasn’t a popular decision. “The weather was suitable, the birds settled in and the people just went nuts.” Cecil Skinner of Harbour Breton says this year’s hunt wasn’t as good as last year’s — but it was a good one nonetheless. Part of the thrill of catching turrs is cleaning them, he continues. Skinner made his own turr picker and he is a skilled “squinger” (torching the bird to remove down.) “Makes you feel great when it all comes off beautiful and it’s ready to cook,” he says. It’s a lot of work, but he says it’s worth it. “I have a son in Ontario and a daughter in St. John’s and I can theirs up and sends it to them ’cause they love a meal,” he says. Ryan says rural Newfoundland keeps the hunt alive and, for the most part, hunters respect the quotas. In the midst of the cod moratorium, the government began to further regulate seabird hunting by reducing the bag limit and season. This time, Newfoundlanders took the news seriously. “People were terrified, to be honest. Here we were with the almighty cod near gone. Well then, what chance did our murre population have to survive?” The numbers would not have gone up if people didn’t comply, Ryan says, but the out-migration of hunters and high cost of fuel has also helped the murre population grow. This year, Ryan expects 320,000 turrs to be killed. There is a bag limit of 20 birds per hunter per day; the season closes in most areas March 10. “I’m a turr hunter myself and I made five or six trips so far this year,” Ryan says. “A roasted turr is one good bird.”

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Phone: 579-4000 • Toll Free: 1-888-579-3262 • chescrosbie.com


4 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

MARCH 9, 2007

Sky high Air Canada airfares raise eyebrows By Ivan Morgan The Independent

T Job fair coordinator Alexandra Stefanovic-Chafe

Andre Sokolov

Jamal Bader

Employment development officer Kathy Hogan.

Paul Daly photos/The Independent

Employers and job seekers encouraged to attend first St. John’s job fair for immigrants By Stephanie Porter The Independent

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ooking for a new job can be daunting at the best of times, but if you’re in a new place, surrounded by a different language and unfamiliar culture, the task could be almost overwhelming. That fact is becoming more and more pronounced in St. John’s as the immigrant community grows and diversifies: potential employees aren’t sure how experiences in their home country measure up or how to break into the labour market; and employers aren’t aware of new talent — or how that talent may fit their needs. To try and bridge the gap between the two, the Association for New Canadians is holding its first job fair for the newest Newfoundlanders. Kathy Hogan, an employment development officer for the association, says the fair is a chance for “immigrants, permanent residents from another country who still struggle with the employment process and international students” to see what’s out there, meet some employers, and open themselves up to the opportunities that exist. “We want to show them, if you want to work now, here’s some places to try,” she says. “And if you’re looking to train, here’s some sectors you

should look towards training in to get into really good jobs.” On the flip side, but just as importantly, the event is a chance for employers “to see that there’s this pool of labour that’s available and interested in working that may be a little bit untapped — that may see the signs in the business windows but don’t know how to go about getting in there, or if they’re ready to.” More than 30 employers are scheduled to take part in the fair, representing both skilled and unskilled sectors. Others are invited to stop by. “There will be some representatives from the service industry,” says job fair co-ordinator Alexandra Stefanovic-Chafe, “because we know there’s a shortage of labour there. We also wanted to have other employers like Husky Energy, Fortis, call centres, Memorial University, College of the North Atlantic. “We hope there is something for everybody, even for people who haven’t yet mastered the language or are still learning about St. John’s and a new country, maybe they will find something.” A job — not even a job in a newcomer’s primary field of interest — can be a great learning opportunity, continues Stefanovic-Chafe. It provides an opportunity to interact with other Newfoundlanders and Labra-

dorians, be exposed to local culture, and to make a stable and needed paycheque. Jamal Bader, a Palestinian from Iraq who came to St. John’s just three months ago, is well aware of this. He has a masters degree and 18 years of management experience in dairy factories in his home country. He also holds patents for “two new kinds of processed cheese.” He left his country for a safe and stable environment — and hoped work would be waiting. ‘ANY JOB OK’ “They promise us, that everybody who come to Canada will get a job in his field, but we discover it is nothing like this,” Bader says. “I have good experience and I become very happy if I can get a job in my field. But if I cannot, any job would be OK for me.” He’s currently taking language classes at the Association for New Canadians to improve his chances. Andre Sokolov is also taking language classes with the association. Sokolov is highly skilled, with a PhD in physics and significant technical training in electronics. He’s been in St. John’s just over a year, working to master English, and looking for work — he’d like to be hired as a teacher or professor of Russian, French, math or physics. “I’ve tried at the university, and had

some interviews, but no luck yet,” he says. Meantime, Sokolov is optimistic, and enjoying his new surroundings. “I like Newfoundland, I like snow … and the people are very warm and open. I am Russian so it’s a bit different from other people who come from Africa.” Hogan says the challenges faced by immigrants looking to get into the job market are many and varied. “It depends on the circumstances people are coming in under, or what country they’re coming from,” she says. “Some people do face significant language barriers … then there’s credential recognition: someone may be coming in with a masters or PhD from their own country, or they may have been a professional engineer in their country for 10 years and then they come here and their employer looks at that and doesn’t know how it compares.” Then there’s learning to sell themselves: whether it’s a lack of confidence or cultural differences, many newcomers sell themselves short in terms of experience and skills. “There are a lot of hoops to jump through, and we (the association) certainly are here to help them navigate.” The Job Fair for Newcomers is scheduled for March 14 at the Holiday Inn in St. John’s, 10 a.m.-3 p.m

he highest price currently charged by Air Canada for a return flight from St. John’s to Gander is $1,130.13. Air Canada provides the only air service from the capital city to the central Newfoundland town. “It’s the cost of doing transportation on such a route,” Isabelle Arthur, spokesperson for Air Canada, tells The Independent. She says the cost of operating routes in small markets is a factor in higher prices for air travel in Newfoundland and Labrador. Critics of Air Canada disagree. Indeed, it’s cheaper to fly from St. John’s to England (approximately 3,600 kilometres) than to Gander (331 kilometres). Arthur points out $1,130.13 (all prices include taxes and fees) is the peak price, with substantially lower fares available for the same service. A local travel agent provided The Independent with prices to Gander as low as $560 return. Flights between Corner Brook and St. John’s ranged from $579.51 to $921.51 return, and to Goose Bay in the range of $804 to $1,488.99 return. Air Canada has competition on these routes. Astraeus airline offers a charter flight return from St. John’s and Gatwick, England for $755.40. Arthur says the routes are not comparable. “People say that Montreal-Paris is cheaper than Montreal-Sept-Isle,” she says. “Well, once again you are not comparing the same two markets and you are comparing the same fares.” Michael Janigan, executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a national watchdog organization for consumer interests, says there is another reason for the high cost of the St. John’sto-Gander route. “Is there any other airline that is flying between Gander and St. John’s?” asks Janigan. When told there isn’t, he says, “Well, bingo, eh? “Obviously the prices on this route reflect the fact they have no competition.” Arthur says Air Canada welcomes competition but says currently there is no competition on that route. “And I think that also, maybe, speaks for itself,” she says. Janigan says the rate may be an unreasonable fare as defined by the Canadian Transportation Agency. “I guess there are people who must be willing to pay it, or it wouldn’t be offered,” says Dave Western, the agency’s director of complaints. He says airline prices are deregulated and it is up to the marketplace to determine them. If there is no competition, his agency can investigate a complaint of unreasonable fares. He isn’t sure if his agency has received a complaint on that route. Western says economics dictate that shorter routes cost more. The cost of getting an airplane into the air and back down again can be greater than the cost of flying over a great distance. “So obviously your price-per-mile is much higher if you are on a short distance. If you could fly a 747 full from St. John’s to Gander your cost per seat would go way down.” Janigan says prices reflect competition in the airline industry — but “competition to Air Canada has a tendency to disappear.” He says there is “friction” between consumer expectations and Air Canada’s performance. Many Canadians think Air Canada is a national institution that has an obligation to provide the best service at the lowest rates across the country. “That’s not their obligation at all … Basically they can do as they damn well please,” says Janigan. “That is something that hasn’t percolated into the general public.” ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca


MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 5

Laundry list Province has long list of unresolved issues in face of looming federal election By Ivan Morgan The Independent

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qualization, a new prison, an early retirement package for fishery workers, the fate of Gander airport, more federal jobs, fallow-field legislation, the Gulf ferry service, the lower Churchill, 5 Wing Goose Bay, the Marystown shipyard … the list of unresolved issues between the Williams administration and the federal Harper government is as wide as the Gulf between Newfoundland and the mainland. The Globe and Mail reported last week that Williams may be on a “preelection collision course” with Ottawa over the national equalization program. The Globe quotes a source from inside Williams’ administration — renowned for being leak-proof — who says if the prime minister reneges on his written promise to remove Newfoundland’s non-renewable resources from the equalization formula “it would electrify the electorate.” Yet equalization is only one of many issues the provincial Progressive Conservatives have outstanding with the federal Conservatives. Some say the premier’s negotiating style and relationship with Harper is holding back the resolution of many of these issues. Others say Williams’ stance is the correct one. The premier declined comment for this article, referring all questions to Intergovernmental Affairs Minister John Ottenheimer. The Independent also requested an interview with the province’s representative for federalprovincial relations in Ottawa, John FitzGerald. The premier’s office denied the request. Ottenheimer, who met with federal cabinet ministers in Ottawa last month, says on the eve of a federal government budget (to be delivered March 19), it is difficult for the province to get a commitment. He says he met with MP Loyola Hearn, the province’s representative in the federal cabinet, who was “frank and direct” on equalization, repeating that no province will be disadvantaged. Ottenheimer says the provincial government takes that as a re-affirma-

Fabian Manning and federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty at The Rooms on his first visit to the province.

tion of the commitment given by the prime minister during the last federal election. Ottenheimer, who met with several federal ministers, says he left his meetings feeling “totally positive and energized.” Opposition leader Gerry Reid says the premier may be using the controversy surrounding the equalization formula and other issues to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, setting Ottawa up as a foe to garner popularity at home. He says premiers like Joey Smallwood and Brian Peckford did so

to their advantage, and Williams has done it in the past, lowering the Canadian flag in response to then prime minister Paul Martin’s waffling on his Atlantic Accord promise. Reid says there is no public appetite for a fight with Ottawa now: “Once you do it once, it doesn’t have the same effect the second time around.” He says it is ironic that when in Opposition Williams criticized the Grimes administration for their confrontational approach in their dealings with Ottawa. Reid says the premier’s track record over the past three years is not strong,

Paul Daly/The Independent

with the only victory being the Atlantic Accord. Federal Conservative MP Norm Doyle says every premier’s negotiation style varies — and Williams has his. “I don’t believe it hurts the relationship to any great extent to state your case strongly,” says Doyle. He says confrontation comes from the priorities of the federal government not being the same as the priorities of the provincial government. Doyle says this often puts him in a difficult position, balancing between representing his province and being a

part of the federal party. Liberal MP Scott Simms says the premier, a “progressive” conservative, is facing an ideological struggle with the federal neo-conservatives in the Harper administration. He says people like Loyola Hearn, a progressive, are increasingly uncomfortable inside the Conservative party. He says the Conservatives are spearheading a neo-conservative push in government he calls the “the politics of abandonment.” He says this may not bode well for Williams or the province. ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca

A rant contest?

What, do I look like Rick Mercer to you? If you were asking me – and

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me: a high school student. Fine!

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6 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

MARCH 9, 2007

Dare to differ T

here’s been quite a racket within the pages of The Independent these past few weeks, a war of words among Rick Mercer, Noreen Golfman, half the Armed Forces and civilians at home and abroad. There hasn’t been much talk about it in the local media (more on that in a moment), although Macleans magazine is printing a piece this week on the ruckus. It all began with a column Noreen wrote way back on Jan. 12, tucked away on page 19 of The Independent’s Life section. Noreen took a shot at Mercer (one of our “sacred cows”) and the other “star Newfoundlanders” who flew over to Afghanistan during Christmas to entertain the troops. She didn’t question that so much as when it became acceptable for “your garden variety progressive, satire-loving celebrity to hug the troops, praise military actions, and pass the ammunition without so much of a hint of dissent or any questioning of the value of the mission.” She had a point, although it went right by Rick, who responded with a 1,400-word letter to the editor in our Jan. 26 edition.

RYAN CLEARY

Fighting Newfoundlander He also had a point, although his was more personal, describing Noreen as “Margaret Wente without the wit.” Wente’s the Globe and Mail columnist who wrote a few years ago about how we live in the most vast and scenic welfare ghetto in the world (outport Newfoundland, in other words). Which raises the question, when exactly did Rick acquire a taste for mainland fare? (Don’t forget the Middle Cove you come from, Mr. Mercer.) He went after Noreen for picking on his friend who lost his legs in Afghanistan. Rick went so far as to supply The Independent with a picture of the legless lad, Cpl. Paul Franklin, walking his son to school in Alberta on two prosthetics. As for why more people aren’t questioning our role in Afghanistan, Mercer, Canada’s funniest man, took on a serious tone, arguing the country should honour its “United Nations-sanctioned NATO commitments.

“By all means ask the questions Noreen, but surely such debates can occur without begrudging the families of injured soldiers too much airtime at Christmas?” Rick sure did miss the point. Too bad he isn’t taller so fewer points fly over his head. (Sorry, I must be the male version of Wente without the wit.) His new legion of fans — the Canadian military — also missed the point. Dozens of Canadian soldiers, spouses of Canadian soldiers, parents of Canadian soldiers, children of Canadian soldiers and friends of Canadian soldiers from all over the world wrote letters to The Independent defending Mercer for standing up for the Forces. Some of them wrote ugly letters, saying nasty things to Noreen. There were points when the Memorial University professor feared for her safety. In her words: “It is a trite irony that you are chastised for daring to question the purpose of the military mission when that very mission is allegedly about restoring democracy and freedom of speech.” The Independent was accused of sensationalizing the scrap, although if that were the case Rick’s rebuttal would

have played on the front page, with the two prosthetics supporting the masthead like poles holding up a backyard clothesline. I stand by The Independent’s coverage, a success in terms of raising the level of debate over the war. As one letter writer put it, Canadian journalism is the “real argument.” Too much of the war coverage is one-sided. How the hell can we expect to get the truth with so many embedded journalists and embedded entertainers? We’re either in bed with them, or we’re not. That’s what it comes down to. It’s time we pulled the sheets back and got a good lay of the land. Letters are still coming in every day, although the flow is trickling off. All told, the paper has received more than 100 letters to the editor, an unprecedented response in my years at the editing desk. I bumped into a CBC Television reporter recently at a press conference and told him about the reaction to the Rick/Noreen flare up. His response was to say how Noreen had taken a swing at the Mother Corporation in her initial column. In other words, shag ya if you mess with the corp., and that’s too bad.

As for coverage from other local media outlets, we (I include myself in this) have a tendency to avoid stories that break somewhere else. Although every now and then we have to take the high road and do what’s right for the greater good. Well, maybe someday … TAKING THE GLOVES OFF Speaking of columnists taking their gloves off, what’s with Russell Wangersky’s attitude? The Telegram editor wrote a column this week (Have your cake … and complain about it, too) about how we may “pretend” that things are far worse than they really are. Wrote Wangersky: “Maybe it’s just like a broken tooth that your tongue keeps finding, convincing you that’s something’s wrong … in this part of the province, I’m not at all sure we really have it that bad.” I don’t know about Wangersky, but if I had a broken tooth I’d want it fixed. That kind of writing, that style of journalism, is what keeps this place down. Then again, maybe he was pulling a Wente. In my experience, that gets us nowhere. ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

YOUR VOICE Russell Antoinette Dear editor, I was appalled upon reading Russell Wangersky’s March 6 column in The Telegram, headlined Have your cake … and complain about it, too. Mr. Wangersky has apparently come to the conclusion that there is little poverty in St. John’s! His rationale for this conclusion is that there are so many expensive trucks and snowmobiles on the outskirts of the city enjoying the great snow conditions. What a well thought out and informed conclusion! One could also drive through King William Estates and conclude that everyone in St. John’s lives in a $500,000 house. Having spent my whole working life in the education system, I would like to point out to Mr. Wangersky that poverty is alive and well in our capital city. Perhaps Mr. Wangersky could answer a few questions from a non-journalist? Why does he think the school-lunch programs exist? Has he had any experience of listening to single mothers, working for minimum

wage and trying to raise three children, express their despair? Why do food banks keep crying out for help? Did he read the front-page article in his own paper on the same day of his editorial revealing the lack of affordable housing for the hidden poor? Mr. Wangersky’s attitude does a great disservice to the working poor, the disabled, the homeless and especially to all those who work so hard to try to help those in our society desperately trying to survive. Worse than that, he feeds into an attitude that lets politicians off the hook and allows many of us to dismiss the very existence of the poor or to classify them as slackers and whiners. This attitude allows us to ignore the problem and quietly “sip Scotch” in the warmth of our comfortable homes. Unfortunately not everyone has Scotch or warm homes or cake, Mr. Wangersky! Anna Courish, St. John’s

‘Pass on my appreciation’ Dear editor, Please pass on my appreciation to Stephanie Porter for her excellent feature story on the Salvation Army’s new Wiseman Centre (Built with compassion, Feb. 16 edition). The photos

were also fabulous (so nice to see a paper use colour photos so well). Bruce Pearce, St. John’s Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness

‘Christmas didn’t blow at all’ Dear editor, I enjoyed reading Ivan Morgan’s column on material possessions, Living in a Material World, Feb. 23 edition, but I would have to say I disagree considerably with Ivan’s opinion of our current situation in North America. I would certainly agree that “people are weird about stuff,” but it is such an understatement that it really needs to be highlighted. I would also agree that we are no better off, but I would go further to say that we have also lost something. Take, for example, your story about the elderly man and his banana for Christmas. Now I read that and smiled — what a nice story. Most people these days, however, would agree with your daughter’s analysis of the situation that “back then Christmas really blew.” But you know deep down, and I know deep down, that back then, Christmas didn’t blow at all. The old man looked at the banana he got for Christmas the same

way kids today would look at a new PS3. In Newfoundland, in your elderly friend’s time, we used to be able to knit, make rugs, make clothes, mend nets, make boats, tell stories, write songs, play several instruments, step dance, build our own houses, grow our own food. Now what can we do? Many of our residents are keeping these things alive. For most of us, its move out west, make more money (not always for supporting our families) just so we can fill our houses with more mass-produced, cheaply made crap than the guy next door. No wonder there is so much depression these days. If there is something I can promise you, it is that technology and material things, although convenient, are full of empty promises. Chris Jenkins, Halifax (formerly of Lewisporte)

AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

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‘I thought we were both on the same side’

T

he Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, which I chair, published a report on Feb. 20 on the high-seas fishery outside Canada’s 200-mile zone, mainly on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks. That’s where NAFO, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, regulates foreign fishing of sadly depleted fish stocks. Our bipartisan report followed five months of study and the testimony of many expert witnesses, including former senior officials of DFO. In less than 24 hours, the minister of Fisheries and Oceans issued a statement effectively dismissing it. But he never mentioned a single recommendation. That puzzled me because I thought we were both on the same side, that being the side of our province and its fishermen. Mr. Hearn was an opposition member of the House of Commons fisheries committee when that body stated that if an ineffective NAFO couldn’t do the job, “Canada should be prepared to step in … we have recommended that this be done through the implementation of custodial management.” That would mean unilaterally imposing Canadian control beyond 200 miles. In early 2006, Mr. Hearn became minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and custodial management sank without a trace. In September, he took credit for highly touted reforms promised at NAFO’s annual meeting. His news release mentioned five major points. Let’s take a look at them. • “Vessels caught misreporting their catch will be directed to port for immediate inspection.” But expert witnesses told us that might not happen. Most of Canada’s troubles in NAFO have been with the European Union, including Spain and Portugal. It turns out that under the NAFO reforms, flag states still control any redirection to port, and an EU inspector can overrule a Canadian inspector regarding an EU vessel.

