2007-09-21 by The Independent

VOL. 5 ISSUE 38

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ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2007

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LIFE 21

SPORTS 33

Trinity theatre season continues into the fall

Racing the hills from Cape Spear to Cabot Tower

He loved his bike Support in wake of six-yearold’s tragic death provides some consolation for family By Pam Pardy Ghent For The Independent

ix-year-old Zachary Michael Strong was killed when he rode his bike into the path of a dump truck in his Airport Heights neighbourhood Sept. 17. While this little boy’s death has already touched many in Newfoundland and Labrador, those who knew and loved him remember Zachary best for the things he loved to do. Zachary liked going to Beavers. He adored his Webkinz teddies. He was looking forward to swimming lessons. He cheered for the St. John’s Fog Devils and he loved his bike. “We just took the training wheels off his pedal bike this past summer and he wouldn’t go near it at first,” Zachary’s stepfather Les Coultas tells The Independent, smiling at the memory of the boy who, like so many his age, was afraid to take both feet off the ground. Coultas, a manager at the Wal-Mart on Kelsey Drive in St. John’s, says soon after removing the training wheels, he came home from work with a more stable scooter so Zachary could keep up with his many friends. But the boy’s fears didn’t last long, and with one little push from his stepfather he was off, and the scooter forgotten. “He never looked back. He was gone flat out and flying, just as proud as anything,” Coultas remembers. Zachary loved living in their neighbourhood, he says.

Zachary Strong’s belongings near his casket at Carnell’s Funeral Home in St. John’s.

“We were one of the first houses here when we moved in about three years ago, but it soon started filling up,” Coultas explains, adding that many people who moved into the area had children. “This is just a perfect place for a young family.” Coultas says neighbours have been incredibly supportive to his wife Karen, and Zachary’s threeyear-old stepbrother Joshua, but he stresses everyone was like family before the tragedy. There

Not ‘typical’ people The Independent breaks down auditor general’s report for easy pre-election digestion STEPHANIE PORTER

were neighbours to fix bike flats, neighbours who played soccer and basketball with the children in the area, and there was always a parent in the local park to keep an eye on children playing there. Having dump trucks around wasn’t uncommon either. In fact, Coultas says, the children loved the mess they left behind. “If the kids weren’t playing in the park, then chances were good they were playing in the piles

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I can stand in the House all I want, I can be as honest as I want, I can lend all my educational experience to the debate … but you know what? I can never be a man.”

OPINION 21

Noreen Golfman reviews hot new political non-fiction STYLE 25

The business of getting kids to exercise 2005-06. A total of 122 members sat during this time; seven have since died. Noseworthy only examined the claims of the 115 still living. Except that William Andersen III — a former Liberal MHA for the Torngat Mountains district in Labrador — is still very much alive. (The Independent called his office at the Labrador Inuit Association; he was present but unable to take the call.) Andersen’s name is nowhere to be found in Noseworthy’s report. Continued on pages 12-13

Randy Simms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Voice from away. . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

of dirt in the areas that aren’t developed yet,” he says. Those dirt piles were a favourite spot for Zachary and his many friends. Late Thursday, police said no charges would be laid in relation to the cause of the accident. See “A tough time”, page 4 Also, interview with truck driver, page 4

Warrior woman NDP leader Lorraine Michael talks about her life as a religious and secular activist, the current government’s shortcomings, and what this election is all about

— Education Minister Joan Burke. See page 5.

rom fine wine to hockey tickets to underwear, auditor general John Noseworthy’s review of constituency allowance claims leaves little doubt many politicians used their expense accounts to treat themselves and those close to them to a few extras. The long-awaited report, which examines claims from 1989 to 2006, was released Sept. 14, three days before the provincial election campaign officially began. Few politicians from the past 17 years are untouched by Noseworthy’s charges of doublebilling, as well as overspending and inappropriate spending. This week, The Independent breaks down the report for easy consumption: who donated what, who spent more than their allowance, who bought personal items from constituency funds, and who claimed mileage while driving a government-leased vehicle. The auditor general’s review focused on most members who sat in the House of Assembly — even for a few months — between fiscal years 1989-90 and

Paul Daly/The Independent

SUSAN RENDELL Screed and Coke

walk into Coffee Matters out of an Indian summer day stalked by a northeast wind, wondering how hard it will be to spot Lorraine Michael. The café is huge and filled to capacity. But the quest is over before it begins: my eyes are immediately drawn to a dark coiffure with a profile like a queen on an old coin beneath it. Michael is sitting in sunlight beside a tall window. A twist of burnt orange beads sets off the smooth olive skin of her throat and face; a white scoopedneck top flirts with a proper black suit jacket. The NDP leader has nicked an hour out of a very busy day to be here. She’s just come from the Holiday Inn, where she was a member of a panel on health care. The other members were Liberal Leader Gerry Reid and Health Minister Ross Wiseman. “It was supposed to be for the three leaders,” Michael says, “but the Tories sent the minister instead.” Why? “He (Wiseman) didn’t say, and he didn’t

Lorraine Michael

apologize.” Michael’s face is impassive, but her eyes aren’t. A Townie by birth, Michael has more brine in her blood than most Newfoundlanders. She’s Lebanese on her father’s side — “The Lebanese are merchants and travellers, they go right back to the Phoenicians (legendary marine traders)” — and the maternal branch of her family descends from three English West Country brothers who struck out for the New World and settled in Heart’s Content. One of Michael’s earliest memories is of her mother holding her in her arms and walking into the sea. Ever since, she tells me, she’s loved swimming in it. See “I was always,” page 10

2 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Cash for kids “W

e can’t be a dying race,” says Premier Danny Williams, and if he gets his way he wants to do something about it. Despite what some people say is inappropriate wording, his comments were focused on an area of real concern for Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2006 we had more people die in our province than were born: 4,400 births against 4,500 funerals. Taking a page from a Quebec initiative, the premier now proposes to bring in a familygrowth policy. To most of us older folks it’s a baby bonus. The premier proposes to pay our women of childbearing age to have more children. The baby-making policy is part of the premier’s election promises for 2007, though to be honest, it raises more eyebrows than his suggestion that next year we will pay $40 less to register a car. While some people have taken exception to his use of the word race to describe Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, it was not meant in any derogatory way. He might just as well have

RANDY SIMMS

Page 2 talk used the words dying breed as opposed to dying race and it would amount to the same thing. We all know what he meant and to try and give it any other meaning is simply being unfair. I do not subscribe to the belief that the premier is any kind of a racist. However, he is right when he points to our birth rate. It is simply too low and we are not even producing enough babies to replace ourselves. That’s embarrassing given that we come from a race of people (there’s that word again) known for being the most sexually active in all of the developed world. The make-a-baby-and-we’ll-pay policy sounds like something from science fiction and there is a touch of the silly to it. I’m not sure anyone will suddenly take the premier up on his offer and

jump at the chance to make a little extra cash by bringing an extra child into the world. Let’s consider the offer for a minute. The premier proposes to provide a onetime grant of $1,000 for having a baby. If you are a working woman and you go on maternity leave after the child is born the premier proposes to top up your EI payments by $100 a month for the year. After you go back to work you need not worry about raising the kid. A 30 per cent increase in child-care spaces will apparently take care of that need. Even with our declining population of children we do not currently have enough child-care spaces. Increasing the number of children while increasing the number of childcare spaces is like treading water — all of these new families will face the same predicament as current young families. So that’s the offer, a total of $2,200 over a 12-month period and the next 18 to 20 years of expense and education are on you. Are you in? Anyone ready to throw away the birth control for this little windfall?

On a more serious note, one can take issue with the premier’s simplistic cash-for-kids proposition. We have a child poverty rate in Newfoundland and Labrador that borders on embarrassment. Shouldn’t we solve that one first? This proposal will be most attractive to people already living in poverty. Adding to their number can’t be a good thing for the province. Surely the pro-life people will use this occasion to once again remind us of the number of kids who would be walking around today but for a conflicting policy that takes precedence. They will ask us this simple question: how many abortions were performed in our province last year? If those kids were added to the roster would this situation be improved? Do we really want to reopen that debate? Don’t get me wrong. I am not opposed to the cash-for-kids policy, but it is a little misguided. The best way to improve our birth rate is to make sure young people of childbearing age are living here and seeing their future here. Grow the Newfoundland and Labrador

economy and — without even trying — we will grow the population. Far be it for me to tell Danny Williams how to win an election, but on this one issue I have a suggestion. Instead of committing cash for kids, let’s commit to a different kind of policy. Let’s eliminate child poverty for the children we have now and by doing so ensure that any child born in this province is born with opportunity instead of obstacle. Let’s commit to a living-wage policy for families, a wage regime that lifts people out of poverty and despair as the province grows ever richer. My idea might not be as sexy as the current Tory policy, but I believe it would pay dividends if it could be achieved. Meantime, if you want a little quick cash and you’ve got, say, 20 years to commit to raising a child, I know how you can pick up 2,200 bucks. Interested? Randy Simms is host of VOCM’s Open Line radio program. rsimms@nf.sympatico.ca

Inside job? Recent mink farm sabotage took knowledge, skill: fur farmer By Ivan Morgan The Independent

he recent release of 4,500 mink from a farm in Harcourt was probably done by someone with knowledge and experience of mink ranching, says the president of the province’s fur farmer’s association. Merv Wiseman has an idea where the RCMP, currently conducting an investigation of the incident, should look. He says the culprit or culprits would have to “know the lay of the land,” know the mechanics of the cages and how to flip the covers up. Wiseman also says it would take up to three hours to let all those animals loose. “So where does that lead us? Does that tell us that it’s somebody who is

known to the farm? I think it’s a safe bet,” Wiseman tells The Independent. To date, 3,500 mink have been recaptured and 400 trapped, says provincial veterinarian Hugh Whitney, leaving approximately 300 unaccounted for. He says there will be a number who die in the wild, end up roadkill, or will otherwise never be accounted for. “It is not likely strangers (are) scouting the mink farm,” says Wiseman. “I would say there is a very good chance that it’s somebody not only well known to the community, but well known to the farm.” An RCMP investigation has established the crime was committed sometime between 10 p.m. Sept. 14 and 3:30 a.m. Sept. 15, when a caller notified the RCMP the area was swarming with mink.

A lone mink crosses the highway near Harcourt.

Staff Sgt. Jim McEntegart of the RCMP Clarenville detachment says it’s not appropriate to speculate on who may have committed the crime while the investigation is ongoing. But it is fair to say, he continues, that mink can be aggressive and anybody who would enter the facility and release the animals is familiar with them and unafraid. He says they also knew they had the time to do it. Bio-security is the main concern for Wiseman. Many of the animals have tested positive for Aleutian disease, which has now been introduced into

the environment. This complicates the industry’s challenge of trying to control the disease and establishing its origin, he says. As farmed animals, Wiseman says the mink’s chances of survival in the wild are not good. There is no direct genetic threat to wild mink, says Whitney, which are mostly descendants of mink released from ranches years ago. Wiseman says, so far, the province is on the hook for $2,000 for the 400 mink trapped, for which the province will pay a $50 bounty each. The cost of rounding up the animals

Edward Vincent/Hollingside Photos

will be paid by the mink rancher, says Whitney. He says once the culprits are caught the province will take them to court to recoup their costs. Wiseman says the industry must develop contingency plans to ensure this sort of incident doesn’t happen again. In Europe, where releases from mink farms are more commonplace, he says, farmers have guard dogs, fencing, closed-circuit TV and around-theclock security to protect the farms. ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 3

THE PHANTOM HITS ST. JOHN’S

SCRUNCHINS A weekly collection of Newfoundlandia

crunchins begins this week with a special anniversary — 2007 marks 100 years since Dominion status was granted to Newfoundland (and 73 years since freedom was lost). Before becoming a Dominion, the territory had the status of a British colony. Dominion status lasted from 1907 until 1934 when Newfoundland — teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, and refused financial assistance by the British government — surrendered democracy in favour of a government by appointed commission, or direct control by Britain. That lasted until 1949 and Confederation with Canada. Ironically, it was the promise of a child allowance or “baby bonus” that won over so many Newfoundlanders to the idea of union with Canada. Ironic because Danny Williams — the premier who’s been occupied ushering us into a new have era — raised the idea this week of a modern “baby bonus” or $1,000 for each child born or adopted. “We can’t be a dying race,” the premier said in releasing the Tory election platform. My questions are these: Would any woman in her right mind have a baby for a $1,000 cash bonus? What would it say about a woman who did? According to a report completed in the mid-1990s by the Writers’Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador, the women of Newfoundland were anxious to receive a baby bonus back in the 1940s. “Many women found it very hard to find enough money to get clothes for children,” the report read. “Sometimes children were kept home from school because they did not have clothes or shoes to wear … it (the baby bonus) gave some women the first money they ever had.” By 1960 the family allowance for a single child was $8 a month — big money in those days. The report went on to say when Newfoundland women voted for Confederation “they voted for the baby bonus.” What does that say today about a vote for Danny? Oh, and happy anniversary … EVERYWHERE A SIGN While on the topic of the election and Danny’s incredible popularity, it’s interesting to note there’s no mention of the premier on Beth Marshall’s campaign signs. Beth, of course, is the incumbent Tory MHA for Topsail district who resigned from Danny’s cabinet in September 2004 over the premier’s “management style.” (Beth is also the former auditor general who was grilled this week on CBC Radio’s Morning Show by host Jeff Gilhooly for her constituency allowance spending — the same allowances Beth went after as AG. Riveting line of questioning, Jeff.) Next to Beth’s district of Topsail is the district of Conception Bay South, currently held by incumbent Tory MHA Terry French. Terry’s campaign signs peg him as “a member of the Danny Williams team.” So then Terry’s on the team and Beth’s not … PUCKER-UP Maybe I’m reading too much into campaign signs. Steve Kent, the mayor of Mount Pearl who’s running for the Tories in the neighbouring district of Mount Pearl North, has hammered down campaign signs that also make no mention of Danny. And Kent seems to be a particular fan of the premier. Kent was lightning fast off the draw last week in pumping out a press release in favour of Danny’s energy plan. “The Williamsled government has come through again with a visionary and progressive initiative,” read Kent’s news release. Congratulations Steve, you’re the winner of The Independent’s Pucker Up Trophy, a weekly award given out during the election campaign to the Tory candidate seen as closest to the premier’s arsenal of accomplishments …

HOLD YOUR NOSE Jean Dandenault, the NDP candidate for the district of Harbour Main, turned up at The Independent offices this week handing out dust masks, to be hung in the kitchens of people living in the vicinity of the Holyrood generating station — ranked as the 42nd heaviest polluter in Canada in terms of kilograms of emissions released. Dandenault isn’t erecting a single campaign sign (“they only end up in the landfill”), choosing to hand out the masks instead. Residents of the district who don’t get a mask can always hold their noses. But then most voters will be doing that this election anyway … THE ‘LAFFER’ In a front-page report published earlier this week in The Globe and Mail about the provincial election, columnist Roy MacGregor began this way: “They’re already calling this election a ‘laffer’ — so let’s get on with it, shall we?” MacGregor noted the lead story in The Telegram on the day Williams officially called the election was not about politics — but about the opening of mushroom season. And as Williams left Government House, writ in hand, he had to “make way for a truck bearing port-a-potties — each one painted a perfect Tory blue.” A little further on MacGregor noted, “stuff like this you can’t make up.” The headline on the story’s inside turn read, ‘King Danny’ pounds out campaign beat. Maybe Danny could be king if we were reverted to Dominion status … PAPER CUT Soon after Danny dropped the election writ earlier this week he was seen on the TV news reading a Telegram aboard a private jet bound for Deer Lake. Here’s a math question: if the flight from Town to the west coast is an hour, what did the premier do for the other 57 minutes? Sorry, can’t help myself … CRUISIN’ FOR A BRUISIN’ In a story carried this week by the New Zealand Herald, professor Ross Klein of Memorial University in St. John’s told a conference at the Auckland University of Technology that cruise liners were not as safe as most people assumed, and crew members were overwhelmingly to blame for most rapes and assaults. Klein said the cruise ship industry had tried to cover up incidences of rape and sexual assault to avoid negative publicity. He studied figures submitted to the U.S. Congress by the industry last year and found that the rate of sexual assault on cruise ships was 59 per 100,000 compared with a norm in the U.S. of 32 per 100,000. No wonder the RNC mounted police are on hand when cruise ships pull into Town … CRY WOLF A $50 bounty introduced recently on the thousands of mink that escaped from the farm in Harcourt near Clarenville brings back memories of the Newfoundland wolf. On Sept. 14, 1839, the colonial government proclaimed a wolf bounty of five pounds sterling, a princely sum at the time. By about 1930 the Newfoundland wolf was extinct. Good luck Mr. and Mrs. Mink … PINK-COLLAR WORK Finally this week, Maclean’s magazine’s Sept. 24th edition contains a fascinating article that compares medical schools across the country in terms of female enrolment. According to 2006 figures, women outnumbered men, sometimes by a wide margin, at 13 of 17 institutions. Fifty-eight per cent of the 241 students enrolled at Memorial’s medical school last year were women. In fact, medicine has become a “pink-collar” profession. Further, the tuition at Memorial’s MBA program is a bargain at $4,400 — one of the lowest in the country. A full 50 per cent of students are women. Now if only we had more women in politics … ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

Broadway star and recording artist Colm Wilkinson, the man who created the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and played the title role in The Phantom of The Opera for more than four years in Toronto, will be appearing at Mile One Centre Oct. 11. Born in Dublin, but a resident of Toronto for the past 15 years, Wilkinson’s latest concert tour, Broadway and Beyond, features a selection of Broadway favourites, as well as songs from his Irish, pop, rock and blues repertoire. “It’s an informal evening, very fun, with singing and clapping … even a request box in the foyer,” he tells The Independent. Wilkinson made his first trip to St. John’s Sept. 20, in advance of his show, to meet with music students at Gonzaga high school. First impressions? He’s impressed by the “genuinely friendly” people, and is looking forward to returning for the show — and, later, a vacation. Paul Daly/The Independent

4 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

‘A tough time for everyone’ From page 1 Coultas wants to thank everyone who has reached out to his family, and to the family of Michael Strong, Zachary’s father, who immediately returned home from working in Alberta after being informed of his son’s death. “Zachary had friends at his dad’s and he had friends here. There are school friends and Beaver buddies … everyone of them has gone out of their way to do something kind,” Coultas says. Both the Strong and Coultas families are close, and Coultas says what they have seen so far from Newfoundlanders and Labradorians has meant so much. “This is a tough time for everyone, and yet the house is always full and the food keeps coming and the calls … it all means the world.” The most touching gestures so far have been the hand-written letters from Zachary’s Grade 2 class at his treasured Roncalli school. “Zachary loved his school, but he seemed really excited by Grade 2, and this year seemed like it would be his best ever,” Coultas says, pausing to reflect. To receive messages from his classmates is something both families will never forget, he continues. “This is a sad and difficult time,” he adds, “but you can’t help but be moved by the kindness of others.” Funeral services will be held at Gower Street United Church at 2 p.m. today (Sept. 21). Donations in Zachary’s memory may be made to the Janeway Children’s Hospital.

Zachary Strong

‘In God’s hands’ Dump truck driver says he had no control over fatal accident in Airport Heights By Brian Callahan The Independent

“Right now, I’m thinkin’ I don’t want to even drive again — not that truck anyway, right? But only time will tell.”

e may have been driving the dump truck that ran over sixyear-old Zachary Strong, instantly killing the child. But he still knows less about how it happened than most at the unsettling scene Sept. 17 in the St. John’s north end neighbourhood of Airport Heights. “I know there was nothing in front or near me … It wasn’t until I heard yelling and someone screaming ‘stop.’ And that’s what I did. That’s all I could do,” the 25-year-old St. John’s man tells The Independent. Shortly after the interview, the driver’s mother contacted The Independent asking that her son’s name not be published. “He’s going through so much right now … it’s a really difficult time for everyone.” The former school bus driver may not want to be publicly identified, but he does want people to know he was following all the rules of the road. “I wasn’t speeding, I wasn’t driving reckless, I wasn’t drunk,” he says, referring to just some of the rumours filtering back to him. “There’s nothin’ you can do about people speculating and stuff. There had to be a dozen people around (after) the accident.” That jibes with word late Thursday from police. “The investigators say there won’t be charges laid in relation to the cause of the accident,” RNC Const. Paul Davis tells The Independent. “In other words, things like speed, alcohol, etc., were not factors in this accident.” The driver’s truck was moving

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Truck driver west along Gairlock Street, near the intersection of Kincaid Street, when the tragedy occurred. It was about 3:45 p.m. on what had been a beautifully crisp, late fall afternoon, the bright, hazy sunshine forcing onlookers to raise their hands as visors to peer up and down the road at the grim accident scene. It’s believed the boy rode his bicycle onto Gairlock from Kincaid and into the side of the dump truck, falling under the rear wheels. “I didn’t hear or see or feel a jolt or anything, really. I know he wasn’t out in the middle of the road like that or I would’ve seen him. I thought he must’ve come from the side somewhere … and that’s what some people were saying … “It’s rough old stuff. It’s so sad and unfortunate. It was a really bad accident, right? The young fella must’ve come out of nowhere. But why he didn’t stop, I just don’t know.” The modern subdivision, minutes from St. John’s International Airport, continues to develop, which means residential construction — and lots of big trucks. How’s the young driver holding up psychologically? “I’m doin’ alright, I think. As good as can be expected. I suppose. I

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mean, it was an accident. I guess I really don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. “I knows I gotta try to move on. I mean, I’ll try. Not much sleep, though … and I’m goin’ through a bit of everything now. I don’t know what to think or what to be at, ya know? “It’s a real tragedy. That poor little fella — that’s all I can think. Nobody’s fault. Oh, God, I feels so bad though …” The man was driving the truck for a subcontractor on a job for a local construction company. The Independent left messages for the company’s owner, but they were not returned. The truck, meanwhile, was confiscated for inspection by highways officials. “I can tell you the truck is in perfect working order; all the brakes and everything are fine … everything was brand new,” says the driver, who credits his girlfriend, family and employer for their support. He has no children. He added he’s been given time off to cope with the tragedy, but may not drive such heavy machinery again. “Right now, I’m thinkin’ I don’t want to even drive again — not that truck anyway, right? But only time will tell.” The incident has also opened his eyes to the realities of everyday life and death. “Listen, my friend, anything can happen in the run of a day. You don’t know if you’re gonna be here today or gone tomorrow. Or what you’re gonna face when you wake up. “It’s out of our hands. It’s in God’s hands.” brian.callahan@theindependent.ca

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 5

No receipts for you Citing privacy act, AG office won’t turn over bills documenting individual MHAs’ spending By Brian Callahan The Independent

he auditor general’s office will not release copies of receipts of MHA spending under their constituency allowances, citing the office’s own privacy rules. Nor will Auditor General John Noseworthy comment on the reasons why, or anything else to do with his review of constituency allowance claims from 1989-90 through to 2005-06. In fact, the auditor general’s office is now, and will continue to be, exempt from so-called freedom of information legislation after the Oct. 9 election, legislation that could have obliged the AG to hand over all receipts as requested. The Independent contacted the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner this week in an effort to file a request for the documents under the Access to

Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPPA). The intent was to file a request for all details and receipts of expenses claimed by MHAs named — and those not named — in the auditor general’s report. While there are broad references to expense claims for alcohol, for example, it is unclear how much was spent by individual MHAs on booze with dinners. Another unnamed MHA claimed mileage expenses for his car, when it was actually kilometres racked up on a boat. The Independent was informed the request should go to the auditor general’s office, but that it would likely not be filled since the office, by law, remains exempt from such freedom of information requests. “The AG’s office does not fall under the provisions of the act,” an official in the privacy commissioner’s office says. “It was the only office not recom-

Cynthia Layden-Barron in the Inco Innovation Building at MUN.

mended to do so in the Green report.” Rebuilding Confidence: the Report of the Review Commission on Constituency Allowances and Related Matters was authored by Derek Green, chief justice of the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court, trial division, in May. It comes into effect Oct. 10, the day after election day. A spokeswoman for Auditor General John Noseworthy’s office confirmed its status. “This office is exempt, yes. We are not permitted to divulge the information,” Nina Goudie tells The Independent. She was then asked if the receipts could be obtained from another department or agency of government. “Well, the AG Act trumps the ATIPPA (privacy act),” Goudie said. brian.callahan@theindependent.ca

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

‘Stand up and be a man’

Female politicians speak on their political experiences

By Ivan Morgan The Independent

ith 48 seats at stake in the Oct. 9 election, the Progressive Conservatives are running 10 women candidates, the Liberals eight (out of 33 nominated by deadline) and the NDP six of 16 candidates. That’s a total of 24 female candidates — down from 30 who ran in 2003 and 27 who ran in 1999. Perceptions of feminism and socalled women’s issues, double standards for female politicians, and traditional gender roles are just some obstacles facing women who choose to get involved in provincial politics, according to three female candidates contacted by The Independent. Joan Burke, minister of Education, says she brings a unique perspective to the political arena. “I don’t think there is another woman in the House right now from rural Newfoundland and Labrador who has a school-aged child,” the St. George’s-Stephenville East incumbent MHA tells The Independent. A supportive husband and extended family, says Burke, make it possible for her to do her job. She says her husband often has to act almost as a single parent. Politics can be different for women, says Burke, because of the traditional roles people play within the family. Some women may not have partners as willing to help with child-care. Running for the Liberals in the district of Topsail, Cynthia Layden-Barron says, in her experience, the majority of women who have run for politics have not had a lot of support from their families. They have made the decision on their own, says Layden-Barron “and had to step out there.” When NDP leader Lorraine Michael was first elected, she was caregiver to her mother, and her schedule had to be organized

“I think the feminist issue is a difficult one for a lot of women at this point in time.” Cynthia Layden-Barron

around that. She says she raised the issue of the difficulty of working late-night sittings of the House while also being a primary caregiver with the legislative Internal Economy Commission of the House. “I’ve gotten nowhere with that,” says Michael. The House of Assembly as a workplace is another barrier to many women considering politics, says Burke, adding the process can be intimidating. With so much publicity about making workplaces free of harassment, she says, people are uncomfortable when they see shouting across the floor of the House. “It’s something that you don’t experience, probably, in any other worksite. Also it wouldn’t be allowed in any other worksite,” she says. Michael says there is no other workplace that would tolerate people shouting at each other. “It is a system designed by men.” Michael says she gets the sense many men view sitting in the legislature as a game. While she says she doesn’t want to sound selfrighteous, when Michael rises in the House to ask a question, she says she wants to be heard. “I really believe we should have a discussion on this, but I seem to be an anomaly.” Preparing to speak at a recent women in politics forum, Burke says when she realized she would be debating with two other women

— women she had not met before — she knew the decorum was going to be high and the participants would stick to the issues. “It is just that involvement that you expect, I guess, when you’re dealing with women in a debate,” says Burke. In a debate with men, she says she would have been more on guard. Women are often held to a different standard than men in politics, says Layden-Barron. “If you come across as too aggressive or too intense it doesn’t always look like a positive thing for women, “ she says. “So you have to have that soft feel thing that they look at in men as not a good thing.” While feminism is an implied value for most women in politics, says Burke, it is not necessarily a driving force for women in politics today. She says women have more to offer than “just to be there to fight for women’s issues.” “I think the feminist issue is a difficult one for a lot of women at this point in time,” says LaydenBarron. She says women now consider what have traditionally been known as “women’s issues” as family and social issues — not gender issues. Michael says she has been immersed in the feminist cause for decades, and those issues — employment equity, wage parity, childcare — are still important. Burke says she often hears the comment “stand up and be a man” in the House, particularly from one member, and it bothers her. She assumes it means be honest and claim integrity. “Now I can stand in the House all I want, I can be as honest as I want, I can lend all my educational experience to the debate and my life experiences, I can fight for the public as much as I want, but you know what? I can never be a man.” ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca

6 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

‘Men just don’t talk about that’ Prostate cancer No. 1 cancer killer in men; testing saves lives

By Mandy Cook The Independent

fter Graham Mercer’s father died of advanced prostate cancer in the late 1980s, he had no qualms about taking the turn-your-head-and-cough test. His lack of hesitation probably saved his life. In the fall of 1999, after years of annual checkups, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Despite his family history and underlying anticipation, the news still shook him to the core. “Picture yourself sitting down in the doctor’s office and you’re awaiting the results of a biopsy test and the doctor comes in and says ‘You have prostate cancer,’” the 68year-old Carbonear native says. “Of course, you’ve been told you have cancer and the shock will knock you off the chair. Which I was.” Sept. 17-23 marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Week. Prostate cancer continues to take a toll on men. In 2007, an estimated 20,300 Canadian men will be diagnosed with the disease and approximately 4,300 will die. In Newfoundland and Labrador, an estimated 350 will be diagnosed this year and 80 will die from the disease. In an attempt to heighten awareness of prostate cancer, Mercer, the Canadian Cancer Society’s prostate cancer awareness spokesperson, has been working with the organization since he retired from his teaching position. Through speaking engagements, support groups and the organization’s yearly walkathon, Walk a Mile in His Shoes, Mercer says awareness is growing about the sometime sensitive topic among the province’s men. “Ten years ago it was pretty well a closeted disease,” he says. “Men just didn’t talk about their prostate. When you have treatment for prostate, be it surgery or radiation or what have you, there’s possible side-effects and that particular organ is connected with the male sexual organ … there’s also possible side-effects of incontinence and men just don’t talk about that.” As a prostate cancer survivor, Mercer is a testament to the fact that talking about prostate health can save men’s lives. He says yearly prostate examinations are a must — starting at age 40 if there’s history of prostate cancer in the family and age 45 for every other man — and a good relationship with a family doctor has much to do with early detection. By shaking off the negative attitudes associated with yearly prostate examinations, men increase their chance of catching the disease at an early enough stage for successful treatment — and the younger the better. “At one time it was considered an old man’s disease … I was only 50 when I was diagnosed, and my younger brother was diagnosed six months later and he was only 48 … even when I got diagnosed there weren’t a lot

Prostate cancer survivor Graham Mercer.

of men talking about it. I didn’t have anything to hide.” Mercer says in the seven years he’s been promoting good prostate health to the men in this province, awareness has spread to more than 31,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, from St. John’s to Labrador City. He is looking forward to a provincial conference at the Lion Max Simms Camp in Bishop’s Falls Oct. 4-5, where an estimated 60-65 prostate cancer survivors are expected to con-

Paul Daly/The Independent

verge and share their experiences. “Imagine, 10 years ago I couldn’t put any name, other than myself and my father down, I didn’t know anybody else. My next door neighbour could have had prostate cancer and I wouldn’t have known.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca Check www.prostatecancersupport.ca for more information and Walk a Mile in His Shoes walkathon schedules.