SEN. WILLIAM ROMPKEY Guest column

Closely looked at, the touted reforms all have defects, some of which could make Canada’s position weaker.

• “NAFO now has guidelines for sanctions when vessel owners are caught breaking the rules: countries will be obliged to impose a fine (or take other action).” That is partial progress, but as our witnesses noted, NAFO still needs a detailed schedule of sanctions applying to everyone, rather than leaving punishments up to the flag states. • “Captains on vessels that do not have 100 per cent observer coverage will have to report their catches in real-time.” What that really means is that Canada agreed to a reduction from the universal observer coverage that was required ever since the Estai incident. Our committee never got a satisfactory explanation how foreign captains reporting their catches can make up for the loss of observers. • “Procedures for dispute settlement ... will be made part of the NAFO Convention so countries that object to a NAFO decision cannot simply set out to fish a unilateral quota.” What this statement leaves out is that the new draft convention requires a two-thirds majority, rather than the former simple majority, to win votes in NAFO. That means

Canada, which has only one vote and must depend on allies, would have less chance of forcing member countries into the dispute-settlement procedure, or of getting our way on conservation quotas. • “NAFO’s fisheries management process must now take into account the precautionary approach and the ecosystem approach.” Fine, but let’s remember that in 2005 a federal advisory panel led by Dr. Art May, former president of Memorial and former deputy minister of DFO, recommended a major scientific review and rebuilding plan for NAFO fish stocks. No sign of that in the proposed September reforms. Closely looked at, the touted reforms all have defects, some of which could make Canada’s position weaker. Our report called for a reappraisal, with outside experts helping the government. We made 11 constructive recommendations. So what was the minister’s response the day after our report? He said in effect that the NAFO reforms must be working, since no one had spotted any infractions since December. That’s the same as saying that because the police have issued no tickets there is no speeding. He made no mention of the serious problems raised. Here’s what he did say: “I’m aware that the critics of NAFO will never be satisfied.” Mr. Hearn has dismissed a thoughtful report reflecting the testimony of knowledgeable witnesses from industry, science, officialdom, and academe. I just want to tell him we want the same as he does: a strong and effective NAFO that protects Canadian interests. When he finally sees the enemy he will discover it is not us. Senator William Rompkey (Labrador) is chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. This guest column represents his own opinions.


MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 7

Dreaming of an electric train

Ivan Morgan bemoans the lack of public transit — and wonders if amalgamation is the solution

A

s a young man I would listen to older men complain that the things of their youth were vanishing — to the detriment of us all. Yeah, yeah … old guys into the Scotch, I would think. So the other night I was sipping on a Scotch and wondering how much longer I could afford to drive a car. Next to making arrangements to not have to sleep in the woods, owning and operating a car is far and away most people’s next biggest expense. And it ain’t getting cheaper. With apologies to my talented colleague and car columnist Mark Wood, I fear North America’s love affair with the car will soon have to end. Stuck in my ways as I am, I will probably bankrupt myself trying to keep a vehicle on the road, but I know plenty of young people who don’t even consider owning a car. Oddly, not having a car is not ruining their self-esteem. Imagine. As the price of gas, insurance and vehicles goes through the roof, the public transit system is soon going to be the only option for many for getting around. The problem on the northeast Avalon is we don’t have one. Not really. We have Metrobus, which services the city, but outside the city, which in reality has evolved into being part of the city, public transportation is non-existent. Perhaps the need for public transit will push the amalgamation of the region’s municipalities. All the battle lines being drawn over amalgamation are really just a waste of energy. The fact is, despite a lot of squawking and bawling, it is going to happen. The northeast Avalon is growing, while the rest of the province shrivels. I have lived here all my life and even I am startled to find whole subdivisions where a year ago there was only bog. Politics aside, as the region grows, having sepa-

IVAN MORGAN

Rant & Reason

With apologies to my talented colleague and car columnist Mark Wood, I fear North America’s love affair with the car will soon have to end. rate and relatively artificial boundaries makes less and less sense. Canada’s mayors got together this week and asked Stephen Harper for $2 billion to upgrade their public transportation systems. A St. John’s with Mount Pearl, Paradise, CBS and all the other little fiefdoms amalgamated into one unit would get a much bigger slice of that pie than the St. John’s that exists now. It won’t get a very big slice of this pie. But there will be other pies and St. John’s, the northeast Avalon, ConceptiParaMountJohn’s or whatever you want to call it (personally, I like Andyopolis, in honour of you-know-who) needs to get as big a slice as possible. More to the point, all those towns are already part of St. John’s. Paradise, Foxtrap, Kelligrews, and even Holyrood are really just sections of the larger region. Public transit allows people to get around. It allows people to live in less expensive neighbourhoods but work in the city. Public transit stimulates the economy. Public transit is good

for the environment. Energy begets energy. There were reports in the media of businesses having difficulty getting people to work low paying jobs. I suspect the real problem is many people willing to work for those wages can’t get to them. There should be a bus going through CBS and back to St. John’s. There should be a bus doing the route through Portugal Cove-St. Philips. Paradise should be served by a bus route. Amalgamation, one would hope, would bring this service. Right now, being too poor to afford a car narrows your world. Many people in this region are trapped by their economic situations. I know of young people who have lived within 20 kilometres of the city all their lives but have rarely taken advantage of the artistic, or cultural benefits it offers. They can’t get there. It isn’t their loss, it is all our loss. I read recently a proposal for an electric train that would run from Harbour Grace to St. John’s. I know this is an “in your dreams” scenario, but one can dream, can’t one? How many commuters from Conception Bay North would prefer a nap on a warm train to the white-knuckle stress of a blizzard on Veteran’s Memorial they often face now? I live outside of St. John’s, far from a decent public transit service. Were there a train, I’d live further out. Without the stress of the long daily drive, not to mention the cost of a car, I might live in Bay Roberts or Harbour Grace. But I need the city, not just for work, but for my soul. I like to imagine myself, in my dotage, reading the paper on my way home on the train — maybe even sneaking a nip of Scotch from my flask when no one’s looking.

YOUR VOICE

Former premier Roger Grimes

Paul Daly/The Independent

Nearing the upper Churchill hump Dear editor, I write regarding Ivan Morgan’s front-page story, ‘Worse than upper Churchill’, in The Independent’s Feb. 23 edition. The chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro’s board of directors, Dean MacDonald, really rips into former premier Roger Grimes’ deal with Hydro-Quebec on the development of the lower Churchill. If you recall, MacDonald and two board members resigned at the time Grimes floated his proposed deal with Hydro-Quebec. Once again, thank you, young MacDonald. In the penultimate paragraph of his piece, Morgan mentions 2041 and then writes, presumably quoting MacDonald, “which isn’t very far away.” As every Newfoundland and Labrador school child knows, 2041 is the expiration date of the Churchill Falls hydroelectric power contract with Hydro-Québec. I must disagree with the chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro — 2041 is very, very far away. How far away? In linear measure, we are still closer to the beginning than the end of the contract. Sometime around Jan. 1, 2009 we will be halfway through the term of the contract (that is, over the hump). A recurrent theme in our history is one of being kept back, of being held back largely for the benefit of others. In our own time the upper Churchill contract does that. Take a few moments, Dean MacDonald, and describe this province were we to have the windfall from the upper Churchill since the beginning. Gull Island and Muskrat Falls would have been built in response to the second energy crisis in 1979. We would have been a small province with a lot of

cash. How would the fishery have gone this past 30 summers? Would Ottawa have beaten us from pillar to post on offshore oil and gas? Would we be hemorrhaging population? How much debt would we have? Would it be manageable? The re-patriation of the upper Churchill would make us a “have” province. And so, any Newfoundland and Labrador government wouldn’t have to spend such an inordinate amount of time fretting about Ottawa’s ultimate baby bonus — the equalization program. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful delicious twist to pay for the development of the lower Churchill hydro dams, power houses and transmission lines with the windfall profits from the upper? What is not very far away is July 1, 2016. That is when usurious, undue influenced, duress-induced 25-year extension of the original 40-year Churchill Falls agreement comes into effect. Ironically and bitterly so, July 1, 2016 also happens to be the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beaumont Hamel. It is my ambition to have Quebec forgo its ill-gotten 25-year extension. I know very little about the finer details of the Churchill Falls contract but I have a sense of our history. Once more I am obliged to write — I have noticed something left undone in Newfoundland’s relations with Quebec and Canada. It just might be enough to get Quebec to the negotiating table and to act honourably, honestly, and seriously on the Churchill Falls contract. It is yours for the asking, Premier Williams. As it is Roger Grimes’ for the asking, if he were to ever again occupy the premier’s office. Thomas Careen, Placentia

ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca

YOUR VOICE Mercer’s response ‘makes me nervous’ Dear editor, While it’s somewhat late to add to the discussion, I cannot shake my disappointment in Rick Mercer’s response (Fighting words, Jan. 20 edition) to Noreen Golfman (Blowing in the wind … Jan. 12 edition). Mr. Mercer has always struck me as an intelligent man who Rick Mercer makes insightful commentary. However, he did not respond to Golfman’s critique with insight. Instead, he demonized her. Mercer’s rebuttal employed a debating technique called “creating a straw man” which is used to stir up emotions rather than to encourage thought. By choosing to imply that a few of her phrases constituted her whole argument, Mercer was not arguing with Golfman, he was attacking a pretend foe. He never did address the points she made. Admittedly, Golfman could have chosen a different tone for her piece, but Mercer has built a career on irreverence and should have recognized it when he saw it. Golfman was not, as Mercer suggests, questioning the value of the individuals serving in our armed forces. Quite the opposite, she was suggesting that the issue of our role in Afghanistan is more than a humaninterest story and should be examined in depth. Golfman is right on that point, and on another: Rick Mercer is someone we expect to rant about our role in the affairs of another country, and the fact that he is not asking those questions is disconcerting. The tone of Mercer’s response and the responses of many of his supporters makes me nervous. I hate to think that I live in a country where we cannot ask questions about our government’s decisions, especially decisions that put people’s lives at stake. Christine Hennebury, Mount Pearl


MARCH 9, 2007

8 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 9

IN CAMERA

Take a look out your front window … what do you see?

Packs Harbour

Photo by Paul Daly

Kids with rosy cheeks and ice crusted, homemade mitts? A group of snowmobilers stoppedÊ for a boil-up? An abandoned saltbox house fringed with icicles? The Independent announces a photography contest Ñ Your Town pen to amateur photographers across ewfoundland and abrador, Your Town is an opportunity to show us your community through the lens of a camera An entry must include at least three photographs, preferably digital (minimum size 5X7@170 dpi) Prints will also be accepted Photographs can be in colour or black and white Dig down deep and reveal, through your photographs, the character and uniqueness of Your Town . O

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The Contest will run from February 16 to March 16, 2007 The winner will be announced in the March 23rd issue of The Independent Entries may be mailed to Paul Daly at The Independent, P Box 5891, Stn C, St JohnÕs, , A1C 5X4, or by emailing paul daly@theindependent ca o purchase necessary to qualify 2 Submissions must be a minimum size of 5"x7" @ 170 dpi 3 The prizes cannot be redeemed for cash and are non-transferable 4 The winner will be selected by a panel of independent judges including photography editor Paul Daly, Ray Fennely and ed Pratt All entries must be received by The Independent by 5 p m Friday March 16, 2007 and published in the March 23 issue of The Independent 5 The contest is open to all residents of ewfoun land and abrador, with the exception of The Independent, prize sponsors, employees, agents, contractors or immediate family members 6 n accepting the prize, the winner agrees to allow publication of their entry, name and photograph in The Independent for promotional purposes All submissions may be published and edited for length 8 By entering the contest, the contestants agree to accept the rules as stated 1.

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‘I know he’s innocent’ From page 1

“The only reason I stand here, stand by him, is because I know he’s innocent,” she says, eyes wide. “It’s what I’ve always believed.” Although she maintains a home in Grand Falls-Windsor, Jennifer stays in Gander with Nelson’s mother, Pearl, during the week. She’s close to court that way and, besides, she says she has a hard time being alone. “Pearl is worried about me, she thinks as long as I’m in here with her, I’ll be OK,” Jennifer says. “Of course she’s having a really hard time too. “I can’t tell you what we’ve been

though … I can’t sleep, I don’t know what to do.” As recounted in Maclean’s magazine last August (an article reprinted in The Independent), Jennifer met her future husband in 1997, when she was hired to be a live-in caregiver for him (Nelson’s epileptic seizures prevented him from working or caring for himself). They became lovers before long — Jennifer lost her job and both were soon surviving on social assistance — and the twins were born in March 1999. The couple married a year later. The actual events of Aug. 4, 2002 are, of course, being argued out over the next month or so. Nelson’s

account, told and retold in the media, involves him driving to a park on Gander Lake with his girls, where he took them out of the car. In his first statements to police, Nelson said he saw Krista fall into the lake, panicked, and drove away for help because he couldn’t swim. Two months later, he went back to police and amended his story. This time, he said he had suffered a seizure after letting the girls out of the car. When he came to, he saw Krista in the water. Disoriented and confused, he said his only thought was finding his wife. He drove back to town, picked up Jennifer, and returned to the scene.

Rescuers soon arrived, and pulled both girls from the water. Karen was pronounced dead immediately; Krista held on for a while, but died the next day. Nelson was brought in for police questioning later that day. But it wasn’t until three years later, on June 13, 2005, that he was arrested and charged with murder. In the almost three years between those dates, an elaborate sting operation was rolled out by the RCMP. Details will likely be revealed during court testimony next week, when undercover police officers are scheduled to testify. On March 7, as RCMP Cpl. Phil

Matthews took the stand, it emerged in court that the sting carried a price tag of more than $400,000 and lasted six months. The goal was to secure a confession from the man they believed committed a crime. During the operation, Nelson — sometimes accompanied by his wife — was frequently sent out-ofprovince, as far as Vancouver, on errands. He came to believe he was working for an organized crime ring. In the Maclean’s interview, Nelson states he confessed to the murder to someone he believed was a dangerous crime boss — and he did it because he feared for his own life. “I knew then … I wasn’t going to be

made away with,” he is quoted as saying. This was reiterated in front of the jury, in the defence’s opening arguments. The observation benches at the back of the courtroom have been, reportedly, sparsely filled during the trial thus far — the same dozen or so faces, taking in the proceedings out of curiosity or something more. Now that she’s given testimony, Jennifer may be free to join them. But earlier this week, she kept to her usual spot, a wall away from the goings-on. Even on March 6 — which Jennifer said was her wedding anniversary — she had little more than

seconds in the same space as her partner. She was standing in the hallway of the Gander law courts when a sherriff’s officer popped out with a small plastic case with a hand-written note on top. The case is Nelson’s — it’s empty and he’s run out of razors. “I still have to get everything for him,” she said, shaking her head. Toiletries will be the only gift to pass between them this year. “I don’t mind you people being here,” she says suddenly, referring to the half-dozen media standing about. “You’re not getting it all right, but just wait — there’s some things that we have to get out.

“And when this is over, well … what a story will I have to tell.” She made no secret of her animosity towards the police officers who enacted the sting — but said she believes that, in the end, justice will be done. “Nothing’s ever going to bring the girls back, I know that,” she said. “I’m scarred now, and that’s it. But we’ll go on.” A nearby door opened. Two officers emerged, leading Nelson across the foyer. Jennifer turned to walk in time with them. “Be strong,” Nelson said in his quiet, high-pitched voice. “And just tell the truth.”

E-MAIL DIGITAL ENTRIES TO PAUL.DALY@THEINDEPENDENT.CA BEFORE MARCH 21


MARCH 9, 2007

10 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

YOUR VOICE ‘Classic Margaret Wente in its intellectual laziness’ Dear editor, Ivan Morgan’s column (Impending doom might not be bad at all, March 2 edition), was a disappointing column from a usually worthwhile writer. His apparent reaction to the “pious lecturing” of some global climate warming advocates, is classic Margaret Wente in its intellectual laziness.