Sexual assault Police believe there are witnesses that can help catch a man who sexually assaulted a woman near the Avalon Mall the afternoon of Sept. 19. The attack occurred on a pathway that leads from Baird Place to Prince Philip Drive. At about 4:45 p.m., a 44-year-old St. John’s woman was approaching a foot bridge on the trail when a young man grabbed her and dragged her under the bridge. The suspect is described as a teenager, about 5’5”-5’8” tall with short hair, a slim build and clean shaven. At the time of the assault, it’s believed he was wearing a khakicoloured hoodie, baggy black track pants, black ball cap with the letters “NY” on the front, and dark footwear. Anyone with information is urged to call the RNC at 729-8000 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222TIPS (8477). People can also provide information anonymously on the NL Crime Stoppers website at www.rocktips.ca.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 7

VOICE FROM AWAY

A land without turkey

St. John’s native Devon Wells on his first six months in Changchun, China By Devon Wells For The Independent

eing a Newfoundlander living in China is a lot like being in an ’80s nightclub. It’s loud, people push you, Fido Dido is everywhere, and it’s a ridiculous amount of fun. It’s also like a nightclub because most of your conversations involve wild hand gestures and stupid grins more than an exchange of language. But that’s what happens when you can barely speak a word of Chinese. About six months ago, I landed in Beijing en route to my new home of Changchun, in the northern province of Jilin, to start my job as an English teacher. It’s a fairly common story now, since universities are pumping out English graduates with no direct path to employment, and countries like Korea and China are eager to gobble up the language from anyone who can string a sentence together. Still, Changchun is a far cry from the popular spots to teach and it’s certainly a big jump from St. John’s. Most people describe it as the Detroit of China — just with a lot more people and drastically less inner-city crime.

Changchun is an industrial town. It’s a railway hub for the northeast and it produces a good chunk of the cars in China, so it’s riddled with Germans running the Audi and VW plants. Changchun is an industrial town. It’s a railway hub for the northeast and it produces a good chunk of the cars in China, so it’s riddled with Germans running the Audi and VW plants. It’s also riddled with smoke oozing out of those factories. For a Townie who’d never lived more than a few miles from the harbour, realizing the haze floating an inch from the ground wasn’t fog was a bit of a shock. Changchun is also where the clash of China’s overnight cultural change hits home, much more than in Beijing as it prepares for next year’s Olympics.

It’s old news that China has gone from a mysterious, closed-off nation to a world economic leader in a few short years. The country’s in a financial boom, and it’s obvious just from being here. Buildings appear and disappear from one week to the next, construction is nearly constant on everything, and there’s a huge market for luxury items like designer clothes and sea cucumbers (which are outrageously expensive and I’m not sure what you do with them). But only a small amount of the population sees any of the money, and those who do aren’t sure what to do with it. So, outside a McDonald’s on the busiest street in the city is a man selling melons from his donkey cart. A welldressed businessman will squat on a street corner with his finger knuckledeep in his nose. Foreigners are gawked and shouted at by street workers. Bootleg DVDs and clothing are everywhere, but there are also bootleg restaurants that copy the menus and designs of franchises without paying licensing fees. It all seems a little odd, but it’s just the product of rapid industrialization and the entrance of Western culture that everyone’s still running to catch up with. As a result, it makes China an

Devon Wells in China.

absolutely fascinating place to be at the moment. That said, there are a lot of things to miss about St. John’s. The food here is great, but there’s no hot turkey sandwiches to be found. No pints of Guinness either (short of an eight-hour train ride, at least). Live music is restricted to Filipino cover bands, with no singer-songwriters in every bar you pass. And I never thought I’d miss the motley Newfoundland weather, but I’d rather walk down Water Street during a light drizzle than just about anything

right now. It’s heaps of fun here — but still, it’s not home. I never plan to make my life over here, unlike a lot of others I meet, but right now it’s a treat to see dozens of people flying kites in the park every night, to visit noisy open-air markets on every corner, and to watch a couple dump ketchup on their Caesar salads at the local Chinese pizza place.

the units are Hydro’s back-up generators in Stephenville, Holyrood, Paradise and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The units differ in size depending on the required amount of power. “Nobody will be turned away from very good projects because of a lag between the need for energy and the time the infrastructure would be in place,” says Dunderdale. As for Labrador’s cut in any future developments, Dunderdale says Labrador will be the principle beneficiary of the re-investment of money

earned from non-renewable resources because it will be spent in the construction of renewable infrastructure – namely the lower Churchill. The exact amount will be dictated by individual deals made with businesses lured to Labrador by a wealth of cheap electricity. “That will depend on power purchase agreements we have with industries that are going to come and set up in Labrador — because we know that will happen.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

Devon Wells is a 24-year-old English teacher who’s been known to write for The Independent from time to time when he’s living in Newfoundland.

‘Nobody will be turned away’ Province in talks with multiple Labrador investors: Dunderdale

By Mandy Cook The Independent

here are at least “half a dozen” potential investors looking to set up shop in Labrador now that a road map has been drawn in the province’s energy plan to sanction the lower Churchill by 2009, says Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale. Although she won’t go into specifics, saying it is too early to discuss details, Dunderdale does say several businesses keen on Labrador power are electricityhungry industries such as aluminum and silicon smelters. Companies interested in developing mineral resources have also been in talks with the provincial government. And although she won’t say where the interested companies are based or reveal expected project start-up times, Dunderdale does give a small hint. “We’ve been dealing with them for some time — these discussions have been ongoing.We talk about what’s happening in Labrador wherever we go, not only in Canada but in the U. S. and all

around the world. We promote the lower Churchill and the potential that exists there and companies that use energy intensively are well aware of the plans for the development of the lower Churchill.” Asked how fast the province could build an energy transmission line for any projects that come on stream, Dunderdale says once planning and discussion stages are complete and a project proceeds to development, and the amount of power and operating location is decided, the necessary infrastructure

will be constructed “in concert” with the project. In general, any significant development would require 2-3 years leadtime for the construction of a major transmission line, says Dunderdale. Meantime, if an investor wanted to start sooner, there are other short-term solutions to bridge the gap. A spokesperson for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says mobile generators, essentially miniature power plants powered by diesel or gas turbine engines, could temporarily provide electricity. Examples of

8 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Scary times A

team of Independent reporters and editors assembled in my office Wednesday night to discuss the auditor general’s report into the political spending scandal. We had been poring over the online papers and came together to share our findings — what we had found, and hadn’t found. We complained, some passionately, about being blocked access to MHA receipts. Reporters hate being denied anything, and we have been denied in this case. Meals and expenses may have been on the taxpayers’ tab, but receipts aren’t for public consumption. We can’t say if politicians preferred McDonald’s over certain upscale restaurants in Town because the receipts have been withheld. We agreed that the concealing of such information by politicians — the very people implicated — does not feel right. John Noseworthy, the auditor general, has also turned down interviews about his investigation into the spending habits of elected officials, which is peculiar. The AG held a news conference every other day when his investigation began all those months ago. Noseworthy is now off limits. Here’s a public question for you, Mr. Noseworthy: Have you been muzzled? Our talk moved away from the AG

RYAN CLEARY

Fighting Newfoundlander report. We agreed that these are “scary” times in Newfoundland and Labrador. There’s a possibility that Danny Williams may win an absolute victory. Who would dare question his administration then? Scarier still, would there be consequences? Liberal Leader Gerry Reid presented 13 questions to the premier on Aug. 30 about the Hebron memorandum of understanding, questions Williams has yet to answer. Does that reflect a growing arrogance? What does it say when the leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition — with 11 MHAs behind him — can’t get his questions answered? Will Gerry Reid have more success with a smaller caucus? The Independent’s editorial team has put together our own list of questions for the premier. No. 1: Will you call a public inquiry into the political spending scandal? Names have yet to be named with

regard to the politicians who made the decisions that led to the abuse of public monies within the House of Assembly. Justice Derek Green’s review of political compensation did not address the question of which MHAs pulled the trigger, neither did the most recent report by auditor general John Noseworthy. In a July 2006 interview with The Independent, the then-lawyer for the bureaucrat at the centre of the scandal, Bill Murray, the legislature’s former financial director, described her client as the “fall guy.” Averill Baker said Murray only did what politicians directed him to do. Murray is being taken to court, but what of the politicians he reported to? Asked Baker at the time, “Why isn’t Noseworthy lining up people on the (Internal Economy) Commission and asking them, putting them under the gun and asking them how could you have done this?” No. 2: In the absence of a public inquiry, Mr. Premier, will you allow Sheila Fraser, the federal auditor general of Canada, to conduct an independent review of the spending scandal? John Noseworthy, the province’s auditor general, who himself reports to the

House of Assembly, won’t be speaking about his investigation, according to his public relations spokeswoman, “in any way, shape or form.” Is he not allowed? When there’s call for an internal investigation into the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, an outside force (the Ontario Provincial Police) is called in. Why wasn’t an out-of-province auditor called in to the House of Assembly? MHAs — the very politicians at the centre of the spending scandal — have been deciding how the scandal is dealt with. Isn’t that a conflict of interest? No. 3: Will you allow the release of copies of all receipts submitted by MHAs under their constituency allowances? If not, why not? No. 4: Why is the auditor general’s office apparently exempt from the province’s Freedom of Information laws? Politicians shut the door in the AG’s face in the mid-1990s. Has the door now been shut on the media? No. 5: Will you allow the AG to answer questions about his report? No. 6: Will you allow Tory MHAs to speak publicly about their constituency allowances? The Speaker of the House,

Harvey Hodder, advised politicians months ago not to talk to the media about their allowances, widely seen as slush funds. Are you, Mr. Premier, prepared to override the Speaker and encourage MHAs to speak? No. 7: Why haven’t you released the Hebron MOU? No. 8: Only this week you described us (Newfoundlanders and Labradorians) as a “race,” and expressed concern we may die off. What race are we exactly? Will the $1,000 baby bonus the Conservative party has put on the heads of our unborn be extended to new immigrants? No. 9: Would you say the opponents of incumbent MHAs — who threw millions of dollars in constituency allowances around their districts while in power — are at a disadvantage in the Oct. 9 election? No. 10: If successful at winning a second term in office, Mr. Premier, how will you deal with those people who dare question your actions? ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

YOUR VOICE Well below Independent’s ‘high standards’ Dear editor, I have to express my shock and disappointment at seeing the term “newfie” used so casually on the front page (Newfie nourishment, Sept. 14 edition). The last place I thought I’d see it would be in The Independent (anywhere, let alone the front page), as it is an intelligent and insightful paper that should know the derogatory origins of the term, and the lingering sting it carries for Newfoundlanders. I have had so many exchanges over the years regarding this word, written

commentaries about it, and had arguments with Newfoundlanders away who regularly use it themselves without a thought. I thought we might be getting somewhere. It’s such an unacceptable term, for many reasons, one well below the high standards of The Independent. Your publication is very important to me. It makes a tremendous contribution to our social and political fabric. Thus my incredulity. Pete Soucy, St. John’s

Politicians never heard the term ‘wrong’ Dear editor, What a bunch of characters we have been sending to the House of Assembly! They should be well qualified to create a new lexicon without the words crook, swindler, and rogue. Being of such high moral standards, our politicians would have no clue as to the meaning of rascal, and unlawful. They never heard the term wrong. The lexicon would contain a precise definition of entertainer — a person who purchases booze, perfume, pens and sunglasses on the taxpayers’ dime. A tourist will be characterized as any individual who drives a government-leased vehicle, with the driver claiming non-existent mileage to locations accessible only by plane or boat. The phrase fringe benefit will be described as seasonal hockey tickets for family and friends, with all the booze and food the ticket holder can consume. Consumer will be given a new definition. It will now be described as any elected person who purchases building supplies on the people’s credit. Criminal will be reserved for

the most serious violations such as having one undersized lobster (by a half millimetre), or possessing one cod tail over the limit during a recreational fishery outing. Having $200,000 mysteriously appear in your bank account will be called lottery winner. A citizen who claims a hamburger lunch, as part of a medical expense, on his tax return, will be considered a cheat, but a bunch of politicians who meet secretly to jack up salaries and pensions will be the new definition for honourable. The lexicon will assist all taxpayers when they complete their next tax forms. If you follow the example set by those characters who are supposed to look after our money, withholding taxes will carry no penalty. Just complete the forms that gives options to blame the system — memory, weather, spouse, or failure to get a moose. The lexicon will be available from the auditor general in the new year. Jim Combden, New-Wes-Valley

Definition of constituency allowance Dear editor, Constituency allowance: the easiest source of revenue enhancement since

the gun, mask, and getaway car. Bob Kieley, Conception Bay South

AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

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The Independent welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be 300 words in length or less and include full name, mailing address and daytime contact numbers. Letters may be edited for length, content and legal considerations. Send your letters in care of The Independent, P.O. Box 5891, Station C, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X4 or e-mail us at editorial@theindependent.ca

‘An astonishing act of hypocrisy’ Dear editor, In the 1997 budget, the Brian Tobin government implemented school bus fees for certain St. John’s neighbourhoods with a high concentrations of public housing. As part of a media team in the media budget lock-up, I asked then-Finance minister Paul Dicks for the rationale behind this decision. Dicks explained that it was “part of government’s deficit-reduction efforts.” (Note that the decision would save government $35,000 per year.) Parents, many of them single moms, were worried about having to pay yet another bill. When the Tobin government wouldn’t budge on the issue, par-

ents and kids held a bake sale on the steps of Confederation Building to protest and to raise money to pay the new fees of $10 a month per child, significant for anyone living on minimum wage or social assistance. Still, Tobin and Dicks would not budge. The late Brother Jim McSheffrey, who lived in Brophy Place in St. John’s, one of the affected neighbourhoods, made this plea to deaf ears: “If the government has to make cuts, it should not be done on the backs of poor people.” Thanks to the auditor general’s report, we now know what an astonishing act of hypocrisy the school bus fees decision was.

At the very same time the Tobin government and the Internal Economy Commission barred the door to the auditor-general, some of the affected neighbourhoods were crawling with welfare cops. We citizens have to be vigilant so that the needs of people living in poverty are actually met, not compounded, by government. And we should lend a very critical ear indeed the next time people in poverty are told to tighten their belts. Maura Hanrahan (PhD), St. John’s

‘Rubs me the wrong way’ Dear editor, Well here we go again with a headshaking, head-scratching situation caused by one of the Williams “team.” This time Joan Burke is front and center. I could not believe her comments recently regarding the school in Terrenceville, where she said parents should not use their kids as “pawns” in negotiating with government. I have to congratulate the parents of that region

for not letting that comment go. If I were living there and had kids in school, let me tell you that Joan Burke would have a darn good ear full from me. How dare she even have the thought process of saying such a statement, and to add insult to injury she said the premier would not be blackmailed. As far as I’m concerned the minister and the premier should not have had a second thought of at least

visiting the school. I don’t expect the premier to attend every single event when a group of people requests his presence. But it just rubs me the wrong way when children are involved. Maybe Terrenceville should advertise a sale of motor oil in the local corner stores — that might grab government’s attention. Ed Dowden, Bay Bulls

‘Nice for the Pot is a ‘gateway drug’ easy access to other drug forms, which public to see’ DearTheeditor, column, One toke over the line eventually are tried “and appreciated” Dear editor, I assume The Independent has a copy of auditor general John Noseworthy’s report on the spending of constituency allowances. It would be nice for the public to see how the members running for re-election handle their allowances during the term in office. This may a suggestion for an article next week? Boyd Legge, Mount Pearl Editor’s note: see pages 12-13 of this week’s Independent.

(Sept. 14 edition, by Ivan Morgan), was an interesting one. I’ve spent most of my professional life counselling people, most of them in areas of chemical addiction (all of them). Periods of consistent use of cannabis have been reported in histories almost invariably in all cases of drug use, including alcohol. Cannabis use generally stops, tapers, or becomes more intermittent, as an individual moves on to another “potent” substances. Therein lies the basis of your insidious question posed in your article. A tired, but true phrase — for youth particularly — is it’s a gateway drug. It’s an easy introduction to mood altering, and exposure to friends/individuals who have

for effect. The next stage is usually set without a thought. The use-staging process is made available, or thin edge of the wedge is established. I think that’s what most of the fear is about. For the more consistent, heavier users of cannabis only, through time, and there are many of them out there, they can develop a dependency which for them can establish problems in their lives just as serious as drug use for others, but with more of a social, psychological slant (i.e. relationship, employment, moodiness, absent-mindedness, reduced energies). Ron Tizzard, Paradise

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 9

Human after all A

gnes Bojaxhiu doubted the existence of God to her dying day, felt no evidence of Jesus’ love and, although told by many that God lived in her soul, in private felt “the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul.” According to a recently published book of her letters, she felt this way until her death. This might not mean anything to you unless you know she also went by the name Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, is a compilation of letters the Roman Catholic nun wrote through the years to her spiritual advisors and superiors. Although she asked the letters be destroyed, the recipients decided to keep them and make them public. I am grateful for their decision. Coming to India in 1929, the 18-yearold Bojaxhiu found herself more and more drawn to the plight of India’s poor. By 1949 she had begun working amid the appalling poverty of one of India’s

IVAN MORGAN

Rant & Reason largest cities, Calcutta, giving aid and comfort to those in need. She established an order of nuns — the Missionaries of Charity — that grew to serve the poor around the world. Decades later, in 1979, she was given the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her selfless devotion to the poor. And in all that time, her letters reveal her spiritual agony, and her view of herself as a hypocrite who privately wondered why she did what she did. And what she did made her a 20th century icon. For many, she was more a logo than a person; the impossibly good little woman who worked tirelessly caring for the poor of Calcutta. She was a synonym for perfection. I always had a bit of a problem with that. Logos are used to sell things — burg-

ers, shows and, in her case, ideas. Cartoon characters make good logos, people don’t. Ronald McDonald is a corporate logo, not a person. Mickey Mouse — Disney’s corporate rat — is always cheerful, always smiling and always will be, because it’s a drawing. Agnes Bojaxhiu was a human being, and as it now appears, a flawed, tormented one. Like the rest of us. While she presented a determined and cheery façade to the world, decades after she had begun her life’s work, she was writing “What do I labour for? If there be no God, there can be no soul. If there be no soul then, Jesus, You also are not true.” To me those words add depth and humanity to what I often thought was a tedious, one-dimensional role model. Often brandished as an example of goodness to which we imperfect creatures should all aspire, Mother Teresa got on my nerves. And I’m not even Catholic. But it is precisely the revelation of her private doubts that makes her perfect, or at least perfectly human. As I read more

Often brandished as an example of goodness to which we imperfect creatures should all aspire, Mother Teresa got on my nerves. of her letters, I realize she may have been, in the more or less literal sense, a spiritual daredevil, testing her faith all day every day, for better or worse. Catholics claim her as their own, and want to make her a saint. That’s their thing. But she belongs to all of us in this human race, and her torment allows me to love her. With that doubt, with that emptiness, look what she still managed to do for her fellow creatures.

We surround ourselves with technology, material possessions and shallow ideas of lifestyle and leisure, and it is all, in the final analysis, just whistling past the spiritual graveyard. Agnes Bojaxhiu lived out there on the front lines, helping, caring, tending, while all the while asking herself the same questions, and tormenting herself with the worries so many of us ignore. She wrestled with the big questions. No cartoon she. Truth, which is what this little woman so fiercely searched for, fascinates me too. I have no interest in fiction. Fiction cannot create a painter like Vincent Van Gogh, who brought great beauty and joy to so many, but died despondent, penniless and alone. No novel could frame the banal evil that was Communist dictator Josef Stalin, or the madness of Rwanda. And no one could invent Mother Teresa, except, of course, the little nun from Macedonia herself. She devoted her life to searching for her truths, for things she thought important. I hope she found them. ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca

YOURVOICE ‘You guys are not afraid to ask’ Dear editor, Great job on Out of the Fog this week. As I mentioned to Craig Westcott, you guys are not afraid to ask (demand) the hard questions when it comes to the political arena. Not like other newscasts whose reporters creep around the issues — especially

when it comes to government. Keep up the great work! When are you guys going back on the show? Looking forward to the next edition of The Independent. Roger Linehan, St. John’s

False expectations? Dear editor, A visit to Trinity Bay this week gave me a first-hand insight of the seriousness of political promises. I was chatting with two fishermen on the wharf there. They were preparing to go fishing for cod. We got to talking about the election just called. Both of them were very enthusiastic about the future of Newfoundland. One said to me with sheer expectation in his eyes, “I have a son out there in Fort McMurray, Alta., who I wish was here with me to go out on the grounds. I sure miss him. But he has a family and with a wife and children to feed, he had no other choice but to leave here. It’s tough,” he said. “But, you know I feel good about Danny Williams and I think he will

do what he is promising and please God this time next year if not the year after all our boys and girls will be back home. I really hope so. I’m banking on it,” he added. Those men on that wharf that afternoon reminded me of the seriousness, and the tone and the rhetoric of what our current slate of politicians are saying to our people — especially the leaders of the three parties. I hope to God they are not setting up false expectations. If that’s so, then ordinary hard working fishermen like the two I chatted with in Dildo will be given a knife in the back. I can’t imagine doing that to our own people, men who are the salt of the earth. Bill Westcott, Clarke’s Beach

‘Breathless wonderment’ Dear editor, The mystery of the disappearing former Finance minister is something of a conundrum. Could it be that he is crouched in a bivouac on a beach in Flower’s Cove? In grand style, of course. Where peace and tranquility, plus a surfeit of calamari cooling in brine, would be sufficient to satiate any politician. Well most of them anyway. Unfortunately, it will have to be washed down with water, unless by chance, vintage wines have inadvertently washed up on the tide. Still, piracy is only a step up from grand theft and larceny. It shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. It is possible, of course, that DFO has rethought its initial identification of that decomposing whale carcass. The erstwhile giant squid could have been transported to a secret aquabased location in St. John’s or is possibly already soaking in formaldehyde in the Smithsonian’s marine exhibit. If you happen to be fortunate enough to live in Flower’s Cove, I suggest you creep out one evening, armed with a flashlight and digital camera. You will likely find a large marquee pitched on that isolated beach. It will no doubt be emitting sounds of music and merriment. There is nothing like tax money for the creation of a good party and scuff.

Should you get a peek inside, what a wealth of artistic adornment will likely be gracing its canvas walls. What costumery! Yeah, and even chic undergarments, enough sparkle to leave one in breathless wonderment. The photos will be worth the effort on the black market. Good luck with the reconnaissance. It’s time we taxpayers had the upper hand. If you need any help, I’m in the phone book. I can always double up on my travel claims to cover the costs when I run for office in the upcoming election. That’s if you’re stunned enough to vote for me. Brigid Kellett, St. John’s

Premier Danny Williams speaks with reporters after leaving Government House, St. John’s, where he asked Lieutenant-Governor Ed Roberts to call a general election Oct. 9. Paul Daly/The Independent

‘An overwhelming victory for Danny’ Dear editor, Sept. 17th marked the official start of the provincial election campaign. We have known for a few years now that Oct. 9th would be the date that our province would go to the polls in a general election and we have also known for a few years what the result of this election will be: an overwhelming victory for Danny Williams and his team. Why wouldn’t there be an overwhelming victory for this government? In four short years this government has achieved more than the previous Liberal administration did in the 14 years they were in government: bringing the province from the brink of bankruptcy to a period of great surplus; investing money into areas of great need such as roads, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure; signing a MOU to develop the Hebron oilfield, etc. I know there are still concerns as it relates to out-migration. I know about out-migration all too well as I have seen my sister go away, as well as two pretty good friends and a cousin leave home during this government’s mandate. But that has always happened in this province. It is an unfortunate event, but it is unfair for the Liberals to blame this

government for out-migration because when they where in power it happened in bigger numbers. Under a PC government we see new hope that people will come home thanks to the Hebron project and other projects that may be on their way over the next few years. Gerry Reid wants us to focus on the fishery and

while I respect the fact that the fishery has a big place in this province’s history — and can still have a big place in the province’s future — it is not going to motivate my sister, my friends or my cousin to come home the way that these big oil projects will. Tony Ducey, Garnish

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

10 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 11

IN CAMERA

Sharing the wealth NDP call for repayment of ‘debt’ to citizens By Ivan Morgan The Independent

A cup of coffee before a day of campaigning.

On the campaign trail with NDP candidate Gemma Schlamp-Hickey.

Michael at NDP campaign headquarters.

Watching media coverage of her campaign.

Michael talks with party president Nancy Riche..

At NTV studios in St. John’s.

‘I was always an activist’ From page 1

The thing Michael loves best, though, is fighting for justice and equality. She entered the ring as a nun, a socially active Sister of Mercy. I ask if her decision to go into the convent was based on a spiritual calling or a desire to save the poor and downtrodden. “It was a spiritual calling: activism is my spirituality.” She describes getting the call. “This sounds corny, but one day on the way home from school I decided to go to the Basilica, and I went and sat over where Our Lady of Lourdes grotto is, ruminating and talking to myself. I said, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life,’ and all of a sudden there was this sense inside me of ‘Oh, who in the hell are you fooling? You know what you’re going to do.’” Michael says her immediate reaction was “Oh no — no, I’m not.” But she did. “I had to,” she says. “I was always an activist, even in school. Not so much an activist: I was always somebody who was upset by injustice … that sense that there’s inequality in the world and there’s something wrong with that was always there.

“Growing up in a minority community informed that as well. We were told all the time we were different. We experienced negative things because of that.” When Michael became a nun, Vatican II was in full swing; it was the ’60s, and the Church was trying to keep pace with the radically changing times. “It was the notion of change … that kept me there (in the Church),” Michael says. “I was so idealistic then. I threw myself into change … I was delighted with everything that I was able to do.” She became a teacher, and was made principal of Belvedere Junior High in St. John’s in the early ’70s. “I also became involved with other people in the city with whom I shared a vision.” Michael helped start the St. John’s Oxfam committee, and served on an ecumenical committee established to educate the Church about Oxfam’s work. In 1976 Michael lost her job with the school board. “They didn’t give a reason,” Michael says, “so I approached the superintendent and demanded an answer. He finally said, ‘We’ll have to face it, Sister, you’re

not the average religious.’ I said, ‘You know what, Brother, if you are, I’m glad I’m not.’And I got up and walked out of his office.’” That year she began a master’s program in theology at the University of Toronto. “I decided I was going to work full time for social justice within the Church context … I had the wonderful experience of working with Cardinal Carter.” He was progressive? “No, he wasn’t. He liked to think he was. But he had the notion of ‘church royalty’; he was up there with the corporate sector.” So why did she like him? “There was a team of us starting social justice committees in the parishes. He allowed that — as long as it didn’t go too far.” One day Michael happened to catch a televised announcement by former premier Brian Peckford and Leo Barry (Peckford’s mines and energy minister): oil had been discovered off the coast of Newfoundland. “I remember Leo picking up the vial of oil and saying that they were ready to drink it. And I thought, oh my god, all hell is going to break loose back home with the oil coming.”

Paul Daly, The Independent’s photo editor, followed NDP leader Lorraine Michael this week on the hustings in her provincial district of Signal HillQuidi Vidi.