His argument is like advocating cutting off your nose to spite your face — witty but not very smart. His assertion that “no doubt human activity is affecting climate change, but so what?” is premised on blatant confusion of climate with weather — as in “climate is unpredictable.” And when he says the “effects of reducing emis-

sions are next to impossible to predict,” his research appears to have overlooked the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report by 600 leading scientists from 40 countries with over 620 expert reviewers from 113 governments. The UN report predicts a 4 C rise over the next century as the most likely scenario. This sees the planet

warm as much in the next 100 years as in the previous 15,000. Mr. Morgan is disingenuously confusing perspective by saying that our province has been covered in five-kilometres thick ice dozens of times, so it doesn’t matter to us. It is very likely that hot extremes, heat waves, and heavy-precipitation events will contin-

ue to become more frequent. Irresponsible journalism such as this is not a constructive contribution to this important discussion. I look forward to a return to the better writing I’ve come to expect. Harold Chislett St. John’s

Fatima’s third prophesy

Morgan’s column ‘made me cringe’

Dear editor, As a follow up to Marjorie Doyle’s excellent piece, Our Lady, in last week’s Independent, it should be noted that May 13, 2007 will be the 90th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Blessed Mother Mary to the three children of Fatima. What many people do not know is that the Third Prophesy of Fatima is soon to be revealed by several seers, or visionaries, in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. Most skeptics will dismiss such remarks as that of a fanatical religious nut, but these events will soon be known to all, including such skeptics and believers, alike. The Third Prophesy of Fatima contains 10 major occurrences. Ten of these secrets have already been given to several visionaries, who first began having these miraculous apparitions of Our Lady in 1981. One visionary, named Ivan, who incidentally was a visitor and speaker at the old St. John’s Memorial Stadium several years ago, has yet to receive the last of the

Dear editor, Ivan Morgan and I have something in common — we both expect him to see a pile of nasty letters in response to his latest column, Impending doom might not be all bad, March 2 edition. My letter won’t be nasty. His column didn’t piss me off. But it did make me cringe a little. Morgan seems to have missed the point of climate change warnings. I’d love to go into all the evidence supporting the fact that humans have an adverse effect on climate, but I’ll use my space here to expose Morgan’s faulty argument. First of all, my understanding of Morgan’s thesis is that we can’t predict the future, so people should stop the rhetoric regarding humankind’s imminent demise. Right away it appears he was struggling for a column topic this week (he was certainly busy writing a lot of great informative pieces), so he filled his space with rhetorical questions. Next, I disagree that global warming should not be considered a threat simply because we can’t predict the future. To use the many ice ages throughout human history as proof that we can survive major cli-

Fatima secrets. The first two prophesies have already come to be. They include the great flu epidemic of 1918, which claimed the life of one of the original visionaries, the progress of the Second World War and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. The Third Prophesy of Fatima

will be revealed once this last visionary receives the last of these 10 secrets. Medjugorje will soon become the most important geographical piece of land on our fragile globe. Paul Morrissey, St. John’s

mate change is insensitive, if not offensive, to the future generations we are leaving our home to. Humankind before us was not just “some guy” who lasted through a few blizzards in the warmth of his modern-day home. Billions of people have died horrible deaths from nasty storms and extended periods of harsh climate. We should consider the very real threat of climate change to be a top priority until we have reversed the effect we’ve had and are creating technologies that actually improve the atmospheric balance on our only home. Imagine harnessing the power of human endeavour to actually create a world not of perfect, unchanging weather, but rather of perfectly changing weather. No, Ivan, we don’t know that we can do this, but we’ll certainly never know if we continue to contribute negatively to climate change. And it appears the gentle advice of scientists has not been enough to persuade us to improve our ways — that’s why we need ‘pious lecturing’ from environmentalists. To Ivan I say perhaps impending doom might not be all bad, but as for your latest column ... Dave Lane, St. John’s

Hibernia South could save the day Dear editor, The Hibernia project is a poor deal for the province but all may not be lost. Even though its discovery (as well as Hebron’s) was largely paid for by Ottawa through the Petroleum Incentive Program (PIP) grants and the platform construction cost was written down by a direct subsidy of $1 billion, plus a loan guarantee on $1.7 billion (reducing the risk capital to the equivalent of the Terra Nova project), the project may never reach “pay-out” and provide a reasonable return. Redress on the Hibernia deal may be available through tactics on Hibernia South. It is said to contain 225 million barrels of oil or about $16 billion at today’s price and a little longer than three years for extraction. Based on the industry’s conservative low-ball estimates to date, it could contain double that amount or $32 billion. Operating costs (even with everything the accountants can throw at it) are only a little over $300 million per year or $2 billion from the $32 billion. The issue is whether Hibernia South is a simple addendum to the existing deal or is it a significant amendment where parts of the “deal” can be re-visited. If it is simply more of the same, the province will receive a 5 per cent royalty or about $1.5 billion over six years. If the province can force a re-visit to an independent group of arbitrators, it should receive at least equivalent to the Terra Nova project or 30 per cent royalty ($9 billion) or a difference of $7.5 billion. Hibernia South is located about 10 km from the platform, which could not be reached with the technology when the original deal was signed. The industry claims that it is all part of the Hibernia geological pool and even though it wasn’t cited to be a resource at the time, the whole area was claimed in the submission. At the time of submission, the industry forecast a reservoir of 500-million barrels. They harvested 540-million barrels by the end of

January 2007 and now forecast a reservoir of 1.2-billion barrels. The province is asking for more details in the development plan, i.e. would there be more resource recovery with a new rig. It is not receiving very much from the current deal so they could at least force the operators to spend some more capital in the region, perhaps hire a few more people etc. The province is within its legal right to delay the project while it asks questions. After all, the industry cannot proceed without the province’s agreement as it is a change from the original plan and the province is not getting a fair shake on the original deal. So why accept? I don’t know the legal ramifications but if they must ask the province’s permission for the changes, why roll over like the CNLOPB and say carry on guys. Your operating costs are running about 6 or 7 per cent, the rig has been paid for many times over, we’ll be happy with the 5 per cent and you take the remaining 87 per cent. After all ExxonMobil, you only made $40 billion US last year and your CEO only made $500 million, you deserve the money for all the risk the Canadian government took on your behalf. George Power, St. John’s


MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 11

‘We would all be better off if we had a strong business community here, but we don’t’ From page 1

Stan Marshall

AROUND THE WORLD President Roosevelt sent the following message to the people of St. Lawrence: “I have just learned of the magnificent and courageous work you rendered and of the sacrifices you made in rescuing and caring for the personnel of the destroyer Truxton and freighter Pollux which grounded on your shores. As Commander-in-Chief and on behalf of the Navy and as President of the United States and on behalf of our citizens I wish to express my gratefullest appreciation of your heroic action which is typical of the history of your proud seafaring community. — Observer’s Weekly, St. John’s, March 3, 1942 YEARS PAST The two bodies recovered from the wrecked steamer Florizel on Saturday arrived by train last night, and were taken to the morgue, where they were identified. One of the bodies was that of John J. Connolly, butcher, who was drowned. The corpse was in a good state of preservation, and was neither marked nor broken. The other was that of Seaman John Lambert. The deceased was not drowned and evidently met death by being hit by wreckage. The head was badly crushed and bruised, with a deep cut on the left jaw. Both bodies were coffined by Undertaker Carnell, and will be interred today. — The Daily News, St. John’s, March 5, 1918 EDITORIAL STAND We do not expect anything but misrepresentation of the acts of the Government and their supporters from The Chronicle and The Advertiser, misrepresentation and calumny are their stock-in-trade, and of course, they are copiously given forth on all occasions. — The Express, St. John’s, March 6, 1987 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir – On Feb. 26 the Old Age Party was held. It was the first of its kind to be held at Arnold’s Cove. It was an enjoyable evening for all who attended. It is impressive to see the young take interest in the old. I attended the party myself. I am 76 years old. I also would like to comment on the Wareham Brothers. Their music was outstanding and I

Paul Daly/The Independent

“Born here, raised here. Why are we in Newfoundland? Because that’s where we were born, and we grew up here,” says Marshall. “When I live in Newfoundland I live in Topsail, my home.” Marshall and his wife, former auditor general and current Tory MHA Elizabeth Marshall, have three teenaged children. Like so many of his fellow Newfoundlanders, Marshall is conflicted about the place. While he says he loves the community and the people, he is critical of local attitudes to business success. “If I could change something, I would want to see more Newfoundlanders aspire to business, a lot more,” he says. “The culture would be more pro-business. That’s a real negative thing in our society. “Our general tone as a society is more of a welfare state. And I have said that in the past — much to my detriment.” He is quick to point out there are also tremendous businesspeople coming out of Newfoundland. He points to the colleagues who started with him at Newfoundland Power in the late 1980s and built the company with him. He mentions John Walker from Buchans, who is president and CEO of FortisBC. “I remember when we hired John as a summer student at Newfoundland Power. He was doing his MBA at MUN.” He also mentions Gary Smith, vice-president at Fortis Alberta, and

would say the life of the party. I would like to suggest a name: The Arnold’s Cove Planning and Development Branch and the Arnold’s Cove Citizens Development Committee. Thank you. – Mr. Malcolm C. Slade — The Cove, Arnold’s Cove, March 6, 1974 QUOTE OF THE WEEK Old as we are, we have still the power to captivate. There is indeed some mysterious charm about the editor of the Indicator, which our fair subscribers find impossible to resist. On Valentine’s Day, the letter box was crammed with delicately perfumed notes and epistolary missives – all invariably embellished with figures of Cupid, stricken hearts, amorous mottos and the like. In some cases admiration of our person was displayed in a more substantial way, really valuable presents being surreptitiously chucked in through the back window at the dead hour of night. Speaking of which considerate favours, we anxiously beg the name of the fair donor of the gloves in the exquisite box of mother-of-pearl. — The Indicator, St. John’s, Sandy Point, St. George’s Bay, March 7, 1874

Felix Murrin, vice-president of Belize Electricity. “Felix and I were in the same class at MUN together in 1967. He and I go back a long time,” says Marshall. Marshall says Fortis was built on a vision, but not the “clear crystal ball kind.” He says vision is having a good sense of direction, and a good sense of purpose. He says making a deal, like the most recent one, might appear to happen quickly — in this case four weeks — but the lead-time could be a decade. “You do a lot of work. Some of them come to fruition, some of them don’t. But you got to do that as a prelude to being ready, because in lots of cases the sheer act of doing a deal quickly is an important one. The seller maybe wants to do that very quickly, and that is as important as price.” To make a deal, he says a person needs a combination of determination, skills, intelligence and instinct. “I think instinct captures a lot of things you can’t quantify. Instinct captures your training over the years, and your knowledge. Things you can’t quantify, but are real.” Marshall’s instincts have taken him far in his quest for profitable enterprises. For many in this province, Marshall is linked with a controversial hydroelectric project Fortis undertook in the tiny Central American country of Belize. At the time he was loudly criticized by environmentalists. Marshall says the project is a complete success.

“The Belize dam is performing exactly as we said it would, with all the benefits we said it would, with none of the detriments the environmentalists said it would. “We won in Belize.” He says the criticism he faced over that project is similar to what Newfoundlanders experience with the seal hunt protesters, where outside environmentalists sell a false picture. “I was always surprised that so many Newfoundlanders accept that false picture with our own experience in mind.” Marshall says this is reflected in local attitudes towards business. In the past, Marshall has given talks about just that topic — but after taking a lot of abuse for his words, he reached a point where, for years, he wouldn’t bother to speak here. “In Newfoundland we would all be better off if we had a strong business community here, but we don’t.” He says it must be the same for politicians. He says people view politicians as being scoundrels for the most part, and many see business leaders the same way. “But on the other hand, how many people can pick up a phone and get $1 billion tomorrow? “You must have a great deal of credibility to do that. And your word has to be worth something. And my experience in the business community is that for the most part it is like that. Tremendous credibility. The very successful people have been good honest people.” ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca


MARCH 9, 2007

12 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

LIFE STORY

Sailing into history Ties between those who served on the HMS Newfoundland and her namesake island still strong HMS NEWFOUNDLAND (1942 – 1979) By Keith Collier For The Independent

O

n May 15, 1944, a warship entered St. John’s harbour. The Second World War was at its height, and as an important naval base, this was a common occurrence in St. John’s. But 10,000 people came down to the waterfront to see this ship. Dances were held for her crew and a parade held in her honour. Lady Eileen Walwyn, the Governor’s wife, presented the ship with her White Ensign, made in St. John’s at Ayre and Sons Limited. Sixteen months later, the same White Ensign was flying above the ship at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. The ship that attracted so much attention was the HMS Newfoundland. This was the only Royal Navy ship to carry the name Newfoundland, and the spring of 1944 was the first and only time that she would visit her namesake island. The ship was sailing from Boston to the U.K. after undergoing repairs for torpedo damage sustained in the Mediterranean. HMS Newfoundland was a Colonyclass cruiser, laid down in 1939 and commissioned on December 31, 1942. Displacing 11,000 tons and able to

make 29 knots, she was armed with nine six-inch and eight four-inch guns, as well as anti-aircraft guns and torpedo tubes. Newfoundland had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine in July of 1943 while serving as the flagship of ‘Support Force East,’ supporting the invasion of Sicily. After completing repairs in Boston and visiting St. John’s, Newfoundland was refitted and headed to the Far East. She joined the British Pacific Fleet and became the flagship of the 4th Cruiser Squadron. In the Pacific, Newfoundland took part in naval offensives and landings in New Guinea and the Caroline Islands, and escorted aircraft carriers and troop ships in preparation for the anticipated invasion of Japan. With the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, however, the invasion became unnecessary. INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER Instead, the HMS Newfoundland anchored in Tokyo Bay, her St. John’smade White Ensign flying, and witnessed the Japanese signing of the Instrument of Surrender on September 2, 1945. After the Second World War, Newfoundland performed a wide range of naval tasks, from repatriating prisoners of war, to escorting the Queen and shelling Malayan communist terrorists

in 1954 and 1956. Newfoundland’s last major action at sea was during the Suez Canal Crisis of 1956. Newfoundland was patrolling the Red Sea when she encountered the Egyptian frigate Domiat. The ships exchanged fire and the Domiat was destroyed, but not before inflicting damage and casualties on the Newfoundland. The Domiat was the last warship to be sunk by British naval gunfire. It was a sign of changing times. With missiles and guided torpedoes becoming the dominant naval weapons, the days of the big-gun cruisers were drawing to a close. In 1959, after 17 years of service to the Royal Navy, the Newfoundland was sold to Peru. Renamed the Almirante Grau, she served as the flagship of the Peruvian Navy until 1973, when she was replaced by a larger ship and renamed Capitan Quinones. By 1979 the former HMS Newfoundland was on her way to a scrapyard in Japan. The HMS Newfoundland served honourably for decades, and although she may be gone now, the men who served on her are determined to keep her memory alive. Over the last decade or so, the HMS Newfoundland Association — the members who served on the Newfoundland — has been working to promote links between the ship and the place that shared her

HMS Newfoundland

name. In recent years, association members have been attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in St. John’s. In November 2006, 26 members spent 10 days in the province. The Newfoundland has always had a connection to her namesake island, ever since Newfoundlanders raised money to pay for the ship’s torpedo tubes during her construction. The presentations and performances that marked her visit to St. John’s in 1944 demonstrated the pride felt by both Newfoundlanders and the visiting sailors. That the men who sailed aboard her continue to visit Newfoundland and tell their stories demonstrate their feelings about serving aboard the HMS Newfoundland.

All that remains of the Newfoundland now can be summed up in a few words: a sterling silver caribou, given to the ship in 1944 by the people of Newfoundland, returned by her last commanding officer and now located at Government House; a nameplate at HMCS Cabot; a ship’s bell hanging in the Crow’s Nest. Robert Thorne, local correspondent for and honourary member of the HMS Newfoundland Association, wrote in an article that the “HMS Newfoundland has long since sailed into history.” Thorne believes that the connections between the Newfoundland’s crew and the island of Newfoundland are being re-established, but there are still plenty of stories to be told.