She returned to St. John’s and persuaded Archbishop Alphonse Penney to let her start a social action commission, “because of the potential impact of resource development … I did that work for 10 years, and (it) became much, much broader.” She says Penney supported the work, but tended to vacillate. “He believed that his role as bishop was to keep those two aspects of the church existing together, the new one and the more traditional. But I used to say to him, ‘You’ve got to challenge that other side.’” Challenging the status quo wasn’t Penney’s forte. The archbishop ended up retiring in disgrace after it was discovered he had turned a blind eye to sexual abuse committed by some of

his clerics; the first victims to tell their stories were residents of Mount Cashel Orphanage. Michael left the Church in 1990. Mount Cashel was “the tipping point,” she says. I ask her what some of the other factors were. “When I worked in the Archdiocese of Toronto and then here, we were constantly having to deal with — well, the clergy, to put it bluntly. And also those who aligned themselves with the clergy. I was trained in liberation theology. “The basis of liberation theology was that theology needed to be rooted in the experience of those who were oppressed in society. If we sit and see things from (their) eyes … then we will get a theology that is quite different from the traditional theology,

which comes from a power perspective.” After she kicked the habit, Michael “went through burn-out. And it took me about two years to get over that … to move through it and to grow through it. There were times I didn’t know if I would ever be myself again. I really believe — and I think I’ll say this publicly — that when I became leader of the party, all of a sudden I felt, ‘My god, it’s taken 16 years, but you’re back.’” Not that Michael was cooling her heels during that dark night of the soul. “In the fall of ’91 I got a job in Toronto … a job that still had me connected with churches, but it was on a national level — the Ecumenical Coalition for Economic Justice. But in ’97 my feet were starting to get itchy.” And Michael’s heart was getting homesick: that year she accepted an offer from the Innu Nation to be on the environmental panel for Voisey’s Bay, and in 1999 she returned to St. John’s to take up a position as the first executive director of Women in Resource Development. “And as you know, it’s history from there on in.” How does she feel, facing an election so soon after becoming her party’s leader? “I knew that when I took on the leadership I had a year and a half of elections (the leadership race, a byelection and a general elec-

tion). I knew what was ahead of me.” Michael’s bright eyes suddenly have twice their sparkle factor. I ask her what keeps her going, especially since she’s the Lone Ranger in terms of the NDP. “It’s my commitment to justice — to social justice and equality. I cannot be any other way than the way I am. I don’t want to make that sound like I don’t take care of myself, I mean I’m in the Philharmonic Choir and the Newfoundland Symphony.” And you’re a top-notch dresser, I say. Michael sends a spill of laughter out the open window, and then tells me she’s also a passionate bridge player. (I would have guessed blackjack.) So, what does Michael think the current government’s major weakness is? “Obviously, it is their premier. In the sense that this man is totally committed to what he wants; he certainly is a very strategic thinker, he’s a man of action and he’s very smart. He knows what catches the imagination of people, and he’s caught that imagination. But … everything is focused on the person of the premier. And, ultimately, that can’t work for him or his party.” She says the most important issues in this election are interconnected. “Basically, it’s economic development. It’s the fact that this

tremendous money that we’re starting to bring in is not benefiting the whole province. That people outside of the northeast Avalon do not perceive that they are benefiting from this money … or how they are going to benefit down the road. “Rural Newfoundland and Labrador is falling apart … essentially, we have no recognition of this by the government, no acknowledgement. Because of that, it is so important to have a strong voice in the House of Assembly — people like me who will stand and say that. And I hope we will have more than me. “We have great hopes for Labrador West, and we have a wonderful candidate in Marystown — Julie Mitchell, the deputy mayor. We have a lot of wonderful candidates out there.” Michael says she’s getting frustrated “with the media’s mantra — ‘This is the way it’s going to go.’ You know what? The election is going to go the way the people of Newfoundland and Labrador want it to go.” While we’re waiting for Michael’s cab — she’s off to a fitting for her leadership debate suit — she tells me she used to long for a monastic life sometimes. “But that would have lasted about a week,” she says, smiling. I smile back. I’d give it five days, tops.

eading only 16 candidates — some of them clearly parachute candidates — Lorraine Michael’s NDP released its policy platform Sept. 20, calling for a review of the health-care system, pharmacare, publicly funded childcare, better schools, home care and senior care. Government, says the NDP, owes a debt to share “our newfound wealth” with people who have suffered under government cutbacks for years. With no chance of forming the government, Michael and the NDP aim to become the official Opposition. The party says government — and the democratic process — needs “reasonable, credible and effective” opposition, and they claim theirs is the party to fulfill that role. “The message is your voice will only be heard in the mouths of New Democrats,” party president Nancy Riche tells The Independent. Riche continues with the theme of her party offering effective opposition, which she says is necessary to “make democracy work.” Lorraine Michael’s record in that area is now proven, says Riche, as is the NDP’s, citing the Tory’s new policy of giving free textbooks to the province’s students as an initiative Jack Harris, the former leader of the NDP, championed years ago. Riche says her party sees an opportunity to do real things about poverty, the low minimum wage, women’s policy, home care, health care, daycare, and a host of other social issues. Health care is a priority, she says, and the NDP is calling for an external review of the whole provincial system, and the introduction of a pharmacare program to cover the high cost of drugs. “We’re saying nobody should have to choose between paying rent and buying drugs,” says Riche. Poverty is closely linked to health care in the party’s platform, as she says it is in society. “The whole poverty thing also speaks to the health care question. If you’re poor, you’re probably sick.” From a historical perspective, the New Democrats are well positioned in this election, says former leader Jack Harris. People expect the Progressive Conservatives will remain in power and therefore more people may feel freer to vote NDP, he says. During his time in politics, Harris says people often told him they liked his ideas, values and the issues he stood for, but felt they had to vote for another party for change. This time, he says, the NDP is not being squeezed between the two mainstream parties vying for power, and the members have the public’s attention. The kind of opposition that the NDP will provide, says Harris, the ideas they put forward, the things they champion in public policy, are the things that people really want to see happen. This time, he says, more voters will decide they want New Democrats in the House. Riche says the party is hopeful their policies and track record will convince voters to elect record numbers of New Democrats. “It’s actually talking about a better quality of life, and look, we have the opportunity to do this, that we haven’t had before.” ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca

“We’re saying nobody should have to choose between paying rent and buying drugs.” Nancy Riche

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

12 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

Questionable ‘The auditor general will not be discussing the report in any way’ And Jim Kelland, a one-time Liberal MHA in the former Naskaupi district (now Lake Melville), is listed, though From page 1 deceased. (According to Noseworthy, Kelland had no double billing, less than $100 of donations, and claimed no alcohol-only purchases or personal items.) Noseworthy has not commented in the media about the report since its release. A spokeswoman for his office told The Independent repeatedly, “The auditor general will not be discussing the report in any way” — not even to address possible inaccuracies. In the opening pages of his report, Noseworthy writes, “most members did not abuse the system,” pointing instead to a lack of independent scrutiny, inadequate controls and poor management practices. But no one is let off the hook. He also says all members were aware of their allowances, and ultimately were the ones responsible for managing them. He also noted the level of inappropriate spending rose throughout the 1990s, sharply from 1999 to 2003, coinciding with the premierships of Brian Tobin, Beaton Tulk, and Roger Grimes. Overall, Noseworthy identified “inappropriate expenditures” totaling $2.2 million. The Independent is publishing his findings in categories similar to the auditor general’s. First, the question of double billings — expenses claimed, and somehow reimbursed twice. About 77 per cent of politicians showed at least one instance of this, some quite significant. House of Assembly

Paul Daly/The Independent

NAME

PARTY

DISTRICT

DONATIONS

ALCOHOL-ONLY

QUESTIONABLE EXPENSES

Torngat Mountains

YEARS DOUBLERECEIVED BILLING ALLOWANCE 11 $17,484

Wally Andersen

Lib

$88,954

$15,480

Lib Lib Lib

Not mentioned in report St. John’s Centre St. Georges-Stephenville East

$35,460 excess discretionary allowance; $16,294 in personal items claimed, including $13,255 airfare for wife and children, $3,195 artwork, $247 sunglasses and case, more.

William Andersen III Joan Marie Aylward Kevin Aylward

8 15

$898 $16,727

$8,072 $7,923

$1,193 $42

Robert Aylward Winston Baker Percy Barrett Julie Bettney Charles Brett Joan Burke Roland Butler Edward J. Byrne

PC Lib Lib Lib PC PC Lib PC

Kilbride Gander Bellevue Mount Pearl Trinity North St. Georges-Stephenville East Port de Grave Kilbride

4 7 17 9 1 3 5 13

$51 $0 $4,175 $326 $0 $241 $1,515 $19,461

$200 $825 $43,444 $17,521 $0 $7,259 $29,234 $63,284

$0 $833 $806 $530 $0 $330 $99 $386

Jack Byrne Perry Canning Walter Carter Nick Careen Felix Collins Randy Collins

PC Lib Lib/PC PC PC NDP

Cape St. Francis Labrador West Deceased Placentia Placentia & St. Mary’s Labrador West

13 4

$810 $4

$31,780 $2,258

$197 $267

3 1 8

$0 $0 $27,656

$1,200 $0 $6,137

$0 $0 $65

Pat Cowan John Crane Chris Decker Dave Denine Paul Dicks

Lib Lib Lib PC Lib

Deceased Carbonear The Straits & White Bay North Mount Pearl Humber West

7 10 3 13

$0 $140 $0 $2,659

$2,413 $210 $10,925 $275

$21 $0 $0 $34,145

Norman Doyle Shannie Duff Danny Dumaresque Kathy Dunderdale John Efford Roger Fitzgerald Graham Flight Judy Foote

PC PC Lib PC Lib PC PC Lib

Harbour Main-Bell Island St. John’s East Eagle River Virginia Waters Port de Grave Bonavista South Windsor-Buchans Grand Bank

5 2 7 3 13 24 10 11

$0 $0 $160 $113 $469 $1,335 $59 $1,473

$861 $0 $765 $12,200 $7,018 $17,924 $2,415 $69,131

$0 $0 $0 $0 $32 $33 $0 $53

Clayton Forsey Bob French Terry French Chuck Furey Rex Gibbons Dave Gilbert Kathy Goudie

PC PC PC Lib Lib Lib PC

Exploits Deceased Conception Bay South St. Barbe St. John’s West Burgeo-Bay D’Espoir Humber Valley

$11

$3,011

$166

4 12 9 7 $3,818

$1,990 $760 $0 $53 $7,979

$7,593 $12,247 $0 $1,278 $908

$0 $330 $0 $1,431 $0

Aubrey Gover Glenn Greening Roger Grimes

Lib PC Lib

Bonavista South Terra Nova Exploits

5 5 17

$250 $0 $393

$90 $575 $37,290

$0 $0 $679

Eric Gullage Harry Harding Jack Harris Loyola Hearn Tom Hedderson Alvin Hewlett John Hickey Harvey Hodder Jim Hodder Mary Hodder William Hogan Bud Hulan Ray Hunter Barry Hynes Clyde Jackman Charlene Johnson Yvonne J. Jones Eddie Joyce

Lib

Deceased Bonavista North Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi St. Mary’s the Capes Harbour Main - Whitbourne Windsor-Springdale Lake Melville Waterford Valley Port au port Burin-Placentia West Placentia St. Georges Windsor - Springdale Trinity North Burin-Placentia West Trinity-Bay de Verde Cartwright L’Anse Au Clair Bay of Islands

4 16 5 8 7 3 13 8 9 4 3 8 2 3 3

$2,717 l $2,179 $0 $801 $0 $3,770 $129 $882 $2,738 $348 $0 $3,664 $0 $439 $20 $12,167 $638

$10,985 $27,066 $1,630 $20,268 $849 $24,832 $30,704 $4,305 $12,030 $1,315 $535 $17,554 $0 $12,489 $12,038 $11,168 $30,749

$255 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,123 $1,349 $6,566 $0 $0 $23 $0 $175 $150 $0 $3,726

NDP PC PC PC PC PC PC Lib Lib LIb PC PC PC PC Lib Lib

$5,888 in personal items claimed, including $4,419 airfare for wife and children, $720 artwork, $618 Juno tickets, $131 tuxedo rental

$19,294 in personal items, including $6,403 at a building supply store, $2,623 at Costco, $3,960 for four St. John’s Maple Leafs season tickets plus four personal seat licences, $2,300 for artwork, more.

$9,353 claimed for reimbursement of 24 lease payments before they were due; $52,567 excess discretionary allowance; $6,255 personal items claimed, including $3,201 airfare for his child, $2,741 for home snowclearing, more.

$62,712 in personal items claimed, including $59,753 in artwork, $581 worth of books; $319 Cartier pen; $1,537 jewelry; $23,562 in office rent to a company in which he had an ownership interest.

$4,316 in personal items claimed, including $1,800 for artwork, $2,516 for flowers and gifts to relatives and MHAs.

$19,325 in inappropriate vehicle mileage claims; $1,553 claimed for insurance costs after her resignation as MHA.

$2,875 overpayment not paid back

$1,438 owed on overpayment

$8,563 (rent)

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 13

spending Donations, although common practice, are not an appropriate use of constituency allowances, says Noseworthy. He found donations to community groups and registered charities, as well as funds for other purposes, including transportation for individuals (“including the transportation of human remains”), raffle tickets claimed after the draw date, brand-name clothing and furnace repairs. Specific donations by specific politicians were not released. Alcohol-only purchases are considered those made at liquor or convenience stores, “clearly” inappropriate spending, according to Noseworthy. In this case, the biggest culprit was named — former Liberal cabinet minister Paul Dicks, who claimed $34,145 in alcohol-only purchases, many from out of the province, and many supported only by credit card receipts or other documentation with the details blacked out. Our final category, “questionable spending,” includes the rest of Noseworthy’s findings: excess discretionary allowance claims, claims for both a leased vehicle and private vehicle mileage, and those with considerable personal item claims (from season hockey tickets to artwork to airfare for MHAs’ children). Other politicians, who claimed for personal items of lesser value, were not named. As Noseworthy wrote: “In addition to these significant personal claims by certain members, we found that members claimed for many items that the typical person would have to pay for with their after-tax dollars” — including, according to Noseworthy, cigarettes, lotto tickets, underwear and Costco membership fees. The politicians highlighted in grey on the table are running in the Oct. 9 election. — With files from Ivan Morgan and Brian Callahan Auditor General John Noseworthy.

Paul Daly/The Independent

NAME

PARTY

DISTRICT

YEARS DOUBLERECEIVED BILLING ALLOWANCE

DONATION

ALCOHOL-ONLY

Jim Kelland Sandra C. Kelly Hubert Kitchen Oliver Langdon Tom Lush Mike Mackey Fabian Manning

Lib Lib Lib Lib Lib

4 6 6 17 15 1

$0 $3,248 $0 $2,050 $4,087 $67

$82 $42,398 $13,007 $22,012 $21,535 $56

$0 $1,235 $0 $200 $2,573 $0

Lloyd G. Matthews William Matthews

Lib PC

Naskaupi Gander St. John’s Centre Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune Bonavista North, Terra Nova Grand Falls-Buchans St. Mary’s The Capes; Placentia & St. Mary’s St. John’s North Grand Bank

11 11 7

$305 $5,383 $176

$9,455 $9,834 $1,415

$0 $454 $1,264

Elizabeth Marshall Tom Marshall Ernest McLean Robert Mercer

PC PC Lib LIb

Topsail Humber East Lake Melville Humber East

3 3 9 9

$375 $583 $5,372 $2,422

$13,307 $17,493 $15,699 $21,242

$681 $0 $776 $533

Thomas Murphy Walter Noel

Lib Lib

St. John’s South Virginia Waters

7 15

$154 $965

$1,236 $11,240

$24 $8,938

Kevin O’Brien E. Douglas Oldford Paul Oram Sheila Osborne Tom Osborne John Ottenheimer Kelvin Parsons Kevin Parsons Melvin Penney Charlie Power Bill Ramsay Art Reid Gerry Reid Bob Ridgley Tom Rideout Ed Roberts Paul Shelley Larry Short Len Simms Shawn Skinner Harold Small Gerald Smith Alec Snow Lloyd Snow Anthony Sparrow Loyola Sullivan

PC Lib PC PC PC PC Lib PC Lib PC Lib Lib Lib PC PC Lib PC Lib PC PC Lib Lib PC Lib Lib PC

Gander Trinity North Terra Nova St. John’s West St. John’s South St. John’s East Burgeo & La Poile Cape St. Francis Lewisporte Ferryland Burgeo and LaPoile Carbonear/Harbour Grace Twillingate and Fogo St. John’s North Lewisporte Strait of Belle Isle Baie Verte Bay of Islands Grand Falls St. John’s Centre Baie Verte Port au Port Labrador West Trinity-Bay de Verde Placentia-St. Mary’s Ferryland

3 9 3 9 11 11 8 4 10 4 10 5 11 3 11 4 13 5 7 3 3 11 7 15 4 14

$974 $1,186 $406 $1,073 $1,947 $0 $2,073 $48 $868 0 $5,658 $136 $1,531 $921 $1,249 0 $9,109 0 0 $275 $127 $1,508 0 $513 $852 $162

$8,969 $2,136 $11,413 $36,023 $44,770 $36,868 $8,650 $100 $3,644 $295 $50 $10,044 $22, 778 $15,641 $7,435 0 $37,331 0 $187 $18,620 $222 $8,490 $120 $8,399 $2,610 $44,848

$211 $284 $0 $128 $619 $0 $8,758 $0 $202 0 0 $1,188 $367 $0 $624 0 $2,921 $92 $0 $21 0 $389 0 $914 $0 0

George Sweeney Trevor Taylor

Lib PC

Carbonear-Harbour Grace Straits-White Bay North

8 6

$1,998 $2,467

$35,339 $23,648

$10,325 0

Glen Tobin Brian Tobin Anna Thistle Beaton Tulk Lynn Verge Gary Vey Danny Williams Neil Windsor Jim Walsh Garfield Warren Phil Warren Clyde Wells Don Whelan

PC Lib Lib Lib PC Lib PC PC Lib Lib Lib Lib Lib

Burin-Placentia West Straits-White Bay North Grand Falls-Buchans Bonavista North Humber East Gander Humber West Mount Pearl Conception Bay East-Bell Island Deceased St.John’s North St. John’s South Harbour Main-Whitbourne

7 5 11 10 7 1 5 7 15

$14 0 $698 $7,237 0 $931 $651 $40 $3,685

$465 $4385 $43,445 $9,505 $800 $660 $35,630 $717 $13,665

$0 0 0 $2,642 $0 0 0 $550 0

4 7 6

0 0 $931

$503 $85 $1,229

0 0 0

Dianne Whalen Sam Winsor Ralph Wiseman Ross Wiseman Rick Woodford Kay Young Wallace Young

PC PC Lib PC Lib Lib PC

Conception Bay East-Bell Island Bonavista North Topsail Trinity North Deceased Terra Nova St. Barbe

3 5 9 6

$21,976 0 $187 $2,534

$8,969 $655 $12,276 $4,490

0 0 0 0

3 6

$407 $801

$1,375 $9,770

0 0

QUESTIONABLE EXPENSES

$6,760 for four Maple Leafs seasons tickets; $500 travel for child

$3,640 claimed in restaurants in St. John’s while travel expenses said he was elsewhere

$3,323 personal items including $158 ladies’ clothes, $508 luggage, $144 tools, $245 CD player, more.

$2,875 still unpaid Owes $875 of $2,875

$10,980 in excess discretionary allowance $5,800: season tickets for St. Johns Maple Leafs ($4,800 from 1998-99 to 2003-04) plus $1,000 payment to Mile One Stadium, September 2005. Overpayment of $2,875 remains unpaid $6,854 in inappropriate vehicle mileage claims; $9,990 in lease costs and $3,693 in operating costs; insurance ($3,553); vehicle registration ($140)

$77,650 in excess discretionary allowance; $54,496 without supporting documentation.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

14 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

AROUND THE WORLD We hear from Mrs. Wade that her son Hector, wounded in the early stages of the great Somme drive, is progressing favourably in Wandsworth Hospital, Privates Newman and Chesley Gough, sons of Jas. Gough, were both in the big drive, but have so far escaped without a scar. — St. John’s Daily Star, Sept. 2, 1916 AROUND THE BAY We the inhabitants of the town of Carbonear, in the District of Conception Bay, beg to offer to your Excellency our unfeigned congratulations on your safe arrival to these shores, as well as to express the high satisfaction we feel in the wisdom of our most

Gracious Sovereign in the selection of a man so conversant with Colonial policy as your Excellency to be our Governor, and we sincerely pray that the political differences now existing in Newfoundland may speedily vanish before your Excellency’s administration. – Presented to His Excellency Major-General Sir John Harvey — The Star and Newfoundland Advocate, St. John’s, Sept. 25, 1841 YEARS PAST The shooting season opens on Monday and the few local sports are getting guns and ammunition ready for an attack on — whatever they can see feathers on. — The Enterprise, Trinity, Sept. 18, 1909 EDITORIAL STAND We do conscientiously believe that if old bachelors were treated with a little more charity; if a sunny smile from an arch blue eye was occasionally directed towards them; if they were greeted with a kind look instead of a frown, and a cordial welcome instead of a cold recognizance and an indifferent toss

Daily News, 1917

of the head; if young ladies, taking pity on the forlorn condition of old bachelors, would deem it an act of duty to pet them a little more than they do, many a heart that now resembles the “wind of the winter night,” would be soothed and subdued; many an icicle would be melted; many a withered shrub would be transplanted, and flourish in a warmer clime. — The Royal Gazette and Newfoundland Advertiser, Sept. 19, 1837

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir – It seems a strange thing that so far, a cabmen’s shelter has not been erected. Our cabmen and Carmen are exposed to all the changes of temperature experienced in this climate. Has it never struck those in authority that it is cruel to make no provision for these men, when by putting up a suitable shelter the whole trouble might be obviated. What wonder is it if they go into the nearest saloon and perhaps become intoxicated, as there is no other place for them to go? Such a state of things should not be. A shelter would not cost a great deal of money and it would be a great benefit. I remain, Yours truly, A White Ribboner — The Daily News, St. John’s, Sept. 13, 1894 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I hope my time is not run out. I’d never be forgiven nor would you ever forget me if I talked so long that the tide went out and we couldn’t launch the boats.” – Joey Smallwood in a speech at the launch of four new longliners built by the Fogo Island Shipbuilding Producers’ Co-operative — Fogo Island Profile, Sept. 27, 1969

YOURVOICE Does Danny think women are ‘baby machines?’ Dear editor, I think that Danny Williams’ And where are these offer of $1,000 for every new baby children going to adopted or born is crazy. This will get jobs when they grow only lead to more unwanted babies in up? I guess we can this province. As it expect them to go off is, $1,000 will not go very far and to Alberta like the rest when it is spent we still have a baby to of our children. care for and raise for 18 or more years. I think the only people who will take advantage of this are poor women and women with addictions issues and so on. Other women with jobs and professions will only have the same number of children they would have had before this $1,000 was offered. Offering $1,000 per new child will only lead to having more children in foster care because when the money is gone some of these women will discard the babies like they do now. As you know, our welfare numbers are high and the foster care is stretched to the limit, with children having to be taken from their parents for abuse, neglect and so on. Offering $1,000 for abusive mothers to have more children for the money and discard them when the money is gone is ludicrous. And where are these children going to get jobs when they grow up? I guess we can expect them to go off to Alberta like the rest of our children. I think some times now we are raising children for the Alberta oil fields as it is. Besides that, does Mr. Williams think women are baby machines? Just create babies for the job market? Mr. Williams get a grip. Margaret Osbourne, St. John’s

Electoral system ‘horribly out of date’ Dear editor, I’m writing both in response to This system is horribly Randy Simms’ column (‘Is there a out of date, and in fact better way?’, Sept. democracies around the 14 edition), and also to any citizen concerned about world have been abolishing the current and such systems in favour of future state of Newfoundland and other, fairer systems for Labrador’s democracy. over 100 years now. I have spoken with PC, NDP and Liberal party candidates and there are supporters of electoral reform in each of them. This is not a party issue; it is an issue regarding our democracy. I am the interim president of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of Fair Vote Canada, a multi-partisan citizens’ advocacy group that is educating Canadians about electoral reform while also calling for a new system to be used for electing our politicians. Simms raised some good points in his column, and our organization is also calling for a review of our electoral system. This review should be conducted by ordinary residents of Newfoundland and Labrador in the form of a citizens’ assembly. Both British Columbia and Ontario have already reviewed their electoral system in the form of such an assembly. In both cases the assemblies overwhelmingly decided that the current first-past-the-post system — the same one that we use here — was inadequate. Each citizens’ assembly consisted of one randomly selected citizen from all the electoral districts in the province. Over a period of several months the citizens studied electoral systems from around the world and then constructed a new system that they thought best suited their province. Ontario will be holding a referendum on Oct. 10 to decide if the new made in Ontario MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) electoral system will be adopted for future elections. Newfoundland has been using our current electoral system since 1832, when concerned citizens demanded and won a representative government system from our British rulers. This system is horribly out of date, and in fact democracies around the world have been abolishing such systems in favour of other, fairer systems for over 100 years now. I believe this province should join B.C, Ontario, PEI and Quebec in leading the charge for a new and fairer electoral system federally by reviewing our own provincial system first. Ron Woodman, Interim leader, Fair Vote Canada NL

INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2007 — PAGE 15

Dean MacDonald, president and chief executive officer of Persona Communications Inc., in his St. John's office.

Paul Daly/The Independent

What’s in a word? AG concludes premier not ‘involved’ in fibre optic deal; Reid still not sold By Brian Callahan The Independent

hether the premier was “involved” in the controversial fibre optic deal may depend on one’s definition of the word. The provincial government announced in November 2006 it would invest $15 million over the next two years to install a fibre optic link from St. John’s to Halifax along two diverse routes to connect the national carriers to mainland Canada. Persona, along with MTS All-stream and Rogers Communications, were awarded the untendered contract to build the link, which will compete with Aliant. Aliant holds a monopoly on fibre optic communication in the province. But the deal immediately came under heavy scrutiny because Persona’s CEO, Dean MacDonald, is a former business partner and friend of Premier Danny Williams. Auditor General John Noseworthy released his report on the deal Sept. 17, con-

cluding Williams was not “involved” in the project. However, Noseworthy notes Williams did write the federal government asking Ottawa to equal Persona’s proposed $15-million contribution. “While not related to the project, the only evidence we saw regarding the premier’s connection was that on 17 May 2005 he wrote the federal minister of state (infrastructure and communities) requesting federal funding to match Persona’s contribution,” Noseworthy writes. Ottawa said no to the request, prompting the province to ante up the matching $15 million itself. Williams has said the report is vindication and confirmation that the transaction was “squeaky clean.” Liberal Leader Gerry Reid remains skeptical. “With all due respect to the auditor general, I’m still not convinced the premier had no involvement,” Reid tells The Independent.

“The AG only had access to written documentation, but what happened behind closed doors and on golf courses with (Williams’) friends and business associates is another story. “In fairness, (Noseworthy) only came to the conclusions based on the documents he was given — written, not oral. You know, the premier is smart enough that he’s not going to leave a paper trail.” Reid said a review of the documents “would leave you to believe there was direction coming from the eighth floor (premier’s office at Confederation Building),” even though that is not specifically stated. “When a premier writes Ottawa looking for financial assistance for a company run by one of his friends … it goes without saying that he was involved and supporting the project. And anyone else in government, responsible for making the decision, would know the premier was on side,” he says. “Believe me, there’s lots of ways to do things in government, to know the premier is on side, without ever mentioning his

name.” The auditor general did conclude the province got “good value” for its $15 million. “Before this project, Newfoundland and Labrador was the only jurisdiction in Canada with just one fibre optic provider (i.e. monopoly),” Noseworthy states. “There are a host of economic and noneconomic benefits resulting from having a redundant fibre optic line, such as increased penetration of broadband access among businesses and households, fuller participation in medical and academic research efforts, improved speed of medical consultation with experts residing in other provinces, and economic benefits from the construction and operation of the network.” Under the project, Persona, Rogers and MTS Allstream provide a total of $37 million which, together with government’s $15 million, equals a total investment of $52 million. brian.callahan@theindependent.ca

Calling on Ottawa

Federal government urged to invest in electric power infrastructure

he Canadian Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting Sept. 15-17 in Markham, Ont. where, as usual, the debate and adoption of new national policies for the organization took centre stage. About 400 voting delegates representing the Canadian business community spent a full day reviewing roughly 60 proposed resolutions. The discussion covered a variety of areas, including finance and taxation, industry, transport, infrastructure, social policy, justice, international affairs, environment and natural resources. All had the ultimate goal of improving public policy at the national level to enhance Canadian economic competitiveness. The St. John’s Board of Trade was represented at the meetings, as it is every year. And energy was on our