YOUR VOICE

Is Grand Banks gas earmarked for mass export? Dear editor, The potential of our offshore oil industry to develop locally has been stymied by misrepresented quantities and capacities. This doesn’t appear to be accidental in nature so much as a calculated effort to control both the development process and public perception. The Atlantic Accord contains provisions to prevent this sort of manipulation from occurring, but the powers of the day allowed its subversion. All three public reviews allowed the oil compa-

nies to marginalize each respective field’s potential. The public review commission was illegally constrained from considering all aspects of the development(s), thereby shutting the door on considerations of refining and comparative royalty analysis. Considering the magnitude of this atrocity it is somewhat astounding that there is no concerted outcry. It makes one ponder the whereabouts of the accord’s authors? The effort to marginalize the econom-

ic and industrial potential of the offshore resource continues. To date, we have been told that there is not enough gas to warrant a pipeline to shore. However, this contention also appears to be a classic case of marginalization as well. The most recent public review called for a basin-wide approach to develop the gas reserves. This has not happened. Our offshore oil-producing region is said to contain more gas than the Mackenzie Delta yet the economics are

favourable for a 1,220 km pipeline in the later case. A pipeline from our oil fields would be considerably shorter. Getting the gas ashore would allow us to strip the lucrative liquids before exporting the methane (natural gas) and develop a petrochemical industry. More importantly, it would allow us to utilize environmentally friendly gas generated electricity to influence our own industrial development. Currently there are initiatives in the planning to both compress and liquefy

the gas at the well site and have it shipped to markets in special ships. As is the reality with the oil, the gas is earmarked for mass export thereby preventing the development of onshore industry. Where is the Williams administration on this issue? Where is our long-term strategic energy plan? Where are our rights under the Atlantic Accord public review section? Paul Hunt, Frenchman’s Cove, Bay of Islands

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INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 9-15, 2007 — PAGE 13

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper

Paul Daly/The Independent

Wood woes

President of woodcutters union says importation of mainland wood partly to blame for slowdown By Mandy Cook The Independent

T

he president of the union representing Corner Brook Pulp and Paper woodcutters says the six-week layoff the seasonal workers are accustomed to each spring is “all that’s tolerable.” In other words, the 10 weeks they will be without work this year isn’t. Rick Fudge says 350 woodcutters will be laid off on March 16 and won’t be called back to work until operations resume at the mill on May 28. The shutdown is necessary because the mill is fully stocked with wood, says Fudge, head of the Communication, Energy and Paper workers union,

which represents about two-thirds of the workers. While the woodcutters are used to the annual slowdown due to washed-out logging access roads, Fudge says this year’s extended layoff can be partly blamed on too much wood being imported from outside the province. Pat Tompkins, woodlands manager for Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, says barged wood, or offshore wood, accounts for approximately 20 per cent of the wood at the mill. He says the purchase of offshore wood — which is bought from Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island — is a sound financial decision. “The offshore wood was cheaper

than some of the wood that we’re cutting here on the island and it was all in an effort to keep our costs down,” he says. Fudge says Corner Brook Pulp and Paper traditionally bought 110,000 cubic metres of wood from outside the province each year, but in the fall of 2004 the company announced it would be purchasing an additional 90,000 cubic meters per year. Fudge also says Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is not cutting the maximum amount of trees allowed under their annual allowable cut of one million cubic metres of wood per year. He says trees not being logged by Newfoundland woodcutters is a loss to the provincial

economy — but Tompkins says the 20-25 per cent of the annual allowable cut they are not harvesting is so difficult to access, it would never get cut. “The alternative if we weren’t going for offshore wood and we were forced to harvest some of that wood, that wouldn’t happen,” Tompkins says. “There would be other changes made, which nobody would like at that point of time. Especially in western Newfoundland where we’ve got some really rough terrain. The cost of getting it is prohibitive.” Although Tompkins says the extra inventory built up this year is due to “regular” production problems in the mill and leftover wood

from last season, he acknowledges woodcutters were faced with a 10week layoff last year too. It’s part of an overriding problem the people dependent on the province’s forests face, says Fudge. “We had 29 people quit with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper last year,” he says. “It certainly impacts everyone — a lot of the guys are concerned about it and they’re questioning how long the down time is going to be because they’re thinking about bigger and better things further away in Alberta. That’s the impact that this could have.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

Use it or lose it

Now that we’ve got a direct St. John’s-London air link, writes the president of the St. John’s Board of Trade, we’d better take advantage of it

T

here’s no doubt that when the local business community works together, we get results. When Air Canada announced last year it was canceling its direct flight between St. John’s and London’s Heathrow Airport, there was quite an outcry from people in the province — above all, from the business community. For transatlantic travellers from Newfoundland and Labrador, the idea of having no choice but to go through Halifax to reach their final destination just didn’t sit well. That little detour means a lot of extra time, hassle and money. As a province so reliant on transportation, we obviously saw this as a major inconvenience to leisure and business travellers. But we also recog-

CATHYBENNETT

Board of Trade nized the significant negative impact that the cancellation of the direct service to Heathrow would have on the movement of valuable cargo. Moreover, many people in Newfoundland and Labrador felt Air Canada’s decision was a slap in our collective face: our flagship national airline saw fit to pull an important service to a provincial capital and downgrade their investment in this market in favour of the company’s customers in Halifax. The Board of Trade, along with sev-

eral other business groups and stakeholders in the community, spoke out loudly. In fact, more than 200 individual members of the Board of Trade (and numerous non-members, as well) responded to our call to action after Air Canada’s announcement, and sent letters expressing their displeasure to the company’s executive. The Board of Trade also actively threw its support behind the St. John’s International Airport Authority in its efforts to land another carrier — whether it was domestic or foreign — to fill the gap. Air Canada most likely counted on the other air carriers to pass up the opportunity to step in and fill the St. John’s-to-Europe direct route. They probably also assumed that, after a few days of noisemaking, we’d all accept

As a province so reliant on transportation, we obviously saw this as a major inconvenience to leisure and business travellers. the Halifax stopover, while Air Canada would see negligible or no material impact on its revenue as a result of the change. But St. John’s refused to take it lying down. Sour grapes? No, I don’t think Newfoundlanders and Labradorians would en masse simply stop flying a specific airline altogether for no other

reason than to teach them a lesson. However, I do think that we, like any customer, will show loyalty where it is shown to us. Fast-forward to present day, and I’m happy to say that, thanks to the tireless efforts of the St. John’s International Airport Authority and the backing of stakeholders like the Board of Trade, new opportunities have opened up. Astraeus Airlines, a U.K.-based airline, recently announced the commencement of year-round direct service between St. John’s and LondonGatwick airport three times a week. Astraeus and the Airport Authority have teamed up to capitalize on a business opportunity, and to respond to what people in St. John’s and the rest See “Land another carrier,” page 14


14 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

MARCH 9, 2007

PERSONA PURCHASE

Newfoundland-based Persona purchased Delta and Coast Cable of British Columbia this week, adding another 38,000 cable customers and 20,000 Internet customers to the Persona roster. Persona Cable, the fifth largest cable television provider in Canada, now has 265,000 cable customers and 95,000 Internet customers across the country. Above, Persona CEO Dean MacDonald in his office in St. John's. Paul Daly/The Independent

YOUR VOICE Is democracy dead for Long Island? Dear editor, For the past 10 years Long Island’s municipal council and its causeway committee have been telling Transportation officials and elected representatives that it is just as cost efficient, if not more so, to build a causeway to Long Island than it is to run a ferry service. These same government officials have put our residents off, stalled, dragged their feet, stonewalled and continue to ignore the advice and evidence. Even though it would be more economically feasible, more justifiable, and more humane to build a fixed-link to Long Island, Transportation officials have dug in their heels. Our present government has said they realized the transportation system to the islands and the communities it served had been neglected over the years. Government commissioned a private company to study our provincial ferry system. The report came out in March 2006. Government then announced consultation meetings with ferry users. The consultation meeting with Long Island was slated to be held mid-November 2006, with all meetings clued up before Christmas. We are now at the end of February and still no word on that consultation meeting. No communication from the department. No explanation, just silence. On Oct. 13, the Long Island ferry was put in dock for a three-week refit. Four months later, with the Island Joiner still in dock, Long Island residents have been devastated without a regular ferry service as we had had for 20-plus years, and no end in sight. People ask where is the ferry and are astounded to learn that it’s taking four to five months to put a part in the small engine of the Island Joiner. The ludicrousness of the whole situation is beyond belief. Department of Transportation officials in St. John’s have an agenda of their own which seems to be the downgrading of transportation services to Long Island. Their agenda started, who knows how many years ago, without any consideration to the human beings who live on Long Island and they are intent on stripping away those services. Where is our democracy? Has it died or is it still whimpering its last breath here on Long Island? Barbara Colbourne, Co-chair Long Island Causeway Committee, Lushes Bight-Beaumont

Coast guard needs better aircraft Dear editor, I read with interest the Transportation Safety Board report on the crash of the Canadian Coast Guard helicopter in Mortier Bay on Dec. 7, 2005. I was not surprised to read that the board had exonerated pilot Gordon Simmons from any fault. Simmons was one of the best helicopter pilots the coast guard had in Canada. I’ve flown hundreds of hours with Gordie during my career with the coast guard and I would climb back in that seat next to him again in a heartbeat. The so-called safety equipment located on board these coast guard helicopters is very clumsily located in the machine where it is impossible for the pilot to reach in an emergency descent or crash. As far as the “life vests “are concerned, we would say, “they are only worn to cut back on the cost of recovering the bodies.” Once a person hits the icy cold Atlantic waters, their chances of survival are “slim to none.” What is needed is for properly equipped aircraft to be made available to coast guard pilots to carry out their duties in a safe and efficient manner — especially in the Newfoundland and Labrador climate. Unfortunately when the 19 Messerschmitt Bolkow Blom-105 helicopters (MBB-105) were purchased for the coast guard, politics crept into the decision. The MBB-105 replaced the Bell-206B, but Transport Canada

should have gone further and looked hard at the Bell-222. The recommendation made by more than 90 per cent of the pilots was to purchase the Bell 222 to replace the Bell-206L, but it could also have replaced the Bell-206B. Then the coast guard would have a machine that could have replaced both the Bell 206B and 206L, which would have improved the safety of flying and reduced the maintenance cost. The MBB-105 is not as versatile as the Bell 222, is very expensive to maintain and it doesn’t have the range. In order to fly extra hours an auxiliary fuel tank has to be installed, which means less carrying capacity that adds to the operating cost. Another issue at hand is the fact that all the MBB copters operated by the coast guard are not instrument rated. They are Visual Flying Rated (VFR) helicopters, which means they are utterly useless in the Newfoundland and Labrador climate. So if the coast guard is serious about improving the safety in its helicopter fleet, start with making the machines IFR. I’m not a pilot nor am I an expert in flying, however having flown hundreds of hours in coast guard helicopters over the 27 years I spent with the organization, I strongly suggest if Gordie had been flying a helicopter that had IFR, this accident may not have happened. The two questions I would like answered include: why did the federal government ignore its pilots recommendation for the Bell-

222; and why are coast guard pilots flying helicopters in 2007 in Newfoundland and Labrador that are not instrument rated. Government may as well provide them with the Gypsy Moth. Gordie Simmons was a great pilot, father and husband. Personally he was a great friend and I feel he should be alive today, along with Carl Neal. There was no reason for these two people to have died in the cold waters of Mortier Bay. When he left Go-By-Point, he was in fair weather. When he came into Spanish Room is when he first encountered snow squalls. Had the helicopter been equipped with the proper instrumentation, I feel he would have landed in Marystown safely. I know what I write about. I’ve been there. I’ve flown through snow squalls in daylight hours on board coast guard helicopters. Believe me, it’s a lot different in daylight hours than it is in darkness. So I say to the Canadian Coast Guard, if you are really serious about providing the “best and most safe equipment to your pilots,” fit out the fleet with IFR. That would be the most positive step you could take as a first move to improve the safety for the people who have to fly in them. Don Lester, Conception Bay South

Land another carrier From page 13 of the province have been asking for. Starting in May, Astraeus will provide the direct link we need between Europe and Newfoundland, and they’ll make these flights convenient and enjoyable so we’ll continue to choose to fly with them. It’s a matter of greater air access and greater choice for travellers. We’re not forced to travel completely out of our way to Halifax first. But, wait. There’s a bit more to my message

than that. We, as a community (business especially) must make solid use of the new direct service. Hopefully, that will start right out of the gate and be sustained over time. For just about any flight, routing and scheduling are largely based on passenger volume, so demand has to be demonstrated over the long haul. In that sense, it’s a “use it or lose it” deal. We shouldn’t take these opportunities for granted. As a market heavily dependent on air access, we need to have foresight and be smart, strategic consumers to ensure we have the service that best meets our needs for the

long term. If it means making a little effort to break your historical travel planning habits, then make that effort because it’s worth it. As an air travel market, we need to demonstrate that the St. John’s-London direct flight is not only a viable one, but a perfectly profitable one. We’ll all benefit from enhanced access and better service as a result. My husband Doug and I are planning our trip now. Cathy Bennett is president of the St. John’s Board of Trade.


MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 15

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16 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

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INDEPENDENTLIFE

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 9-15, 2007 — PAGE 17

‘Where it all came from’ Singer-songwriter Sherry Ryan came home to Newfoundland to kick-start her music career. As she tells writer Susan Rendell, she’s already got a well-received CD, a ‘wonderful’ award, and a hit song on VOCM

— Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Carole King, Kris Kristofferson.” Ryan doesn’t listen to much contemporary music. “I’m about to buy my first Sam Cooke record … there’s a lot more of interest to me in the past than the present. The essence is not really there, unfortunately.” When I ask how she feels about her award, she deadpans me. “Good.” As soon as my eyebrows reach my hairline, she bursts out laughing. “It’s wonderful! I never gave it a whole lot of thought, about my chances.” Ryan says she figures her CD (her first one), Bottom of a Heart, tipped the balance. “Looking back, it kind of made a lot of sense. It’s been really well received, I get a lot of radio play.” She says she has “like, a hit song, on VOCM.” I tell her I know it — You Broke My Heart — and that one of its lines gave me what the psychologists call a moment of clarity. “Yeah,” she says. “Simple, you know.” (Most true things are. But sometimes they have to come at you in the right words, delivered with tuneful conviction.) Ryan, who’s been devoted solely to her music career for the past year and a half, has redefined herself several times. Starting out as a chemistry student at MUN, she switched to an occupational therapy program at Dalhousie University. “I always wanted to work with the public,” she says. “And I was interested in leaving the province for a while.” She came back to Newfoundland and Labrador for two years before heading to Mississippi to work in a nursing home. That lasted four months. “The people were great, but the (American) health care system was too much for me.”

SUSAN RENDELL Screed and coke You broke my heart. Promised to be careful (Not what it’s there for) But you did it anyway. — Sherry Ryan, You Broke My Heart

I

t’s one of those March days when you wake up and you’re not sure if that bright light is the sun or an alien spaceship. Could be either — they’re both just concepts at this point. But, no, it turns out that winter is almost down for the count, punchdrunk but still throwing weak flurries at a young sun fresh from training in the south. Although the ice is playing on home ice, and the spring team doesn’t have enough experience under its belt yet. (Yup, mixed sports metaphors, but the fact that sports is coming into this at all is a minor miracle.) I’m heading downtown, and it feels like the Second Coming, or at least VE Day. The streets are maggoty with people, or maybe flowery with them. There’s a guy driving his truck down Prince of Wales Street in a T-shirt, even though it’s only about two degrees above the zero mark. (Is there a pair of Bermuda shorts under that steering wheel, or long johns and ski pants?) A cotillion of winter babies clogs Duckworth, making their social debut sans teeth and hair, but that’s OK because Marilyn of the blonde wigs and bare gums is right there to cheer them on. Marilyn is the first street person I’ve laid eyes on since last fall. St. John’s lost two of its finest this winter, Hobo Bill, and Mary of the whisky voice and Dom Perignon heart. (Downtown’s loss, heaven’s gain.) My destination is Hava Java on Water, where I’m meeting with local singer and songwriter Sherry Ryan. If you haven’t heard of her yet, you will: she was voted 2006 female artist of the year by MusicNL, and one of her songs has become a hit on a local radio station. I’ve never laid eyes on Ryan before, only ears. Country music is something I came to relatively late, even though my mother went to school with Hank Snow. The only thing she remembered about him was his tearful denial in school one day: “I never knocked over the shithouse, Miss.” This is the kind of thing small town Nova Scotia never forgets even if you become a really big country star and end up introducing Elvis Presley to Colonel Parker. As it turns out, the voice my ears have been getting acquainted with belongs to a dark-haired, pale-skinned woman with two dominant features: eyes the colour of the blue inner skin of an iceberg, and an almost palpable air of self-possession. We take our coffee up to a back table looking for quiet, and there it is. Except for a young couple’s courting noises: he’s explaining, rather loudly, how he had to cut up a couch to get it out of his apartment; she’s leaning halfway across the table with her head turned to one side, chirping sympathetically like the little love bird she is. Ryan and I roll our eyes and make appropriate/inappropriate comments. We’re not that kind of young any

Sherry Ryan

more, although Ryan, at 36, is still well within firing range of Cupid’s Uzi, which is a good thing for those of us who like listening to someone sing about love gone wrong — or right — from the middle row of middle-age. Speaking of middles, Ryan grew up in Middle Cove on the same piece of land her great-great-great grandfather

Paul Daly/The Independent

settled on when he emigrated from Ireland, in a family that doused her with Celtic music from the get-go. “I grew up on Irish music, and when I started writing songs and they were country, I was actually surprised, because I listened to way more Irish music growing up,” she says. “Makem and Clancy, the Dubliners,

the Dublin City Ramblers, Barleycorn, Christie Moore, these were all the records my mother went out and bought. “Joan Morrissey’s song The Boarding House on Federation Square was the first song I ever performed. My sister had a great big collection that enhanced all that folk stuff

‘MOVIN’ ON’ Ryan wrote her first song on the way to Mississippi. She was 25, and had been performing covers in pubs like the Rose and Thistle since she was 20. “The song’s called Movin’ On. I didn’t know what that was about, and then I realized — it was about song-writing.” After her short sojourn in the States, Ryan lived in Halifax, teaching yoga and “living in 19 apartments in six years.” She recorded Bottom of a Heart there, in 2004 — and sang one of her own songs in public for the first time. Putting herself out there creatively temporarily dented her customary composure. “When I sang my first song, I was frightened to death, my heart was pounding.” Ryan’s music is often referred to as alt (alternative) country. “From what I can tell,” she says, “alt country is singers who are singing with a country flavour. I find it really hard to define music styles anyway, unless it’s really straight up. “When someone asks me what I sing, I don’t say alt country. I say ‘I don’t know.’ I can talk about the contents of my songs more than I can talk about the sound of them. It’s usually reflective of what I’m experiencing … It’s also a record in time of what’s going on at that moment.” “Did you get over him?” I interject. Ryan picks up on this right away — I’m referring to the guy in her Hurtin’ Love Song. “Oh yeah,” she says, “I got over him.” (Mad giggle.) Ryan tells me she’s doing things backwards: most musicians leave here and go to Halifax or Toronto when they start getting serious about See “There’s lots of support,” page 19

Whistle stop

Goulds native Allan Hawco brings play to St. John’s; Irish playwright surprised at international reaction to family drama By Stephanie Porter The Independent

F

rom the first time he read Tom Murphy’s A Whistle in the Dark, actor Allan Hawco says he knew he wanted to bring the play home to Newfoundland. Not only that, but he decided to start a theatre company to make it happen. Hawco, born and raised in Goulds, is now based in Toronto. In 2005, The Company Theatre (of which he is coartistic director) unveiled A Whistle in the Dark as their debut production in

the city — the first time the Irish writer’s work had been performed by a professional theatre company in Canada. Murphy, who has been called Ireland’s best living playwright, is pleased to see his work making inroads in yet another country — 46 years later. The tension-filled story of Irish immigrants in England — a scathing look at family bonds, power struggles, violence and derision — struck a chord with audiences in Toronto. The production received glowing reviews

and a number of awards. On March 9, the next stage of Hawco’s plan comes to fruition, as the show opens at the LSPU Hall in St. John’s for a two-week run. Hawco says the situations and characters in Whistle are almost too relevant today. “The minute I read the play, I thought: Newfoundlanders have to hear this story,” he says. “The themes of family and violence and racism towards the Irish in England, they were all things I identified with as a Newfoundlander. It sounds like a

story told from our own backyard. “It deals with something universal to us all, the theme of family. Obviously not every family is as extreme as the Carneys, thank Jesus, but it’s still something that sort of rings home for them.” Speaking from his home in Dublin, Murphy says he followed the Company’s production of his work with interest. “I was very pleased with the reaction,” he says. “I’m still quite surprised at the reaction the play gets. Because its first time out was 46 years

ago … in the last few years it’s been done in Scotland, and London again, and places in America … and glowing reviews! Stuff that says ‘who is this young playwright?’” (Murphy, 72 and with more than 25 plays and a novel under his belt, still laughs at the thought. “I’m a granddaddy, and very pleased to be a granddad, but also very pleased to be referred to as a young playwright.”) For all the accolades, the play has been shrouded in its share of controSee “I still get,” page 20


MARCH 9, 2007

18 • INDEPENDENTLIFE

GALLERYPROFILE

Battle Harbour, Labrador by Maggi Penney

Beach Rocks by Maggi Penney Corrections, by Amanda Penny

Car and Fox II by Gregory Hart

Open Window Studio

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alerie Hodder, art instructor at the Open Window Studio at the Waterford Hospital in St. John’s, describes the “spattering” technique one of her students is employing with acrylic paint on a midnight black background to achieve the mesmerizing effect of the northern lights. Hodder provides a protective buffer between her student — who at first doesn’t wish to be interviewed — and the questions of a prying stranger. Soon enough, however, the student can’t help but share the satisfaction she gleans from the creative process and the numerous working versions that came before the finished product. “It’s a fun process but time consuming,” says Kelly. “It gives you a whole new appreciation, in the end I discovered it was the splatter painting with a paintbrush. When I get that done I go in and it becomes pointillism because you’re going in there one dot at a time, fixing areas you don’t like or adding to places. It’s hard to control.” Open Window, a program within the occupational therapy division of mental health and addictions, is currently full to the brim. Hodder, a native of Corner Brook, says she can fit seven students into a class at a time and teaches a total of 34 people a week. There’s also a “lengthy” waiting list. She says students can be referred by their health care provider or be self-referred. Initially a leisure program first started in the 1950s, Hodder says the studio has evolved into a much more sophisticated operation. “Some people will become artists out of this, some are already artists, some are just doing this as a leisure activity, it’s their choice … They can use this room to talk to others about art, share ideas with people or have a show. I have some people with degrees in art and I have some people who just want to do this in their spare time.” Although Ken Bishop, a student of Hodder’s for the past 11 years, will be showing three digital photographs in the studio’s upcoming show, he demonstrates a piece he built during his class time. By affixing pictures inside a cylinder rotating on an old record player, Bishop has built a zoetrope, a device that creates the illusion of movement. He says it appeals to the mechanical aspects of his personality and wants to make one with windmill pictures and another with galloping horses. He says “words can’t express” how much the

Sea salt by Judy Stacey

studio means to him. “The main thing is that it gives some kind of structure or focal point to the way I’m living now, because I’m not employed right now and you start waxing and waning … It gives you something to revolve around. While you’re here you’re busy so I wish I could be just as busy when I’m home, but when I’m home I’m not motivated to do these things.” Gerard McNiven, an Open Window student for two years, says he wanted to join the studio in order to improve his skills in drawing, something he has always loved to do but never had the opportunity to learn. When he first started attending classes, he would draw flowers, but has moved on to landscapes and architectural graphite sketches, a favourite being the Basilica. He jokes about the length of time it took to get a clear view of the “beautiful” building. “I was waiting and waiting and waiting (for the scaffolding to come down),” he says. The poster advertising the opening reception of the Open Window Studio show features Kelly’s panoramic view of the stunning northern lights. Taking months to trace the silhouette of the boreal forest, and experimenting with a variety of painting techniques, she effectively translated the quiet hush and humbling experience of the natural phenomenon onto paper. She says it’s been a liberating journey. “It’s about ability, not disability,” she says. “It’s very freeing. It’s the closest I’ve felt to myself in a long time.” The Open Window Studio Group opens March 10 from 3-5 at the Leyton Gallery of Fine Art. It continues until March 31. mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

The Gallery is a regular feature in The Independent. For information, or to submit proposals, please call (709) 726-4639, or e-mail editorial@theindependent.ca

0-1943716

Arts s and d Culture e Centres Prince e Philip p Dr., Allandale e Rd. • 24 4 Hr. Box x Office e 729-3900 0 • Fax x 729-0247 Long g Distance e Box x Office e 1--800-663-9449 www.artsandculturecentre.com


MARCH 9 , 2007

INDEPENDENTLIFE • 19

‘There’s lots of support’

NOREEN GOLFMAN Standing Room Only

From page 17

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itting on a warm sandy beach far from home last week, I had what I thought was a bright idea, as bright as the tropical sun burning through my SPF 60. Why doesn’t the province go aggressive on a green tourism campaign? I don’t mean merely printing hemp T-shirts that boast Free Newfoundland. I am talking about a really unified campaign to think and be green. The appeal is obviously both progressive and commercial. My trip to a Caribbean island was planned and paid for so long ago that Stéphane Dion was still considered a dull eccentric with about as much chance of being Liberal leader as I had of winning the lottery to pay for the vacation. He is still a dull eccentric, but today no one doubts the importance of his environment-friendly agenda. Back then, Stephen Harper thought greenhouse gases were caused by longhaired easterners growing cannabis in their basements. Today he’s giving millions away to Toronto to help the city clean up its urban emissions — and buy votes. And Jack Layton’s helmet-haired bike rides to the Hill every morning now look downright visionary. Who would have predicted that a sober, Canadian-made documentary about massive industrial waste sites would not only be taking home all the prizes but selling out movie houses all over the endangered planet? That film is Manufactured Landscapes, the feature length study of Edward Burtynsky, the photographer who can turn a Chinese computer graveyard into a thing of grotesque beauty. Hollywood starlets have been spilling out of fashionable hybrids and all over the red carpets for weeks now. The world has changed so quickly, or rather we are now almost all convinced it’s using itself up pretty quickly. Like all those pointy-head scientists who just met in smog-enchanted Paris to declare the severity of the global condition, we see it all differently. Even Rex Murphy has taken to tweaking his flat earth attitude. That is why when you are idling a late February 2007 week away at one of those all-inclusive resorts on a friendly island that — perfect weather, lush vegetation, warm seas, fresh mangoes, and an ongoing cricket match notwithstand-

Tom Barrett, tour guide at Experience Labrador

Paul Daly/The Independent

Green vacations

With some work, perhaps Newfoundland and Labrador could become the ultimate environmentally friendly tourist destination ing — could pass for Newfoundland, then you are already wired to notice the potential for creative change. Like Newfoundland, the government of St. Lucia has only recently turned its economic agenda to the development of tourism in the wake of the collapse of its largest industry — in that case, bananas. The combination of globalization and the privatizing of the once lucrative banana industry led, almost overnight, to massive unemployment and a stunned, decade-long paralysis. LOGICAL NEXT STEP But, as with here, eventually the bureaucrats deemed that tourism was the logical next step, what with all that mango and warm sand thing going on all the time, and so gradually the island started catering to cruise ships (one a day at least for six months) and the kind of sprawling playground of the sort I was lucky enough to have googled, or did it google me? The beauty of the island and the temptations of the sun are compelling attractions, to be sure. But when your own prime minister starts to talk like a tree hugger, then you are inclined to notice how much of a toxic puddle all

those air conditioning units must be creating in the Caribbean atmosphere, or how many plastic bags or water bottles are in use at any one moment on the beaches, destined to find their way to the bottom of the azure waters of the sea at your feet. Contemplating the emissions it took just to get you in the air and back, especially since you have to pass through the cavernous hi-modernism of Pearson Airport, is almost too much to manage. And so instead you might turn your vacation bound thoughts to a vision of this province as a defiantly planetfriendly destination. It’s wacky, but then it also makes so much sense. Imagine the government redirecting its energy away from its self absorbing scandals towards a program of universal, sustainable ecological health. The colossal irony is that so much of the future is hanging on the development of those deeply buried fossil fuels offshore, but that doesn’t mean we have to throw away the baby with the crude oil. What I learned on my winter vacation is that today’s middle class tourist is going to start demanding a progressively managed environment, a green hotel, where plastic bottles will be as obsolete

as polyester; where hotel room brochures will brag about how the washing and drinking water gets recycled every day, in different systems, of course; where everyone will know where the food in the restaurant actually comes from or is caught; what the natural fibre content of the staff uniforms, towels, and other necessary supplies and products might be. Further afield, tourists will be drawn to fuel efficient ferries, pollution free skies, a harbour you can sail on, and they will demand to have the demonstrated evidence of all of the above, not merely take anyone’s word for it. It is easy to scoff now, but generations to come will have higher demands and as tourists they will be drawn more forcefully to places where they believe people are living responsibly. That is the tourism economy of the very near future and the tourist planners who do not get it are doomed to be as shunned as the smokers consigned to sucking it up at least 20 feet away from their office buildings. Noreen Golfman is a professor of literature and women’s studies at Memorial. Her column returns March 23.

their careers. “I wanted to start my music career in St. John’s because I was always on the fence about moving back here, and then when I recorded my record it just seemed in my gut like the right time to come home. Here — that’s where it all came from for me.” She doesn’t regret her decision. Newfoundland is a good place to be a musician in, she says. “There’s lots of support. The government is giving lots of money to the arts, you can get assistance for touring. Record play and local sales help to pay the bills, and it’s not so expensive to live here. And my family support is excellent as well. “Things just work out here — you can always walk down Water Street and ask two or three people, and you’ll find what you’re looking for. Everyone wants to help — it’s just in our nature.” Ryan is on the road a lot, provincially and nationally, playing venues ranging from house parties to late-night band shows. The latter aren’t exactly her cup of java, although she finds them satisfying “when you can actually stop a crowd in that kind of environment.” Ryan has just started creating and promoting her own venues — “more work, but it’s more rewarding.” On March 10, she’ll team up at the Elks Lodge with Duane Andrews, uber-talented local jazz musician (2007 jazz album winner, Independent Music Awards; Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s 2006 emerging artist of the year; 2006 instrumental album winner at the 2006 East Coast Music Awards …). Ryan says she’ll put me on the guest list for the gig. I thank her, and head out into the street: the sun’s still there, flexing its muscles in front of the cowering drifts. But even if winter comes back with one last 30 centimetre hook, I’ll be impervious on Saturday night, wrapped up solid in the music of Sherry Ryan and Duane Andrews — take that, you big white bastard.


MARCH 9, 2007

20 • INDEPENDENTLIFE

‘I still get letters of complaint’ From page 17

Allan Hawco in A Whistle in the Dark

Tom Murphy

Photocall Ireland

versy — even before making it to opening night. Although Murphy’s script won an amateur writing contest in Ireland, the director of the Abbey Theatre — the country’s national theatre — refused it. “It was rejected, not just with a ‘thank-you for submitting the play and we wish you well,’ but is was an offensive letter I received, saying no such people existed.” He took his work to London then, where it debuted in 1961. Since then, through its hundreds of performances, A Whistle in the Dark still incites emotional responses. “I still get letters of complaint,” says Murphy. “I do occasionally have someone come up and say ‘are you the man who wrote that terrible play?’ “One of the last times it was done in London, I had a really hot, stinging letter from somebody who was a secretary of some Irish people’s association in England that this was a slur on Irish people.” But those are now the memorable minority. He slyly counters those stories by mentioning the “busloads of people from marriage counseling” who come to watch the work. Murphy, currently working on a stage adaptation of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin’s The Golovlyov Family (“said to be the bleakest, blackest Russian novel ever written”), has always kept his audience and critics

guessing, refusing to be categorized as he continually experiments with theatrical themes and structure. Hawco says one of the things that drew him to Murphy’s work was the brute honesty and unsentimental portrayal of place and people — one of the reasons, perhaps, that Murphy’s reputation is more muted on this side of the Atlantic. The writer would seem to agree. “Even before I wrote Whistle in the Dark,” he says, “I had read a number of Irish plays and they seemed to be celebrations of ignorance, really, and I didn’t want to do that.” Hawco thinks of this production as his company’s calling card. He’s set up a branch of the company in St. John’s, and there will be workshops, school matinees and a freefor-students showing of the current production. It’s all part of The Company Theatre’s mandate of collaborating with artists from all over the world, “and trying to bridge the gap between the communities in Canada. “I’m proud of the production and I’m really proud to bring something I’m working on home,” he says. “It means a lot to me that people have been receptive. We hope when they see this, they’ll be even more receptive.” A Whistle in the Dark opens March 9 with a students-only free performance at the LSPU Hall. The run continues until March 21.

Zodiac worth a second viewing TIM CONWAY Film Score Zodiac Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey, Jr. 158 min. (out of four)

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n the latter half of the 1960s and into the ’70s, a killer known only as Zodiac taunted police through the local newspapers. Encrypted letters were sent to the San Francisco Chronicle and other publications, claiming responsibility for murders in the area. Some of these could be verified, while others were untrue — but the most unsettling of them threatened further killing, which effectively held the city in a state of fear for the best part of a decade. A cartoonist at the Chronicle, Robert Graysmith, whose affinity for puzzles kept him buzzing around details of the case, never did let go of the mystery surrounding the identity of the Zodiac killer. Years later, when the investigation moved to the back burner, Graysmith refused to give up the search, an obsession that came at a high price in his personal life. STICKLER FOR DETAILS The two books he subsequently wrote about the Zodiac case form the basis of the latest feature film by David Fincher (Se7en, Panic Room). A stickler for details, Fincher supposedly insisted on personally verifying the facts of the case, and having lived in the area, determined to portray the period as accurately as possible. The result is a motion picture of considerable craftsmanship, offering an experience that is unique in many ways. Delineating the major events in the case and the subsequent investigation, Zodiac is not the kind of thriller

Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr., left) and Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) are employees of the San Francisco Chronicle who get tangled up in the clues and symbols left by a serial killer

we’ve become accustomed to at the movies or on TV, but stands as a crime drama. The sensational aspects of the murders, the letters, and the mystery of the killer are tempered by the real life consequences for those dedicated to seeing justice done. Graysmith is played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who convincingly presents a man whose curiosity slowly evolves into obsession, so gradual that we don’t even notice it. Robert Downey, Jr., in a superb performance as Chronicle crime reporter Paul Avery, gives us a character who is distracted from his own demons while trying to track down this new one.

Mark Ruffalo, as Inspector Dave Toschi — rumoured to be the inspiration for Clint Eastwood’s Harry Callahan — turns out another fine role, arguably the film’s most memorable character. Every element of Zodiac is antiCSI: Wherever. The presentation is sure to please, although the length of the film and its scope are bound to be unsatisfying to some. At more than two and a half hours, it is a long picture, and while the pace is rather brisk, for some, that’s still a lengthy running time. There’s a lot crammed into the film, however, and some could argue that certain elements of the story deserve more scrutiny or elaboration. Zodiac doesn’t provide us with the neat and tidy, gift-wrapped sensational ending that we’d prefer, but in a movie that endeavours to accurately recreate a story, we can’t expect a phony conclusion. Zodiac is one of those richly detailed, rare motion pictures that despite its length and deliberately low-key style, tempts us into a second viewing. In its effort to fairly and accurately present the facts and individuals involved, it perhaps isn’t as thorough in certain aspects as some of us would like, but in the long run, we’re best left wanting a little more than a lot less.

The Last King of Scotland Starring James McAvoy and Forest Whitaker 121 min. 1/2 (out of four)

Scotsman Nicholas Garrigan is fresh out of medical school when he takes a position in Uganda, as much for adventure as altruism. When a chance encounter finds him tending to the new president of the country, Idi Amin, Garrigan immediately makes a good impression is subsequently invited to become the leader’s personal physician. In jig time, Garrigan finds himself within Amin’s inner circle of confidants, a position that impedes his ability to maintain a proper perspective on his illustrious patient, or on himself. Based on Giles Foden’s novel, with a screenplay by Jeremy Brock (Driving Lessons, Mrs. Brown) and directed by Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void), The Last King of Scotland, although more sophisticated, takes us into Ghost Rider territory, as we are again cautioned against deals with the Devil. In most other treatments, the two films would probably share more than they do right now. A solid film in its own right, with an affecting performance from McAvoy as the poster boy for youthful indiscretion and perceived invulnerability, The Last King of Scotland is elevated a level or two by Forest Whitaker’s

award-winning take on Idi Amin. With the ensuing hype, it’s surprising to find that Amin is written as a supporting character, and that the film isn’t a biographical recreation of the Ugandan dictator’s rise to power and subsequent abuse of it. The central character is Garrigan, just as Clarice Starling is the central figure in The Silence of the Lambs. As is the case with Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter, however, the supporting role is brought to life with such power, that the performance is strong enough to hold the film on its own. So it is that a good film that boasts numerous technical qualities and fine performances graduates to must-see status as Whitaker convincingly blends the best and worst traits of humanity into one very memorable character. His Amin doesn’t steal the show, but adds levels of plausibility and dread that would otherwise be absent from the story. We can understand the allure to Garrigan, and as events progress, we are more aware than he of the trouble that awaits. The Last King of Scotland is a memorable motion picture in its own right, but Whitaker ensures that this is one trip to the movies you’re not likely to forget. Tim Conway operates Capitol Video in Rawlin’s Cross, St. John’s. His column returns March 23.


INDEPENDENTSTYLE

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 9-15, 2007 — PAGE 21

Low temps, high style Competing provinces covet Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Games team uniforms By Mandy Cook The Independent

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ny kid participating in a competitive sporting event will tell you just how important and memorable it is to have a kick-ass outfit. Not only does it feel great to cocoon your conditioned body in a fuzzy warm protective layer, it looks smart too. At this year’s Canada Games in Whitehorse, Yukon, our province’s contingent of athletes are decked out in a complete wardrobe of jackets, hats and scarves designed to ward off the bonechilling -40 C temperatures — and look hot doing it. So it is our province’s next generation of elite athletes sported this year’s most highly sought after sporting togs. Clayton Welsh, the province’s mission chef for the Games this year, says it is a longstanding tradition for athletes to trade parts of their uniforms amongst themselves. Part bonding process, part collector’s items, the young adults — competing in a total of 22 sports such as hockey, badminton, judo and curling — literally like to nab memorabilia off each other’s backs. But this year is different, says Welsh. “When our kids went back on the plane, I can’t remember seeing one kid with a suit from a different province. They might have had a cap or gloves but I don’t think any kid went back without their own Newfoundland jacket on, which is strange because everyone trades.” Welsh says he has been approached several times by other provinces’ competitors looking to score Newfoundland and Labrador threads. So far, there haven’t been many takers. Josh Prim, a 23-year-old wheelchair basketball player and St. John’s native, says he won’t be participating in the traditional exchange of gear. “I’m definitely going home with mine — it’s more of a case of other provinces wanting to get a hold of one of ours. People really seem to like the colour and style of ours this year,” he says over the phone from Whitehorse. The suits include a heavy-duty winter jacket, three different shirts, snow pants, a hat, scarf, gloves, and a backpack. The jacket is adorned with the Canada Winter Games logo of a fluid maple leaf circled in gold and is grey with a burgundy swirl across the front. A maroon pullover sports a Newfoundland and Labrador crest with a colourful wave design embroidered on the front and the province’s pitcher plant brand on the back. The wave emblem shows up on every other piece of clothing — from the pale blue dry weave warm-up shirt down to the calf of the snowboard-style snow pants. The 255 athletes, coaches, mission staff and managers kitted out for the Winter Games will not only have their memories of the multi-sport event held every two years (alternating between winter and summer), they will also get to keep the sweet swag of a full winter suit. Welsh says the clothing is an important element of the province’s game plan. “When they parade in the opening and closing ceremonies … having clothing that makes them feel proud is an important part for them. They feel proud to wear it because it looks nice and feels nice on them. It’s more than half the battle — it’s very good for them.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

Laura O’Leary, 17, of the Canada Winter Games synchronized swimming team.

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MARCH 9, 2007

22 • INDEPENDENTSTYLE

Quintessential winter food ‘Spag bol’ a warming dish with a hint of sweet summer tomatoes NICHOLAS GARDNER Off the Eating Path

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t is one of my best memories of my mother cooking in the kitchen: with me at her side, I can see her browning the ground beef in a pan and waiting for it to cook. Other ingredients followed — whole canned tomatoes and a half a can of tomato paste and a finely diced onion. Sometimes, if there was some around, a glass or two of red wine went in. Two bay leaves were added for that dark herbaceous note. Before being added to the pot, basil, thyme and oregano were poured into the palm of the hands and rubbed in a circular motion to warm and reinvigorate the flavours. This was one of my favourite things to do at my mom’s side as it made my hands a little green and the earthy flavours of the herbs were almost like an aphrodisiac. I was in love with the food. The last thing I remember doing — just before the sauce had had the required time to reduce and thicken —

In Italy, they refer to it as ragu alla bolognaise — meat sauce in the bolognaise style.

was to add a can or two of mushrooms, always whole, making little beige flying saucers floating on the top. We know this dish by the Anglicized name, spaghetti bolognaise. In our house we just called it spag bol. Every kid growing up in England knows this dish. In Italy, they refer to it as ragu alla bolognaise — meat sauce in the bolognaise style. For me, this is a quintessential winter food. It is full of warm richness, and filling, without being heavy. The traditional recipe loathes lots of tomato puree as it is supposed to be a simple dish of meat and some tomato. I prefer it my way — lots of richness in the tomatoes, adding the needed zip for the winter. The addition of the spinach leaves make the sauce a one-pot wonder, eliminating the need for a side of vegetables.

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNAISE • 2 lb ground beef, extra lean • 1 tsp olive oil • 1 medium sized onion finely diced • 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced • 1 28oz can of tomatoes, whole • 1 small can of tomato paste • 1 glass of wine (4-6 oz) • 1 tsp dried thyme • 1 tsp dried basil • 1 tsp dried oregano • 2 bay leaves • 1 1/2 cups of fresh mushrooms, thickly sliced • 2 cups fresh baby spinach (optional) • 1 tsp balsamic vinegar • 1 tsp sugar • Salt and pepper to taste • A handful of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese Over a medium high heat, warm a

large, heavy bottomed pan. When thoroughly heated, add the olive oil and wait for it to warm. Add the ground beef and brown all over. The beef should look dark, not a pallid grey. Add the onion and let it cook until slightly soft. Add the garlic at this point too. Next, add the tomatoes, tomato paste, wine and dried herbs. Remember to rub the herbs in the palm of your hand to awaken them. Leave the bay leaves whole, so they can be picked out later. When the sauce starts to bubble and spit for the first time, reduce the heat down to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer for 20-30 minutes to thicken and reduce. Next add the spinach and stir it in. As well, add the mushrooms, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Taste the sauce and adjust the season-

ing with salt and pepper. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes to let the spinach wilt and the mushrooms soften. Serve this thick sauce on your favourite pasta. While most opt for the long noodles of spaghetti, spaghettini, or fettuccine, I go for something with more nooks and crannies. I like wholewheat rotini or “twists” to maximize the meat coverage on the pasta. This is one of the easiest dishes to make and it can turn a good night into a great night. Cooking spaghetti bolognaise is a treat for me. It takes time to cook, but the reward is that it is good and good for you, and that is what cooking is all about. Nicholas Gardner is a freelance writer and erstwhile chef living in St. John’s. nicholas.gardner@gmail.com

EVENTS ARTS COUNCIL GRANT DEADLINE The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council is accepting project grant applications from individuals and groups for its spring granting session. The deadline is March 15, 2007. For more information and application forms, call 726-2212 or toll free 1866-726-2212 or visit www.nlac.nf.ca.

MARCH 9 • Drawn to the Rhythm: A Tribute to Sarah McLachlan with Jackie Sullivan, Karla Pilgrim, Melanie O’Brien, Leanne Kean, Dana Parsons, Jill Porter and Janet Cull, 8 p.m., Holy Heart Theatre. • Viva Lost Elvis, is a dinner and comedic musical tribute to the late great Elvis Presley, Majestic Theatre, Duckworth Street, 7 p.m., 579-3023.

• Billy and the Bruisers, Martini Bar, George Street. Also March 10. • Memorial University music alumni Sean Rice, clarinet, and Angela Pickett, viola, join pianist Maureen Volk in a program ranging from Mozart’s exquisite Kegelstadt Trio to Kurtag’s Hommage a R. Schumann, D.F. Cook Recital Hall, 8 p.m. MARCH 10 • Rock Can Roll Records presents Jody Richardson, Geinus and The Black Bags at the Ship Pub. • Coffee house at the Jamestown Recreation Centre, Jamestown, 7:30 p.m., contact mly@nf.sympatico.ca. • The NSO presents its chamber orchestra, Sinfonia, in Affairs of the Heart, its third concert this season, conducted by Peter Gardner. 8 p.m., D.F. Cook Recital Hall, 722-4441. • The Writer’s Tool Kit, a one-day workshop in the meeting room of the Admiralty House Museum, Mount Pearl, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Offered by author Paul Butler, 753-7740 or pfbutler@datamail.ca. • Duane Andrews and Sherry Ryan in concert at the Elks Lodge (Carpasian Road and Empire Avenue, St. John’s), 8 p.m. • Gospel artist David Chafe in concert at West End Baptist Church, 7:30 p.m., 368-1381. • The Concert Crowd presents The Present, St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre, 8 p.m. Continues March 11. MARCH 11 • Newfoundland Comedy Night featuring the Dance Party of Newfoundland and Jonny Harris’ Out of the Bog, Labrador West Arts and Culture Centre, 8 p.m • Bay Roberts Lions Club bluegrass and old-time country jam session and show. Doors open at 1 p.m., music from 2-5 p.m. MARCH 12 • Mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group monthly meeting at Sobey’s Community Room, Torbay Road Plaza, 7 p.m., 437-5097. • Book launch: Killer Snow: Avalanches in

Newfoundland & Labrador by David Liverman, 4:306:30 p.m. at Bianca’s, 171 Water Street. MARCH 13 • MUN Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Patrick Boyle, celebrates jazz of all stripes and flavours, 8 p.m., D.F. Cook Recital Hall. • Motus O Dance Theatre, Gander Arts and Culture Centre, 8 p.m. • Larry Mills, My Life, a night of gospel music at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre, 8 p.m. MARCH 14 • Chris Hynes at Folk Night, the Ship Pub, 9 p.m. • Editor, novelist and poet Stan Dragland reads at the A.C. Hunter adult library, 7 p.m. MARCH 15 • Newfoundland Comedy Night featuring the Dance Party of Newfoundland and Jonny Harris’ Out of the Bog, Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre, 8 p.m. • MUN Cinema series presents Deliver us from Evil, Studio 12, Avalon Mall, 7 p.m. More information about this film and the season’s schedule is at www.mun.ca/cinema. • Annual Memorial University alumni art exhibit and sale, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Royal Trust Atrium, Faculty of Business Administration • The Vagina Monologues, St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre, 8 p.m. • The Ennis Sisters Be Here for a While concert, Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts, Grand FallsWinsor, 8 p.m. IN THE GALLERIES • Exhibition by The Open Window Studio Group, Leyton Gallery of Fine Art, until March 31. • Michele Stamp Portraits, 32 works in graphite on paper, RCA Gallery, LSPU Hall, 753-4531. • Different Visions, new work by Elena Popova, Frank Lapointe and Terrence Howell, Red Ochre Gallery, until March 21.


MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTSTYLE • 23

The long hungry (and thirsty) month Tensions run high as funds run low in March — a tough time to give up booze for Lent

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was working in the shop one evening when a local ACW member wandered in, weary from preparing the church for Sunday service. I rung her through, but she lingered on, glancing out the window to see who was home on the street. “I’m wondering if we need to change the clocks in the church,” she said. “Oh, you do! It’s early this year,” I explained, thrilled to be full of knowledge and wisdom. While I didn’t know there were any clocks in our church, the ones we did have would need to be changed, I told her. “Oh yes,” she answered. “We have clocks all over that need to be changed.” Imagine! I never knew. She looked puzzled. “How could you teach the confirmation class if you don’t know about the coloured clocks?” she inquired. I was floored. I swear I had never heard anything about the church’s clocks — but I did know that any we do have would need to be put ahead. “Ahead?” she said. “Ahead of what?” “You know, for daylight savings time.” She stared at me. I stared back. Then the lights came on. “Oh, you mean cloths, not clocks,” I managed, holding back the laughter. “Yeah,” she answered, “that’s what I was saying … clots.” She left, shaking her head. It reminded me of the time this old fella came in looking for “carts.” He looked so upset when I told him we didn’t have any for sale that I offered him a laundry basket or scrubbing bucket instead. He was confused and I was frustrated. He insisted that I had carts somewhere in the store. I would know, I said, if we had carts. “We don’t have any, and for as long as I have been here we have never had any,” I replied with authority. He stood there shaking his head. “I just wants some c’arts for me pea s’up,” he said dejectedly. I sheepishly handed him his bag of carrots and he went home to cook his supper. ••• Welcome to the long hungry month of March. Under the old bartering system that existed

PAM PARDY GHENT

Seven-day talk throughout much of Newfoundland, fishermen saw very little in the way of cold hard cash for their seasonal toil and trouble. In the spring, fish merchants advanced whatever materials, gear and food would be needed for that year’s fishing season, and in the fall they bought the fish, deducted what was owed to them, and paid the fishermen the balance — if there was any — with flour, pork, salt beef and molasses. By the end of February these staples would be near gone, and they were left to deal with “the long hungry month of March.” While there might not be the traditional truck system on the go out here, it’s still a rough time for many. Men from outports like this one have been back home for long enough. Times are tight when the only income is that bi-monthly government cheque. Gone are the high times of Christmas when Alberta money still filled baymen’s pockets and children ran an open account at the local store. Beer flew out of the back room and no one bummed a smoke. In March, money is tight and the only way to fix the stress of a dollar forced to stretch further than it possibly can is to spend cash to go away and make more. Coin is preserved for “floating money” for the men who will soon leave. They will need a bed to sleep in and meal money until that first big Western pay comes in. Plane tickets need to be purchased and those with web access are in high demand as they scan online for the cheapest Alberta airfares. A few have started back on their Western rotations. More are getting calls and are preparing to leave. They fill the last of their home time with day-long Ski-Doo treks into the back country and ice fishing jaunts. The stress of money combined with thoughts

of being gone weigh heavy on usually contented faces. For some, once they get “the call,” they will be gone for six, or even eight, months from homes and families. My husband Blair answers the phone with hesitation. While he is eager to get back to work, there is an undeniable downside — being away. He was supposed to be gone in January, and I resist (as best I can) the urge to harp. He works away. That’s the life we picked when we decided to live in outport Newfoundland. The job he was going to start on after Christmas was delayed, and I honestly don’t see him trying that hard to find another. Hard to find a job, I tell him, when you’re on the pond with a line and a hook. So, times are tense as well as tight, but I guess he’s doing what he can. Blair placed a follow up call to one fellow the other day. They had been talking about a sixand-two rotation job, and Blair wanted to know what the status. Buddy was warm and friendly and hubby beamed — going away for six-week stints is a hell of a lot better than being gone for half the year. “Don’t worry Larry,” the HR rep told him. “You are my next priority.” Larry? Who the hell is Larry? Not the best time to be dry, I told my sympathetic mother as I complained about Blair’s tendency to slur his consonants and speak much too fast with much too slow mainlanders. Mom and I gave up drinking for the 40 days of Lent so, for me, March has a double punch. Not only is it hungry, but it’s also been a very thirsty month so far. But things will improve, they always do. Besides, I have some celebrating to do. March 9 is my wedding anniversary and it’s hard to believe that 17 years have whizzed by. Times flies on long sentences, they say. Just kidding Dear, now, be a doll and put the clots ahead before you go to bed on Saturday night, will ya? That man — he’s a keeper. Loves ya Larry. Pam Pardy Ghent lives in Harbour Mille on the Burin Peninsula. Her column returns March 23.

DRINK

Perfectly Franc W

ine drinkers are all about knowing a wine’s history — it’s part of the culture of wine drinking. The provenance of the grapes inside the bottle of wine is as big a deal as the paper label lovingly placed on the bottle. Wine choice for me is as much about the type of grape used, as it affects the food I will make to go with it, as the manufacturer, vineyard or provenance. Canada, unlike almost all other wine producing countries, contributes less than a 50 per cent share of the Canadian wine market. That means we don’t see a lot of it in the stores. What we do see is a large contingent of wines made by the large wine conglomerates who produce most of Canada’s wines — Vincor (Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs), and Peller (Andrew Peller Signature Series, Heritage, Oakridge, French Cross series of wines). The wine stores will tell you that they have a good selection of Canadian wines, but in reality it is all one company, and not much diversity of product. But what is produced in this country, is good, if you poke through and look for what we do well. One of my favourite grape varietals is cabernet franc, which is one of the “mother grapes.” In fact, the cross of cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc resulted in the world famous cabernet sauvignon, not the other way around. Cabernet Franc is well suited to our colder growing climate and is one of the better Canadian grapes. I had the opportunity to poke around the local store to find some wine and have a taste. Inniskillin Cabernet Franc 2004 (NLC $15.62) is a reasonably well-priced wine. It has distinct acidity, which is both refreshing and a bit astringent. With subtle undertones of green pepper, black pepper and strawberry this is a good pairing with strong meat like lamb. Andrew Peller Signature Series Cabernet Franc 2002 (unfiltered) (NLC $25.99) is more in keeping with a stronger, more robust wine. Strawberries and leather, mixed with an earthy smell is pronounced in the nose, and these characteristics are echoed in the palate. The body of the wine is light but full of ripe fruit including strawberries. Its quick finish is mildly disappointing, but there is always room for another taste. Vineland Estates Cabernet Franc 2004 (www.vineland.com $12.95) is one of the nicest I have tasted. This bottle was a gift from my wife and I have since learned that the 2004 vintage was one of the best the winery has produced. It is a warm and supple wine, full of red raspberry with a flavour that one could only call juicy. The wine is so smooth and refined it seems implausible that it is the best of the wines and also the cheapest of them all. There is no reason to think about Canadian wines in the same way we viewed Californian wines only 30 years ago. Take the time to go for the grapes, like cabernet franc and baco noir, which grow well in our climate, and you can’t go wrong. The NLC should look to expanding the catalogue of Canadian wine from Newfoundland to British Columbia because they’ve missed the boat on some good wineries — to be perfectly frank. nicholas.gardner@gmail.com

TASTE

Hearty soup is a Catalan classic By Susan Sampson Torstar wire service

T

his classic Spanish soup is delicious, hearty and satisfying. It comes with a bonus: an excellent meatball recipe you can adapt for other uses.

CATALAN MEATBALL SOUP Adapted from Spanish Country Kitchen: Traditional Recipes for the Home Cook by Linda Tubby. The original calls for fideos, or thin Spanish noodles. They are hard to find here. Substitute the vermicelli soup noodles sold in kosher sections of supermarkets. You can use parsley in the meatballs instead of cilantro. MEATBALLS: • 1/2 lb (225 g) each: ground pork, ground veal • 1 small onion, grated • 1 large clove garlic, minced or pressed • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro • 1 tbsp chopped mint • 2 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp sea salt • Freshly ground pepper to taste • All-purpose flour for dusting • Extra-virgin olive oil for frying SOUP: • 5 cups chicken stock • 2 large tomatoes (about 1-1/4 lb/500 g), peeled, seeded, finely chopped • 2 tbsp tomato paste • 1/2 tsp sea salt • Freshly ground pepper to taste • 1 cup vermicelli noodles broken into 2-inch pieces • 1 tbsp chopped parsley • Mint leaves to taste For meatballs, put pork, veal, onion, garlic, egg, cilantro and mint in large bowl. Stir in breadcrumbs, cinnamon, salt and pepper until well blended. Form into 1/2-inch balls. Toss balls in flour until lightly coated. Pour oil 1/4-inch deep into large skillet. Heat on medium-high until shimmery. Frying in batches, add meatballs until starting to brown and firm up, shaking pan and gently turning, about two minutes. Remove with slotted spoon. Set aside to drain on paper towels. For soup, put stock and tomatoes in large pan. Bring to boil on medium-high heat. Stir in tomato paste, salt and pepper, then noodles. Add meatballs. Turn heat to medium or medium-low and simmer 10 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir in parsley. Serve garnished with mint leaves. Makes 6 servings.


MARCH 9, 2007

24 • INDEPENDENTSTYLE

ENUMERATION WORKERS REQUIRED The Chief Electoral Office has started work on an Enumeration of all eligible voters in the province. Beginning May 14th, enumerators will go door-to-door to every residence in the province, gathering the names, addresses and birthdates of all eligible voters.

BETWEEN 1700 AND 1900 WORKERS ARE REQUIRED. Good writing and communication skills are essential.

For more information, contact:

Applicants who are hired will be given Enumeration training and will be working in the Electoral Districts where they reside.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer 39 Hallett Crescent St. John’s, NL A1B 4C4

Application forms are available at the office of Elections Newfoundland and Labrador and can be obtained by mail, fax, on the internet or cut out below.

Telephone: 1-877-729-7987 (all areas) Fax: (709) 729-0679 Internet: www.gov.nl.ca/elections E-mail: oceo@gov.nl.ca

All applications must be forwarded to Elections Newfoundland and Labrador by: Mail: 39 Hallett Crescent, St. John’s, NL A1B 4C4 or Fax: (709) 729-0679 Close of Applications: April 10th, 2007 5:00 p.m. (Newfoundland Time)

Workers Are Needed: Door to door enumeration will begin May 14th and end May 25th.

Enumerators are needed to help ensure that an accurate and comprehensive Voters List is produced for the Province.

Please Note: To be considered for employment applicants must fill out the form and send it to Elections Newfoundland and Labrador.

APPLICATION FORM

ENUMERATION WORKER PLEASE PRINT Name: Civic Address: Mailing Address:

Telephone:

(Home)

(Work)

Enumerators will ask for names, civic address and mailing address. They will also inquire about the number of persons in each household who will be of voting age on Election Day, October 9th, their birthdates and gender.

E-mail: Have you worked in an Enumeration before? If yes:

U

NO

U

YES

WHEN WHICH DISTRICT/S WHICH POSITION/S

Brief employment history:

Please note: A person may not be appointed an enumerator who, within 60 days before enumeration day: (a) was in the service of a political party; or (b) is employed by a political party or another person on behalf of or in the interest of a political party.

This information will be hand written on a form by the Enumerator.

Enumerators are required to take an oath. Signature of Applicant

Date of Application

All applications must be forwarded to Elections Newfoundland and Labrador by: Mail: 39 Hallett Crescent, St. John’s, NL A1B 4C4 or Fax: (709) 729-0679 Close of Applications: April 10th, 2007 5:00 p.m. (Newfoundland Time) For further information: E-mail: oceo@gov.nl.ca or Telephone: 1-877-729-7987 (all areas)

Elections Newfoundland and Labrador is a Non-Partisan Office Responsible for the Conduct of Provincial Elections and Plebiscites

Enumerators will be sworn in and bound by the “Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act” to keep all collected information in strict confidence. (www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just/ civil/atipp/Policy Manual.pdf)


MARCH 9-15, 2007

What’s new in the automotive industry

FEATURED VEHICLE Introducing the 2007 City Golf. This vehicle is exclusive to the Canadian Market and with a 115-hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and standard fivespeed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic, it’s sure to impress all drivers. Standard equipment includes 15-inch tires, fourwheel disc brakes with ABS, power steering, AM/FM/CD player and eight speakers, and a 12-volt powerpoint in the centre console. Available options include a cold weather package with heated front seats and heated windshield washer nozzles, a Luxury Package with alloy wheels and moonroof, and the Convenience Package which includes power windows, power door locks, power heated mirrors,and more. At any level, the 2007 City Golf has lots of pep and plenty to brag about. Available at Bill Matthews Volkswagon Audi, 211 Kenmount Rd., St. John’s. Photos by Paul Daly/The Independent

Advertising sells W

e can’t help but be swayed by response that makes me thirst for the advertising. That’s the beauty product. I know what I like but all the of it. Sometimes we’re ham- automakers tell me they all make great mered with it from all angles machines these days so I look — it can be cool, tough, smart, at everything. That’s exactly sexy, or morally superior. how I found my last car … and Whatever … advertising sells I was marked, branded as if I vehicles and I like it. was a prized steer. Every commercial on teleYou don’t just drive a vehivision, every advertisement in cle — it’s also a bold statement a newspaper (including this of your relationship with a car one) or on the radio, it’s all for company. You wrap yourself in MARK me and I love to be enterits product. The car companies WOOD tained. I’ve got lots of vehifoster your brand loyalty and cles right now but you know else watches to see if WOODY’S everyone how that goes. They go great you’re satisfied. for a long time; then they just Another method of brand WHEELS go away (and I am led into recognition is entertainment, temptation). specifically the movies. If people see a That’s when all those years of watch- leading man (or lady) in a vehicle triing advertising kicks in, an automatic umphing over evil, then regular Joes and

Janes can overcome everyday obstacles in the same vehicle. One of the greatest chase scenes ever filmed was for the movie Bullet with Steve McQueen doing his own stunts in a ’68 Mustang. The bad guys howl around the streets of San Francisco in a Dodge Charger, jumping the hills with Steve hot on their tail. The director purposely left music out of the action scenes so we could fully appreciate the roaring engines and squealing tires. Sales of Mustangs and Chargers soared and San Francisco became the Mecca of numerous car-chase television shows — the most memorable being Starsky and Hutch in their Ford Torino. The most famous car-chase television show of all time was undoubtedly The Dukes of Hazzard with their Dodge Charger named General Lee.

Another great branding movie was the 1971 hit Vanishing Point, where the hero tears across Utah in a ‘70 Dodge Challenger. It’s still a cult classic. The lame 1997 remake featuring Viggo Mortensen didn’t live up to the hype, although the band Audioslave got it right in their video Show me how to live, all attitude and great music. There are even rumours of a new version of the ’71 movie to coincide with the launch of the 2008 Dodge Challenger. The Dodge Challenger serves as an excellent example of brand recognition. In 1977, “King” Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 in an Oldsmobile Cutlass, which happened to be identical to the car my mom drove at the time. I was quite impressed and developed a whole new appreciation for the family car. Being branded at such a young age leaves a

lasting impression and can seriously effect large-purchase decisions later on in life. We’re kind of going through the same branding ritual in my own home right now. This year, for the first time in history, the Daytona 500 had four Toyota Camrys in the lineup and my kids know that’s what their mom drives. Toyota placed first in a Nascar Truck Series race in California a couple of weeks ago, that’s the kind of truck I’m driving. My youngest son thinks that’s great and he knows the difference between the race version and what’s in our pit area at home. It’s all the same to me, that’s our brand and we’ve got a great team of family vehicles this year. Mark Wood of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s is intrigued by product placement.


26 • INDEPENDENTSHIFT

MARCH 9, 2007

‘Lots more Corvette stuff’ for me to do’ T

he announcement last week by GM’s sor to GM Racing rather than as a driver — except Corvette Racing that Ron for the event next August at Mosport, at Fellows would be moving into a which he’ll partner his old friend new phase in his auto racing career was O’Connell. the culmination of a negotiation that “We started talking about this change started just about a year ago and the end early last season,” Fellows said in a teleresult of a process that began in late phone call from his home in Mississauga, 2004 or early 2005. Ont., shortly after the GM announcement The announcement, in case you was made public. missed it, is that starting this season, “I’ve been thinking for some time Fellows will only co-drive the Corvette about the future. There’s lots more NORRIS MCDONALD C6.R racing car with Johnny O’Connell ‘Corvette stuff’ for me to do, other than and Jan Magnussen in long-distance driving them. And, as well as broadening races like the 12 Hours of Sebring, the my horizons, this change also frees up 24 Hours of LeMans and the 10-hour some time for me to take care of some Petit LeMans. unfinished business in NASCAR.” While he’ll be in attendance at all To describe Ron Fellows as a winner is other American LeMans Series races this year, it a bit of an understatement. He scored Corvette will be as an ambassador for Corvette and an advi- Racing’s first ALMS victory in 2000. He’s since

TRACK TALK

won 25 ALMS races and three GT1 titles with the team. He’s scored three class wins at the 24 Hours of LeMans and won the Rolex 24 at Daytona outright. He’s also won Busch Grand National races and Craftsman Truck races in NASCAR as well as races in the SCCA Trans-Am series. So it’s going to be a little strange not to see his name in the sports car driver standings each week. But in case this sounds like Fellows is heading out to pasture, think again. He was in Mexico last weekend, driving for Kevin Harvick’s team in the Busch series race there. He’ll also be in Harvick’s car for the inaugural Busch race in Montreal this summer, to be followed by the race at Watkins Glen. (When he talks about freeing up some time for other things, you can bet he’s got some NASCAR testing sessions in mind — something that was just not possible when he was a full-time Corvette

Ron Fellows drives his car number 87 TBA Chevrolet during the pole qualifiers run of the NASCAR Busch series at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City, March 5, 2005. REUTERS/Henry Romero

driver.) He’ll also be piloting a Cadillac in selected SCCA Speed World Challenge GT races, including the support race at the Champ Car Grand Prix of Toronto in July. Short-term, GM has him down to attend key Corvette marketing events and to assist in driver development for a variety of the corporation’s road racing programs. Long term, Fellows says he wants to help GM on the management side of racing. “I’ve been doing this (racing) for my whole life. I have a lot to bring to the table.” Fellows noted that this marks his 12th year with the GM Racing program and 10 years with the Corvette team — which is, I think, some kind of record. In fact, GM showed their appreciation for his efforts earlier this year with the construction of a special, limited edition, Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06, the first signed special edition in Corvette’s 54-year history. As I said at the beginning, this ends a process that started several years ago. In a lengthy interview we had in late 2004, Fellows said this: “The last couple of years, we’ve been sitting down as a family (Ron and his wife Linda have three children) to talk about my future — does daddy still want to do this? The travel thing tends to get pretty thin and, let’s face it, I’ve been pretty fortunate injury-wise too. “We had a close call at LeMans this year (a tire blew out on the Mulsanne Straight during the 2004 race and the engineers said he went backwards into a guardrail at 178 miles an hour. He got off with a concussion.). This was kind of a frightening thing and I think, as you get older, that you tend to dwell on the ‘what ifs’ more than you used to. “I’m not thinking of retiring, yet. An option could be to do just the long races. We have a new car we’re developing (the C6.R) and I feel like I want to be part of that.” Mission accomplished — to date. SKY IS FALLING Honda has joined the Sky-Is-Falling crowd by dolling up its Formula One car to look like Mother Earth. The reason? They don’t have a major sponsor for the 2007 season. It has little, if anything, to do with climate change or global warming. The tobacco money is history and hardly anybody outside the Middle East is interested in ponying up the obscene amounts of money required to keep that crowd in the manner to which they have all become accustomed. So they’ve “gone green” to show the world just how environmentally aware and concerned they are. I’ll believe them (and all those millionaire bleeding hearts who went teary-eyed at the sight of Al Gore at the Academy Awards the other night) when they ditch the private jets, the helicopters, the limousines, the multi-million-dollar hospitality units (can you imagine the energy required to power those things) and all the other gasolineand/or diesel-sucking paraphernalia that goes with their jet-set lifestyle. Until that happens, it’s all just talk. Which happens to translate into an awful lot of hot air. SAFETY FIRST Danica Patrick won’t drive in the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 17 because of safety concerns. She’s so small that she can’t comfortably reach the pedals when she gets into the car to relieve one of Andretti-Green’s regular ALMS drivers, Brian Herta and either Dario or Marino Franchitti. CHAMP CAR WORLD NEWS Long-time Canadian auto racing public-relations executive and marketing consultant Sid Priddle (Molson Indys Toronto and Vancouver, the Grand Prix of Edmonton) has been hired by the Champ Car World Series as a senior consultant. Priddle’s magic made the Toronto and Vancouver races the successes they were in the early years and he’s working it again these days in Edmonton. Let’s hope the Champ Car folks take full advantage of his talents. In short, I hope they listen to him. Speaking of Champ Car, Eric Bachelart’s Conquest Racing team looks to be down for the count again. It’s likely for good this time. Canadian Andrew Ranger was with that outfit last year. That leaves 16 cars — maybe — for the first Champ Car race in Las Vegas in April.


MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTSHIFT • 27

Gas crunch eases as plant ramps up

Winter is bigger than any of us I

’m of two minds about winter driv- the time we had two cars, one standard, ing. While my family would be one automatic. I was driving the autohappy to know I’ve got it down to matic. The forecast was clear, and just two, it creates a dilemma every time though there was snow up north, there it snows. For the most part, and the only wasn’t much, and no more was expectpart I admit to my two sons, I’m of the ed. stay-off-the-roads-unless-it’s-vital My father spent most of his life in staschool of thought when it comes to great tion wagons and trucks. I stuck him in quantities of snow. an Acura Legend and told him to We live in the core of our behave. We made fabulous city, which comes with that time all the way to Barrie, and dual-edged sword of everyas we made the swing north, I thing within walking distance, saw the flashing red light in but tree roots growing into my rearview mirror. your pipes. In bad weather, The only thing worse than we really have little reason to being trapped in a wee sports drive anywhere, but deep car with your crabby dying down in my secret super hero father, is being all that and heart, I love to dare the elethen getting a speeding ticket. LORRAINE ments, to pit myself against As the cruiser pulled away, I SOMMERFELD the machine and pretend I’m a braced myself for the master of the winter universe. inevitable. My father told me There are times I pull this he’d pay for the ticket, as off better than others. Like we’d been making such great when I don’t have any wittime. He would never know nesses. how I would treasure that moment. A dozen years ago, I took my father to To this day my sisters think I’m lying. check on the cottage. In February. Once up north, I was relieved to see Neither of those two things would be we could drive most of the way in. remarkable, unless you knew my father. When he’d seen with his own eyes that He’s been gone for 10 years, yet his the cottage was still sound, we headed spirit remains larger than life. back out. The car got stuck on one parHe spent the final five years of his life ticular grade that I had stupidly gone sucking oxygen into his asbestos-filled down in giddy anticipation of actually lungs, which made a naturally contrary getting my father out of the car sooner. man a real bundle of joy to live with. Sure enough, after repeated runs at it, Regardless of health, however, he it became obvious that I should have checked on the cottage at least once brought the standard car. Greater control every winter. It wasn’t winterized, at lower speeds would have popped us which meant a same-day loop that as a over the grade in no time. I’m not sure rule he’d done on his own. which was louder that day: my father’s Until that last winter when there was cursing, or the tires spinning. That’s a no way he could do it on his own. I vol- lie. I know exactly which was louder. unteered. A hush fell over the Sunday I’ve owned sport utility vehicles, dinner table. Save for my mother, we’d sports cars, sedans, and every size of all stopped driving with my father the van. Regardless of what the brochures day we got our licences. You know promise, there is one thing that remains when you have those little epiphanies, constant: it’s about the driver. The most when you decide you can not only make capable vehicle on the road is only as a difference, you can do it right now? good as the person behind the wheel. There are drugs for that. I didn’t have True racecar drivers save it for the track, any at the time. and a 4x4 is no guarantee of safety if the We set out the next morning; my person driving it has a 2x4 for a brain. father clutching a No Frills bag on his Just remember the vagaries of the lap filled with lunches he’d made, his weather are bigger than all of us, and my oxygen tank wedged between his feet. father is now Zeus with an oxygen When I’d pulled into the driveway, I’d mask. been told I’d made my first mistake. At www.lorraineonline.ca

Curtis Rush Torstar wire service

T

POWER SHIFT

Carlos Ghosn, head of both Renault SA and Japan's Nissan Motor Co. speaks to reporters after launching the new product, Livina, a compact seven-seater family car (in the background) in Jakarta last October. Rival manufacturer Fiat is considering the production of a comparable vehicle in thier own line. Reuters

Fiat considers low-cost car similar to rival

I

talian automaker Fiat SpA says it is considering whether it should develop a low-cost passenger car similar to ones made by French rival Renault SA. Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne, who spoke to reporters at the Geneva Motor Show, said the company was considering its own low-cost ver-

sion, similar to the Logan model. Even though Fiat already has its Palio, a hatchback sold mostly in emerging markets, Marchionne said that there was a clear demand for such an inexpensive vehicle. “Our low-cost vehicle will be the new version of the Palio,” Marchionne said. — Torstar wire service

he gasoline shortage is showing signs of recovery in Toronto. Imperial Oil announced that its Nanticoke refinery operations near Hamilton are producing close to 75 per cent of normal output. The refinery was hit by a fire Feb. 15, cutting production in half. Coupled with a CN Rail strike, gas supplies were choked off and dozens of retail outlets in Toronto ran out of gas on a rotating basis, causing some panic among motorists. Imperial Oil says that with Nanticoke almost at normal output, its Esso retail service station network is slowly being restocked. The refinery is on schedule to be fully operational by midMarch. Until then, Imperial Oil will continue securing supply from neighbouring markets, with the local market remaining very tight, the oil company stressed. Robert Theberge, spokesperson for Imperial Oil, said today that the number of Esso stations in Ontario without gas has dropped from about 100 to the 60 to 70 range, representing about 15 per cent of Esso stations in the province. However, he added, “It’s still slow going.” During the height of the supply problems, gas prices jumped from the mid-80s to about $1 a litre for regular, or about 17 per cent. Shell Canada’s John Peck reported today that all Shell stations in the GTA are up and running. Now, at many stations in the GTA prices are just below $1.


28 • INDEPENDENTFUN

MARCH 9, 2007

WEEKLY DIVERSIONS ACROSS 1 Recedes 5 Not fem. 9 Parched 13 Swept-up hair 17 One in the net 18 Suffix with cigar 19 Taboo 20 Imitation 21 Impolite 22 Plane 23 Miniature abode 25 ___ on (incited) 27 Head 29 Black: comb. form 30 Porcine pen 31 Man. town with giant trapper (2 wds.) 33 Balkans leader, once 35 Plaything 36 Language suffix 37 Turban wearer 39 Pointed end 41 Summer time in Salmon Arm 43 It runs in spring 46 Leader of Upper Canada Rebellion (1837): William ___ Mackenzie 48 Mosque cleric 50 Piece for nine instruments 54 Just gets by: ___ out 56 Merino mother 57 Clay pot 59 Back (of) 60 Brief role for star 62 First black woman mayor in Canada:

CHUCKLE BROS

Daurene ___ (Annapolis Royal, N.S., 1984) 65 Arms and ammunition 67 French bathtub 69 ___ polloi 70 Intellectual faculty 71 Gordon Lightfoot’s hometown 74 Happen next 77 Canada’s first woman doctor 80 Ms. Mouskouri 81 Maligne (in Jasper Park) 83 Workout place 85 African antelope 86 Nasal tone 88 St. John’s site used by Marconi: Signal ___ 90 First black Canadian to win Victoria Cross: William ___ 92 Lawyer’s charge 93 Samovar contents 95 Sask.’s animal emblem: white-tailed ___ 97 Thick slice 99 Owns 102 Summer time in St. John’s 104 Sudden attack 106 Make possible 110 Small island 111 Words of promise 113 Have the courage (to) 115 Sticks

116 Tiger tender 119 Like some lingerie 121 ___ d’or Lake, N.S. 122 French pronoun 123 Roman fiddler 124 Exhaust 125 River of N France 126 Legal attachment 127 Sketched 128 Responsibility 129 Social insects DOWN 1 Big wading bird 2 Tree branch 3 Police identifier 4 Naps 5 Encountered 6 Perched on 7 Ermine 8 The Rankins’ kind of music 9 Plus 10 Hotel unit 11 Small bay 12 Lump or blob 13 One in ten of us has seen one 14 Temporary stop 15 Does housework 16 Daisy 24 “Papa ___’s dead and gone ...” 26 Irish parliament 28 Small case 32 Hebrides island 34 Absorption through a membrane 38 Wolf call 40 Best bud

42 City with CN tower 43 Dry in Dieppe 44 Shortened alias 45 Alberta river and park 47 Originally 49 Provincial rep. 51 Sask. hometown of Henry Taube, Nobel laureate (Chemistry, 1983) 52 Unit of corn 53 Attempt 55 Caulking 58 Upper limb 61 Vinaigrette ingredient 63 Film director Anne (“Bye Bye Blues”) 64 Charged item 66 Wrong: prefix 68 Zero 71 Man. neighbour 72 Uncooked 73 Word of admiration 75 Word of disgust 76 Young falcon 78 English river 79 Devon river 82 Tease 84 Mademoiselle in short 87 Canadian film award 89 “You can ___ a horse ...” 91 Singer K.D. 94 One of the numbers in a column 96 Bridge in Venice 98 Spanish explorer 99 Most severe hurricane in Canadian history (1954)

100 Garlic mayonnaise 101 Scarf for the shoulders 103 Hard drinker

105 Draw off liquid gradually 107 Nfld. peninsula hit by 1929 tsunami

108 Last but not ___ 109 Curves 112 Dried up 114 Beige

117 Understanding 118 Line in a garden 120 Affirmative reply Solutions page 30

Brian and Ron Boychuk

WEEKLY STARS ARIES (MAR. 21 TO APR. 19) You’re correct to want to help someone who seems to need assistance. But be careful that he or she isn’t pulling the wool over those gorgeous Sheep’s eyes. You need more facts. TAURUS (APR. 20 TO MAY 20) The Bovine’s optimism will soon dispel the gloom cast by those naysayers and pessimists who still hover close by. Also, that good news you recently received is part of a fuller message to come. GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) Feeling jealous over a colleague’s success drains the energy you need to meet your own challenges. Wish him or her well and focus on what you need to do. Results start to show in mid-March. CANCER

(JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) You’re likely to feel somewhat crabby these days, so watch what you say, or you could find yourself making lots of apologies. Your mood starts to brighten by the weekend. LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) Your pride might still be hurting from those unflattering remarks someone made about you. But cheer up, you’re about to prove once again why you’re the Top Cat in whatever you do. VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) A misunderstanding with a coworker could become a real problem unless it’s resolved soon. Allow a third party to come in and assess the situation without pressure or prejudice. LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT.22)

Call a family meeting to discuss the care of a loved one at this difficult time. Be careful not to let yourself be pushed into shouldering the full burden on your own. SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) An upcoming decision could open the way to an exciting venture. However, there are some risks you should know about. Ask more questions before making a commitment. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) Personal matters need your attention during the earlier part of the week. You can start to shift your focus to your workaday world by midweek. Friday brings news. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) You’ve been going at a hectic pace for quite a while. It’s time now for some much-needed rest and recre-

ation to recharge those hard-working batteries. AQUARIUS (JAN.20 TO FEB.18) This is a good time to upgrade your current skills or consider getting into an entirely different training program so that you can be prepared for new career opportunities. PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MAR. 20) Keep a low profile in order to avoid being lured away from the job at hand. Focus on what has to be done, and do it. There’ll be time later to enjoy fun with family and friends. YOU BORN THIS WEEK: You can be a dreamer and a realist. You dream of what you would like to do, and then you face the reality of how to do it. (c) 2007 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 30


INDEPENDENTSPORTS

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 9-15, 2007 — PAGE 29

‘It’s very special this year’ As the 2007 Canada Winter Games near its end, the province’s medal count is low, but spirits are still high — especially for the family of Corner Brook figures skaters who helped bring home the first big award By Don Power For The Independent

W

hen Team Newfoundland and Labrador marched into the opening ceremonies at the 2007 Canada Winter Games last week in Whitehorse, Great Big Sea’s Ordinary Day was piped through the sound system. However, for the provincial participants, the start of the Winter Games was anything but an ordinary day. For many, it was their first exposure to a national multi-sport competition. For a lot of them, it may be their only experience in such an event. Lisa Young was not at the opening ceremonies. As a coach with the figure skating contingent, the Corner Brook resident is part of the second week of activity. And the 2007 Winter Games are not Young’s first. The teacher and figure skating coach is actually at her fifth Canada Games. She coached in 1991 in Prince Edward Island and in 2003 in New Brunswick; she was a member of the 1997 mission staff in Brandon, Man. and was the sport chair for figure skating in her hometown Games in Corner Brook in 1999. This year is extra special, however, because in addition to coaching the provincial team and the team’s Special Olympic skaters, Young has two children skating in Whitehorse — Matthew and Alexandra, who are skating in the pre-novice pairs. “It’s very special this year,” Young said earlier this week. “In ’99, my children were very young but they volunteered and were medal presenters. I always hoped they would get the opportunity. The last four years, this is what they trained for, to have their chance to go to the Games. “I’m still working with all the other skaters, and it’s the same as other competitions, but it’s a really nice feeling that they’re here, getting to experience this. I’ve experienced it before and now they’re getting to experience it. I’ve tried to describe it to them, but it’s hard to do until you’re here.” Young says the kids — her own and the other team members — have totally enjoyed the week of festivities. Unlike most national competitions, the Canada Games feature athletes from a number of sports. That’s provided participants with a fresh perspective, giving them the chance to watch other events, and have athletes from other sports watch skating. “We’re such an individual sport, and for this to be a multi-sport event, is special,” Young said. “They get to see other competitions and they feel like a team, so they’re closer together. “It’s definitely a different feeling because of the other events. Sometimes, it takes the focus and the pressure off. There are more distractions; they stay focused, but they’re See “They enjoy,” 31

Newfoundland/Labrador gymnastics team member Deidre Lambert of St. Phillip's performs on the vault Tuesday at the Canada Winter Games.

Lee Carruthers/For The Independent

Time Aughey was bounced Memorial men’s basketball coach hasn’t done anything since joining Sea-Hawks: time to cut the cord

H

ere’s a basketball riddle for you sports fans out there: What do Doug Partridge and Todd Aughey have in common? Answer: Neither can coach men’s teams. That works for Partridge, who as the head coach of the MUN Sea-Hawks women’s team, is coaching at the CIS women’s basketball tournament for the sixth time in 13 years, and has won six AUS titles in his 15 years at MUN. (To be fair to Partridge, it’s not that he can’t

DON POWER

Power Point coach men, it’s that he chooses not to.) It doesn’t, however, work for Aughey, the Ottawa native who was hired to ostensibly turn MUN’s men’s basketball program around and take it in the direction

Partridge has led his team for years — to the upper echelon of the Atlantic league, and a perennial contender for the championship. Since 2000, when Aughey was plucked from the University of Victoria by Frank Butler, much has been expected of the men’s basketball team. Little has been accomplished, especially in the way of success. Sure, Aughey’s teams have reached the playoffs four times in his seven seasons,

but collectively his clubs have gone 4693, and won just one of those playoff games, a 67-64 quarterfinal win over UPEI in 2001-02. However, university ball is not all about wins and losses. Often, it’s about growing and learning. That doesn’t appear to be happening with the men’s program, either. The players who have gone through the See “Time to sever,” page 30

University ball is not all about wins and losses. Often, it’s about growing and learning. That doesn’t appear to be happening with the men’s program, either.


30 • INDEPENDENTSPORTS

MARCH 9, 2007

Tough times for caribou I

shot my first caribou on the first day of the season in the fall of 1994. I had hunted moose all my life, and decided to take a sabbatical. I drew a stag-only licence for the Avalon area where there was an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 woodland caribou in a relatively small area. I did some pre-season scouting in August, and couldn’t believe the concentration of caribou that milled about the highway on the Trepassey barrens. I had to stop the truck and blow the horn to clear a path through them. Incidentally, I did my scouting in tandem with a family drive and picnic. My wife tells me, somewhat sarcastically, that I’m very good at those sort of arrangements. (Remember my fishing in Ireland story?) Anyway, we drove down Salmonier Line, and completed the Irish Loop right around the Southern Shore, returning to the TCH via Witless Bay Line. We saw whales feeding close to the beach, osprey and eagles soaring on summer updrafts, mergansers fishing in brooks, and of course hundreds and hundreds of caribou. The kids, aged four and nine, had a grand time. My older daughter included the road trip in her back to school What I did this summer essay. I think I’ve mastered walking the line between self-interest and family time, multitasking so to speak. Opening day came and I was ready, scouting complete, gear packed, and rifle zeroed. But our spirits were dampened by the thickest and soupiest of Southern Shore fog. What a contrast to that sunny blue sky day in August. Visibility was down to 50 feet. We would need a miracle to spot an animal on a day like that. But spot a caribou we did, a testament to their abundance. Robert, Rick and I were parked on the roadside, waiting for the fog to lift and sipping coffee from our thermos bottles, when five animals crossed the road no more than 30 feet in front of my truck. What luck! They disappeared into the fog and we began our pursuit. In those days we had no GPS, so we were meticulous with our compass bearings as we followed the freshest of caribou

PAUL SMITH

The Rock

Outdoors tracks left in the soft damp barren. Only 10 minutes into our trek we spotted all five animals, oblivious to our presence and grazing on a boulder-strewn hillside. I crawled to within 150 yards and took aim, prone, with my fore stock rested firmly on my pack. Within an hour we had our first caribou loaded aboard my truck and were headed home. You may wonder why I’m writing about caribou hunting in mid-winter. I listen to VOCM Night Line just about every night while tying flies, and lately there’s been quite a bit of talk and controversy over the Southern Shore caribou herd. DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION It seems caribou numbers have dwindled from upwards of 7,000 in the early 1990s to a mere 300 animals, according to the most recent numbers. Many are accusing our government of gross mismanagement of the herd and demanding an explanation. Hunting has been closed in the area for a number of years and the population continues to decline. The chief culprit in the massive decline seems to be cerebrospinal elaphostrongylosis, commonly known as brainworm. The disease, caused by a parasitic worm, is primarily a caribou disease and has little or no serious effect on humans or other animals. The worm came to our fair land in1908 with the 300 reindeer that were introduced from Norway by the Grenfell Mission. The reindeer were landed at St. Anthony, destined to feed Newfoundlanders by replacing the native caribou that had been decimated by over-hunting. It turned out to be a noble gesture with disastrous results. The brainworm has a complex life cycle that utilizes at least two hosts. Snails and slugs crawl over the fecal pellets of infected caribou,

which contain larvae of the worm. Uninfected caribou inadvertently ingest the infected slugs or snails while grazing and the opportunistic parasites spread from one animal to the next. Once inside the caribou’s stomach, the larvae penetrate the gut lining and travel though the spinal cord to the brain. Here they develop into young adults before going back down the spinal cord to the caribou’s legs. The worms reach sexual maturity within the large muscles of the fore shoulders and hind legs. The females then penetrate the blood vessels and lay eggs that travel directly to the lungs where they develop into larvae. The larvae then travel up the windpipe and are swallowed back down into the caribou’s gut, where they are expelled with its fecal matter — and the cycle continues. The brainworm is a highly adapted creature that we could well do without. Their lifecycle is lethal to the caribou upon which they depend. Brainworm is particularly lethal to populations of caribou that are exposed for the first time. It is thought that the southern Avalon caribou were first exposed to brainworm in the early 1990s when they were at their peak abundance. Some argue the caribou population was too high for such a small grazing area, contributing to the rapid spread of the epidemic. Caribou on the southern Avalon had enjoyed many years of growth with no natural predators and low hunting quotas. The disease obviously spreads faster where animals are densely congregated. In any event, the herd is now much diminished, and facing an uphill battle. No longer are the barrens predator-free since the coyote has meandered its way from the mainland. But the Avalon caribou have faced tough times before. There were only a few dozen animals left in the early 1960s. We will see what happens. Paul Smith is an outdoor enthusiast and freelance writer living in Spaniard’s Bay. flyfishtherock@hotmail.com

Time to sever ties From page 29 program are too many to mention here, but many have not played out their five-year eligibility. Some of that is due to the fact that university is not for everybody, but a majority of the players who have left the program blame Aughey for their problems. Yet the Ottawa native continues to tell anybody who’ll listen that the program is on the right path, and things are going along smoothly. At the start of the 2005-06 season, Aughey talked about team depth and chemistry. “Our skill level is to a point now that we are going to be taken very seriously by teams preparing for us,” Aughey was quoted as saying. “I think the guys understand that the time is now and that they are really taking personal responsibility for our team’s performance.” The club finished 9-10 and lost in a quarterfinal game. More importantly, the chemistry exploded, and the team imploded. Leo Saintil and Phil Taylor left the team and put the blame squarely on Aughey’s shoulders. There was virtually a revolt against Aughey, yet the university — his employer — stood by and let it all unfold without lifting a finger. Down the hall, Partridge quietly goes about producing winner after winner. After losing two of the best players ever to wear MUN’s jersey in Jenine Browne and Amy Dalton two years ago, Partridge produced another winner this season. Meanwhile, the men finished 5-15 and out of this year’s playoffs. That’s not the school’s fault. They provide support. It’s certainly not the Booster Club’s fault. The blame for the men’s woes has to rest somewhere, and that’s usually at the feet of the head coach. Aughey once said to me, “What happened to us? We don’t have the same relationship we used to?” I wasn’t sure how to answer. It’s time for the university to sever ties with Aughey, and point the Sea-Hawks in another direction. The one they’re headed in surely isn’t working. ••• With that out of the way, there are a few other things on my mind about MUN basketball: There’s good news for fans of the MUN’s women’s team: Doug Partridge is not going anywhere. Partridge admitted to me last week he considered the men’s job when Glenn Taylor left. “I considered it,” he said, “and decided to stay with the women. “It would take something unfathomable for me to leave.” Don’t you think Dalton and Browne, among others, are wishing MUN could have hosted the CIS national women’s basketball championship while they were carrying the women’s Sea-Hawks on their shoulders? Sure, Dalton will be excited for her sisters, Brittany and Meghan who play, but knowing her competitive spirit, you can bet that more than once this weekend she’ll wish the national tournament had arrived two years earlier. And how excited do you think the provincial high schoolers who get to play the 4A tournaments will be? The boys and girls championships will be played at the Field House Sunday before the bronze and gold medal games of the CIS. What an opportunity for these kids, with so many national eyes watching. donniep@nl.rogers.com

Solutions for sudoku on page 28

Solutions for crossword on page 28


MARCH 9, 2007

INDEPENDENTSPORTS • 31

Lance Mitchell of Pasadena competes in the Giant Slalom competition.

Adam LeDrew of CBS in team table tennis on Tuesday.

Bronze medallist George Loksa hams it up for the cameras with an Ali impersonation

George Loksa beat Brodie Blair in a 64 kg bout.

Alexander Dias of St. John’s competes in squash on Sunday.

The Newfoundland/Labrador synchronized swimming team at the demonstration event on Friday.

‘They enjoy the competition’ From page 29 trading pins or they’ve met someone. Matthew, 15, and Alexandra, 12, skated to a bronze medal Wednesday in pre-novice pairs competition. And while Young is obviously excited about her own children’s performance, she’s excited about the entire

team, especially the Special Olympians. “(The Special Olympic athletes) put a whole different perspective on it,” she noted. “For those competitors who may have lost their love to skate, all they have to do is watch this event. These athletes, it’s their true passion to do this sport. They enjoy the competi-

tion. They cannot wait for their opportunity. They’re here an hour before their time with their skates on, ready to go.” TWO MEDALS Newfoundland and Labrador won two medals Wednesday. Boxer George Loksa finished third in the 64 kg

weight class. Action wraps up Saturday with the medal games in women’s hockey. Organizers are hoping weather cooperates this weekend as the athletes, coaches and mangers prepare to leave Whitehorse — unlike turnaround day last week, which turned into turnaround days.

Ironically, the bad weather that hampered the travel plans for the Week One contingent wasn’t in Whitehorse but Toronto. Newfoundland and Labrador’s delegations coming and going were affected, with most of the athletes forced to endure a 20-hour travel day. dpower@nl.rogers.com


INDEPENDENTCLASSIFIED FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 9-15, 2007 — PAGE 32

FEATURED HOME 22 LARNER STREET

Photos by Gillian Fisher/The Independent

Leslie-Ann Stephenson

Gillian Fisher

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Southcott Estates


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