CATHY BENNETT

Board of Trade minds — power transmission, to be exact. The board brought forward a resolution calling on the federal government to work proactively with the provincial and territorial governments and private enterprise to begin investing, where economically justified, in electric power infrastructure to develop eastwest grid connections and to encourage and facilitate co-operation in trade and transmission of power within Canada. The resolution received a strong endorsement from the members of the Canadian chamber. It is now official

policy of the largest and most influential business association in the country, giving significant clout to the position at the federal decision-making level. There seems to be an increasing sense of urgency in the nation’s business community that Canada has to get more serious and strategic about shaping its energy future. Energy is clearly an area in which Canada has a competitive advantage, but the country has to seize on its opportunities in order for that advantage to be realized. As a country, we need to take steps immediately to ensure we have secure, clean power and modern energy infrastructure that will benefit us economically over the long term. The business community knows the federal government needs to take a lead role in making this happen. To date, Canada hasn’t seen the full

scope of the national benefits of interprovincial electricity trade because transmission has been developed with a strict focus on meeting individual provincial needs. Power transmission has always been the responsibility of provinces and territories, and naturally they have their own jurisdictional interests to serve. When it comes to the energy future of the nation, the vision needs to be coordinated by the federal government, something that hasn’t happened yet. Working together, the federal, provincial and territorial governments haven’t made much progress at all on the topic of transmission. The 12-yearold agreement on internal trade has an entire chapter set aside for energy, but all that appears now is the title. The rest is still not written. The implications of improved east-

west power transmission for the development of the lower Churchill and Newfoundland and Labrador’s other hydroelectric resources are fairly obvious. This province exports three times more electricity than it uses, and more undeveloped sources mean substantially more export potential. However, transmission access to other markets in Canada and the eastern states is very limited. Achieving that access is important to ensure the province maximizes the upside potential of its developments over the long term. But enabling cross-jurisdictional power transmission within the country is also an issue that all provinces and territories and, most importantly, the federal government, need to get See “Time for,” page 19

16 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Memorial at risk I

n 2006, the Williams administration announced it was hiring two consultants to conduct a feasibility study of Memorial University. Their report recommended Grenfell College in Corner Brook become the second university in the province, with its own president, vice-presidents and operating structure, as well as a separate budget and a second academic governing body (“Senate”) while sharing a common governing Board of Regents with Memorial. Together, they would comprise the two parts of a proposed new Memorial University of Newfoundland “System.” Though MUN’s Board of Regents requested copies of the report be given them before the report was made public, the government held the report for eight months without providing copies to the Regents or consulting with them as to the report’s recommendations. No copies were given to Memorial until the day prior to the report’s release on budget day when the provincial government, through Minister of Finance Tom Marshall, announced: “This new governance model is an important step in allowing Sir Wilfred Grenfell to lead economic and social development on the West Coast. It is yet another example of the rejuvenation the Corner Brook region is witnessing under the Williams’ government.” This ministerial statement finally made clear the political motivation lying behind the feasibility study: Grenfell Campus is located within the District of Humber West, represented by the premier, and near Humber East, represented by the Minister of Finance. It’s important to consider this issue in its proper context. In June 2005 the Williams’ government accepted and affirmed a white paper that envisioned a post-secondary education system “comprised of one university and one college.” The white paper pointed out that the single university system made MUN more competitive with universities in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere, with respect to marketing as well as the recruitment and

JOHN CROSBIE

Guest Column retention of faculty, staff and students, while ensuring the most effective use of resources and greatest benefit to the citizens, government, community groups, industry, faculty, staff and, most importantly, students. This paper accurately pointed out that accountability is a key tenet in university governance and that the ultimate authority for ensuring such accountability rests with the Board of Regents. Why then did the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador appoint consultants to proceed with a socalled feasibility study on Grenfell just several months later? The answer may lie in the fact that on Oct. 21, 2005, Williams was quoted in The Telegram as stating he wanted Grenfell “to stand on its own as the province’s second university.” He said he “didn’t want Grenfell to just be a subsidiary or affiliate of Memorial which is run by (MUN president) Axel Meisen and his team and all the St. John’s crowd.” Williams said he wanted to see a competitive university situation in this province, citing with approval Nova Scotia, which has nine universities, a fact which most educators regard as a disadvantage for the province. With respect to independence for Grenfell, his opinion was “right now Axel wants to have it under the thumb and I don’t agree with him under any circumstances on that one. Axel and I don’t see eye to eye.” On Sept. 1, 2006, Williams and Marshall were reported in The Western Star as stating Grenfell must control its own destiny, suggesting Memorial was inhibiting the growth of the College and in turn the City of Corner Brook. These extraordinary public statements and the record since makes clear that at least since the fall of 2005, the Grenfell group, led by Principal Ashton, has met with

and worked with the premier and the minister to accomplish the objective of having Grenfell become the province’s second university. Given the timing of these public statements, it appears the Williams’ administration had made its decision long before it appointed consultants to carry out a feasibility study. It also clearly indicates the Williams administration’s lack of respect for the Board of Regents, the chancellor, the president and all those associated with the management and governance of Memorial. I was appointed Chancellor of MUN and an ex-officio member of the Board of Regents by then-premier Clyde Wells in June 1994 and have acted as such for 13 years. Among the Board’s powers defined under the Memorial Act, the Board is charged with, “the management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the University.” I support completely what clearly and publicly and firmly has been the public policy on post-secondary education in this province since Memorial was created as a university in 1949: that Newfoundland and Labrador should have one university, Memorial, now an institution widely recognized and accepted across Canada and internationally as a very fine institution. Stakeholders in the university, including the faculty, students, 60,000 alumni, the senate and the people of the province should be given an opportunity to indicate their views on this fundamental educational public policy change relating to MUN. It should not be a decision based on either the prejudices or political convenience of the government of the day. The Hon. John C. Crosbie, P.C., O.C., Q.C., is a former federal minister of finance, the author of No Holds Barred and a lawyer with Cox Palmer. This commentary was originally published in Atlantic Business Magazine, Atlantic Canada’s largest circulation business magazine.

Newspaper readership stable

ewspaper readership trends remain stable in Canada’s four biggest markets despite the growing popularity of online editions, according to a study released Sept. 19. The survey by Newspaper Audience Databank Inc., an industry group whose members include newspapers, advertisers and media-buying agencies, includes readership results for Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and OttawaGatineau taken in the fall of 2006 and the spring of 2007. The results show about half of adults read a newspaper on an average weekday and 75 per cent read at least one on a weekly basis, suggesting daily newspapers remain a “vital source” of news in those markets. While those results are largely unchanged from the comparable year-ago period, there was “modest growth” in online readership, the survey said. — Torstar wire service

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 17

Opportunities Financial Ofﬁcer

CRMS Training Ofﬁcer

Departmental Program Coordinator

Permanent

(Temporary)

Temporary, until March 31st, 2008

Business Analysis Division, Department of Business, Confederation Building, St. John’s

Financial Services, Department of Health & Community Services, St. John’s, NL

Labrador Affairs, Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, Goose Bay

DUTIES: Reporting to the Director, Business Analysis, the incumbent will be an integral member of the Business Analysis/Finance Division and will be accountable for the management and administration of the department’s business attraction fund and resulting portfolio including loans, equity investments and non-repayable contributions. The incumbent will be responsible for preparing and maintaining: accounting records for the Department’s portfolio of records; legal documents including offers of financing and terms and conditions; cheque requisitions for disbursement; security listings; regular financial reports including status of expenditures and variance reports; and changes and or improvements in the Department’s policies and procedures related to client account administration and portfolio management. The incumbent will monitor and evaluate the Department’s investment portfolio for risk, income generation, financial health and compliance with terms and conditions.

DUTIES: The successful candidate will be responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of training programs related to the Client Referral Management System (CRMS) Pay Module to be used by the staff of the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) ; Participates as a member of the CRMS Pay Module Project Team; Liaises and consults with appropriate staff at department, Project Management Team and Regional Integrated Health Authorities to determine training requirements; Develops curriculum and training materials as they relate to the CRMS Pay Module; Facilitates and co-ordinates CRMS Pay Module training sessions for the Regional Health Authorities and provides leadership and training to training instructors; Designs a training evaluation process; Develops, monitors and controls a plan for training roll-out across the province; Plans and provides initial user support to RHAS during the implementation in relation to the CRMS Pay Module training requirements; Provides reporting as required. Performs other related duties as required.

DUTIES: The incumbent will be responsible for processing, auditing and verifying claims and their supporting documentation for payment pertaining to programs administered by the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. This includes: handling written and telephone inquiries from claimants; liaising with the Department of Finance and Departmental staff relating to claim corrections and payments, as well as recommending corrective measures; acting as liaison between the Department and claimants; traveling to coastal communities to collect data for program use; and referring irregularities to Manager for investigation and recommending audits and disciplinary action where required. The incumbent will also maintain up-to-date knowledge of departmental policies, initiate the necessary actions to improve the efﬁciency and effectiveness of programs and prepare statistics for use of management of programs.

QUALIFICATIONS: This position requires extensive experience in the fields of commercial lending, accounting, business administration including knowledge of portfolio management. Candidates must have a working knowledge of a wide variety of debt instruments and a background in account maintenance/collections and financial statement analysis. The successful candidate must have strong communication and analytical skills and be able to work both independently as a member of a team. These qualifications would normally have been acquired through an undergraduate degree in Business, or Commerce supplemented by a recognized accounting designation (CA, CMA, CGA) with 5-7 years of progressively responsible work experience in account management and commercial lending. Experience with international business and mergers/acquisitions would be considered assets. An equivalent combination of experience and training may be considered. SALARY:

GS 37 ($45,754.80 – $51,105.60 per annum) COMPETITION #: BUS.C.FO(p).07/08.092-P, please quote when applying CLOSING DATE: October 3rd, 2007

QUALIFICATIONS: This position requires a highly motivated individual who possesses strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills. The ideal candidate must be able to work independently and have a clear understanding of various training needs assessment and planning processes as well as experience in project management. Candidates must have considerable experience in design, development, implementation and evaluation of training workshops, courses and seminars; an understanding of RHA programs and structure. Strong oral communication, presentation, and project management skills along with the ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships are essential. Graduation from an approved college or university with a degree in a relevant ﬁeld. SALARY: GS-37 ($45,754.80 - $51,105.60) COMPETITION #: H.C. TO(t).07.08.157-P (Please quote when applying) CLOSING DATE: October 2, 2007 Applications should be forwarded by mail or fax to: Mail:

Applications, quoting Competition No., should be submitted to: Mail:

Fax: E-Mail:

Recruitment Centre Public Service Commission 4th Floor, West Block Confederation Building P. O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 (709) 729-6737 pscecresumes@gov.nl.ca

Applications should be received before the close of business on the closing date - late applications with explanation may be considered. For additional information on this position, please call (709) 729-3198. September 17, 2007

Director, Business Analysis

Fax: Tel: Email:

Manager, Strategic Stafﬁng Public Service Commission – Recruitment Centre Confederation Building, 4th Floor, West Block P.O. Box 8700 A1B 4J6 (709) 729-6737 (709) 729-5151 pscsocialresumes@gov.nl.ca

Applications must be received before the close of business on October 2, 2007– either by e-mail, mail or fax. Late applications with explanation may be considered. Candidates must clearly demonstrate in their applications that they meet the above qualiﬁcations; only those applicants who demonstrate such qualiﬁcations will be considered for further assessment. For additional information on this position, please call (709) 729-5151

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have knowledge of accounting procedures and practices, including purchasing, combined with strong knowledge of microcomputer applications and data entry skills. S/he must be able to work independently as well as a part of a team and have excellent communication, analytical, organizational and problem solving skills. These qualiﬁcations would normally be acquired through completion of a Degree in Commerce or Business Administration, supplemented by related work experience in a ﬁnancial/accounting environment. A strong knowledge of Labrador, particularly coastal Labrador would be considered an asset. An equivalent combination of education and experience may also be considered. SALARY:

$41,059.20 - $45,718.40 (GS 34) plus Labrador Allowance ($2,150 per annum - single; $4,300 per annum - dependant) COMPETITION #: LAA.C.DPC(t).07/08.094-P, please quote when applying CLOSING DATE: October 3rd, 2007 Applications, quoting Competition No., should be submitted to: Mail:

Fax: E-Mail:

Recruitment Centre Public Service Commission 4th Floor, West Block Confederation Building P. O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 (709) 729-6737 pscecresumes@gov.nl.ca

Senior Account Ofﬁcer Senior Analyst Permanent, 2 Positions

Permanent Business Analysis Division, Department of Business, Confederation Building, St. John’s DUTIES: Working within a multi-faceted environment, the successful candidate will provide strong leadership to the Business Analysis/Finance Division within the Department of Business. The incumbent will work integrally with a diverse team within the Department and have accountability for planning, coordinating and directing a business analysis program to support inward investment decisions. This includes directing financial resources to the department’s major investments; directing and/or carrying out detailed business, financial, market and risk analyses on major investment proposals; managing and approving due diligence programs, directing due diligence teams both internal and external to the department as well as providing a focused approach to management of the department’s investment portfolio. The successful candidate will be required to develop and maintain strategic alliances with various stakeholders and advise senior management on inward investment proposals and issues related to policy development. QUALIFICATIONS: This position requires a strong understanding of complex business financing arrangements, international accounting standards and the due diligence process required to assess business plans and support investment decisions. Requirements of this position also include knowledge and experience in assessing business, financial and credit risk as well as the ability to identify and evaluate competitive issues and economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges within the Provincial economic environment. The successful candidate must have strong leadership and management experience combined with strong presentation, communication, analytical and project management skills. The incumbent must be able to work both independently and as a member of a team. The required background and skills for this position would normally be acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree in Business, or Commerce supplemented by an accounting designation (CA, CMA or CGA) with 7-10 years progressively responsible work experience with strong interpersonal and negotiating skills. Experience with international business and mergers/acquisitions would be considered assets. An equivalent combination of experience and training may be considered. SALARY: HL 29 ($66,833 – $86,883 per annum) COMPETITION #: BUS.C.DBA(p).07/08.093-P, please quote when applying CLOSING DATE: October 3rd, 2007

Permanent, 2 Positions Labrador Affairs, 21 Broomfield Street, Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, Goose Bay DUTIES: This position reports to the Director of the Labrador Affairs Division with the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. The major duties of the position include: 1)provides a comprehensive review of government policy issues relating to Labrador from the general perspective and also in the context of social, economic and resource development; 2) reviews and analyses provincial policy on each issue and recommends appropriate modifications or initiatives to ensure policy consistency, relevance, and effectiveness; 3) provides liaison between the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs and relevant provincial departments and agencies on all issues respecting Labrador so as to ensure appropriate departmental input into policy formation as well as feedback on policy implementation; 4) prepares briefing materials on all relevant issues relating to Labrador as may be required for conferences, meetings, etc.; 5) plans and conducts research that may be required respecting issues particular to social, economic and resource development; 6) communicates with stakeholders on issues related to Labrador; 7) monitor programming delivered by the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge and understanding of economic, social, northern and aboriginal issues in Labrador and government policies and programs. Proven analytical, organizational, written/oral communication skills are required. Demonstrated ability to conduct research on social, economic and resource projects and to assess government programming as it relates to Labrador. A university degree is required. Knowledge and experience would have been acquired through proven work experience and post-secondary education in the social sciences, public administration, business administration, or related areas. SALARY:

HL 21 $51,546 - $67,010 plus Labrador Allowance ($2,150 per annum - single; $4,300 per annum - dependant) COMPETITION #: LAA.C.SA(p).07/08.063-P, please quote when applying CLOSING DATE: October 3rd, 2007

Recruitment Centre Public Service Commission 4th Floor, West Block Confederation Building P. O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 Fax: (709) 729-6737 E-Mail: pscecresumes@gov.nl.ca Applications should be received before the close of business on the closing date - late applications with explanation may be considered. For additional information on this position, please call (709) 729-3198. September 17, 2007

DUTIES: This position reports to the Director, Business Analysis and is accountable for financial and business analysis to support inward investment decisions within the Department of Business. As a member of a multi-faceted business analysis team, the incumbent will interact with key stakeholders both internal and external to Government to develop and execute due diligence programs for prospective investment opportunities, and conduct credit research and credit worthiness assessments. The candidate will complete comprehensive analysis of business plans including financial, operational and legal analyses as well as assess the business, financial and credit risk of an investment opportunity, including preparation of documentation for funding decisions. The incumbent will also oversee the management of client accounts. QUALIFICATIONS: This position requires extensive experience in the fields of financial statement analysis, accounting and business administration. The incumbent must have the ability to work both independently and as a member of a team. The successful candidate must demonstrate a high level of initiative and possess strong communication, analytical and project management skills. The required background and experience for this position would normally be acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree in Business or Commerce supplemented by an accounting designation (CA, CMA or CGA) and 5-7 years of progressively responsible work experience. An equivalent combination of training and experience may also be considered. Experience in international business and mergers/acquisitions would be considered assets along with experience in business financing and credit risk assessments. SALARY:

GS 44 ($57,111.80 – $67,394.60 per annum) COMPETITION #: BUS.C.SAO(p).07/08.091-P, please quote when applying CLOSING DATE: October 3rd, 2007 Applications, quoting Competition No., should be submitted to: Mail:

Applications, quoting Competition No., should be submitted to: Mail:

Business Analysis Division, Department of Business, Confederation Building, St. John’s

Fax: E-Mail:

Recruitment Centre Public Service Commission 4th Floor, West Block Confederation Building P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 (709) 729-6737 pscecresumes@gov.nl.ca

Fax: E-Mail:

Recruitment Centre Public Service Commission 4th Floor, West Block Confederation Building P. O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 (709) 729-6737 pscecresumes@gov.nl.ca

18 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Opportunities Heavy Equipment Technician

Support Applications Social Worker

Highway Maintenance Equipment Operators

Seasonal

(Temporary to March 31ST , 2008)

(Seasonal - Winter Maintenance)

One (1) seasonal position of Heavy Equipment Technician, with Western Transportation Division of the Department of Transportation and Works located at Wild Cove.

Programs and Client Services, Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, Gander District Ofﬁce

Ten (10) Seasonal positions of Highway Maintenance Equipment Operators, Department of Transportation and Works, Western Region, located in Tompkins, Stephenville, Deer Lake, Hampden, Flowers Cove, Cooks Harbour, Steel Mountain.

DUTIES: This position provides skilled journeyperson level work with the diagnosing of problems related to light and heavy equipment as well as advanced work in a variety of other trades associated with the repair of vehicles and related equipment carried out in the region. Equipment includes trucks, loaders, snow plows, snow blowers, graders and air powered equipment. Work involves repairing, rebuilding and fabricating parts and components of light and heavy vehicles, vehicle systems and related equipment. The Heavy Equipment Technician performs emergency road services, makes field repairs and performs other related duties as required. QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must be a certified journeyperson Heavy Equipment Technician, certified journeyperson Truck and Transport Mechanic or a certified journeyperson Automotive Technician with experience in the repair of heavy equipment and heavy trucks (certification issued by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and/or interprovincial certification). Possession of a valid driver’s license is required. Experience in the various trades associated with repair of vehicles and equipment, and courses in welding, machinist, autobody repairer, automotive repairer and automotive mechanic trades are definite assets. Experience in electric welding and acetylene cutting would also be an asset. SALARY: $17.44 – 19.28 (40 HOUR WEEK) MS 26 COMPETITION #: TW.C.HET.(s).07.08.188-P CLOSING DATE: October 1, 2007.

DUTIES: Provides assistance to clients who are experiencing difficulties obtaining financial support and/or custody and access as a result of family conflict and breakdown; accepts and evaluates referrals from Client Service Officers and/or Program Supervisors on behalf of clients who have potential for financial support; interviews clients to assess support potential; provides mediation services in the negotiation of private agreements between clients and the non-custodial parent’s ability to pay; provides mediation services in the negotiation of custody and access agreements; assesses adequacy of existing agreements/orders; assists with court applications, advises clients of application and court process; liaises with and appears in court to present evidence; makes referrals to appropriate community and support agencies; provides follow-up for clients of provisional orders obtained in other Provinces. QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge of professional social work practises, counselling, mediation and assessment techniques and the court system; candidates must possess effective management, analytical and communication skills; the required knowledge and skills would normally have been acquired through completion of a Bachelor of Social Work Degree and progressively responsible related experience. Proof of registration with Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers must be attached to applications. The use of a private vehicle is a requirement of this position.

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS:

SALARY: $49,012.60 - $54,836.60 (GS-39) COMPETITION #: HRLE.C.SASW(t).07.08.128-P Please quote when applying CLOSING DATE: October 1st, 2007

Applications should be forwarded to:

Applications should be forwarded by mail or fax to:

Mail:

Fax: Email:

Mr. David McAllister Regional Administrator Dept. of Works, Services & Transportation 74 Old Bonne Bay Road Deer Lake, NL A8A 1X9 (709) 635-2285 mcallisterd@gov.nl.ca

Fax: Email:

DUTIES: This is skilled work in the operation of a variety of heavy equipment used in highway maintenance work. The incumbent will be required to operate such pieces of heavy equipment as a tandem truck with snow plow attachment, front-end loader, backhoe, and grader for use in the winter and maintenance of public highways. The incumbent will be required to prepare and maintain work records on the operation of assigned equipment; performs other related duties as required. QUALIFICATIONS: Completion of high school; possession of the appropriate operator’s licences as issued by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (Class 03 license with 08 and 09 endorsements); considerable relevant work experience and knowledge of the regulations and practices utilized in the operation of heavy equipment. SALARY:

$15.76 - $17.36 per hour (MS 24)

COMPETITION #: TW.C.HMEO.(s).07.08.189-P (Deer Lake) Two positions TW.C.HMEO.(s).07.08.190-P (Hampden) One position TW.C.HMEO.(s).07.08.191-P (Steel Mountain) One position TW.C.HMEO.(s).07.08.192-P (Stephenville) One position TW.C.HMEO.(s).07.08.193-P (Cooks Harbour) One position

Manager, Corporate Services Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment Provincial Building, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 1W9 Tel: 709-292-4580 709-292-4200 robertturner@gov.nl.ca

TW.C.HMEO.(s).07.08.194-P (Flowers Cove) Two positions TW.C.HMEO.(s).07.08.195-P (Tompkins) Two positions CLOSING DATE:

Applications should be received before the close of business on the closing date - either by mail or fax. Late applications with explanation may be considered.

Applications should be received before the close of business on the closing date – late applications with explanation may be considered. For additional information on this position call (709) 292-4580

A separate application must be submitted for each competition. For additional information on this position call 709-6354139.

October 1, 2007.

NOTE: SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES MUST RESIDE IN THE AREA. A separate application must be submitted for each competition. For additional information on this position call 709-6354139.

Program Coordinator Director Of Petroleum Geoscience Permanent Permanent Petroleum Geoscience Division, Energy Branch, Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Building, St. John’s, NL. DUTIES: The Director plans, organizes, controls and directs the petroleum geoscience program to foster and promote the continued exploration of the Province’s hydrocarbon resources, including the onshore resources. Program functions include providing expert technical and policy advice on issues related to petroleum exploration and conducting interpretations of geophysical data, assessing industry geophysical data, providing support to the engineering division, reviewing and authorizing geophysical programs and managing geophysical data and data systems; overseeing the development and administration of legislation and guidelines to govern petroleum exploration and geological activities. Provides input into the development and implementation of strategic and annual business plans, policy development and the day to day operations of the branch. The Director provides overall leadership by communicating the vision and overall strategic direction of the Division, identifying clear and achievable goals and objectives and engaging staff effectively in the realization of strategic goals and objectives. Represents the Energy Branch on various inter-departmental, national and international committees related to geoscience. Prepares the division’s annual budget and maintains control of allotted funds. QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge of seismic sequence and structural interpretation, 3-D visualization and earth model building, seismic attribute and AVO analysis, computer modelling and advanced interpretation techniques are required. The successful candidate must have the ability to work independently as well as in a team environment and demonstrate initiative together with strong oral and written communications, program management, analytical, presentation, supervisory, decision-making and interpersonal skills. The above qualiﬁcations would normally have been acquired and demonstrated through graduation from a recognized university with a Master’s Degree in Geology, Geophysics, Earth Science or related ﬁeld supplemented by geoscience program management and supervisory experience and thorough professional experience as a geoscientist with emphasis on structural and stratigraphic interpretation related to the petroleum sector, preferably in the Newfoundland region. Eligibility for Registration as a P. Geo. with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador is required.

One (1) permanent position of Program Coordinator with the Engineering Support Services Division, Department of Transportation and Works, Confederation Building DUTIES: Reporting to the Manager of Tendering and Contracts, this position provides tendering functions relative to the maintenance operation and capital construction program for government departments; liaises with project managers, client departments, regional offices and consultants with respect to the preparation and issuance of public tenders for maintenance operation and capital construction and ensures all tenders are properly completed and accompanied by the required security; reviews technical specifications and front end documents for compliance with industry and government standards and prepares and/or reviews those documents for selected projects/services, including service contracts for departmental regional operations; chairs public tender openings; coordinates all bonding, insurances, NLSCA and WHSCC documents to ensure receipt in proper order; responsible for the maintenance and operation of the Department’s publication of electronic tender documents to the Department’s website; prepares public advertisements for the print media; performs other related duties as required. QUALIFICATIONS: Thorough knowledge of the capital construction/maintenance operations tendering process, bonding and insurance requirements, electronic tendering, the Public Tender Act, computer software and technical specifications preparation; strong oral and written communications, organizational and analytical skills. Candidates must be able to work independently with limited supervision and be able to work in a team atmosphere with staff, consultants and contractors. Successful completion of a three-year technology program and/or certification as a CET is a requirement. Candidates must also have experience in the procurement of capital construction/maintenance operations services and in the writing of technical specifications. Experience with the bonding and industry, as well as experience with web page software would be definite assets. SALARY: GS-34 ($41,059.20 - $45,718.40) COMPETITION #: TW.C.PC.(p).07.08.179-P CLOSING DATE: October 1, 2007 Information for Applicants: Applications should be forwarded to: Mail:

SALARY: $66, 833 - $86,883(HL-29) COMPETITION #: NR.DPG.(p).07.0217-P CLOSING DATE: OCTOBER 01, 2007

Recruitment Centre Public Service Commission 4th Floor, West Block Confederation Bldg. St. John’s, NL P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL AlB 4J6 (709) 729-6737 psctwresumes@gov.nl.ca

Applications, quoting competition number, should be forwarded via mail, fax or email:

Fax: E-Mail:

Mail:

Application should be received before the close of business on the closing date – either by mail, fax or e-mail. Late applications with explanation may be considered.

Fax: E-Mail:

Recruitment Centre Public Service Commission 4th Floor, Confederation Building West Block P. O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 (709) 729-6737 pscresourcesresumes@gov.nl.ca

A separate application must be submitted of each competition. For additional information on this position call (709) 7290570.

Also available are thirty (30) Temporary Call-in winter positions of Highway Maintenance Equipment Operator to establish an eligibility list for winter operations, Department of Transportation and Works, Western Region, located in Port Aux Basques, Tompkins, Abrahams Cove, Stephenville, Wild Cove, Corner Brook, Deer Lake, Sops Arm, Hampden, Port Saunders, Flowers Cove, Roddickton, St. Anthony, Cooks Harbour, Rocky Harbour. If interested in one of these call-in positions, a separate resume quoting the competition number below MUST be submitted clearly identifying each location of interest. Competition No. - TW.C.HMEO.(pt).07.08.197-P Applications should be forwarded to: Mail:

Fax: Email:

Mr. David McAllister Regional Administrator Dept. of Works, Services & Transportation 74 Old Bonne Bay Road Deer Lake, NL A8A 1X9 (709) 635-2285 mcallisterd@gov.nl.ca

Applications should be received before the close of business on the closing date - either by mail or fax. Late applications with explanation may be considered.

Tender DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & WORKS INVITATION TO TENDER Tenders will be received up to the dates and times indicated below for the following projects: A/PROJECT # 100-07PSC – Replacement of Healey’s Pond Bridge with a steel box culvert in St. Phillips, NL. PURCHASE PRICE: $ 22.80 CLOSING DATE: OCTOBER 04, 2007 @ 12:00 NOON B/PROJECT # SNLS09306 – Snow clearing services, various Government Buildings, Stephenville area, NL. PURCHASE PRICE: $ N/A CLOSING DATE: OCTOBER 03, 2007 @ 3:00 PM Upon receipt of the purchase price indicated above, (NON REFUNDABLE, HST INCLUDED) plans and speciﬁcations may be obtained from Tendering and Contracts, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building, P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL. A1B 4J6, Ph# 709-729-3786, Fax # 709-729-6729, and viewed at the ofﬁces of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association. Tenders addressed to the Deputy Minister of Transportation & Works must be delivered to Tendering and Contracts at the address above and be submitted on forms and in sealed envelopes provided, clearly marked as to the contents. Tenders will be opened immediately after the tender closing time. The Department does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Hon. John Hickey Minister Transportation & Works

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Time for power upgrade

INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 19

PURCHASE PENDING

From page 15 behind. The major blackouts in Central Canada and the northeastern United States a few years ago underscored the risks associated with our dependence on the U.S. electricity system and the vulnerability of our country’s supply. It is also a clear sign that we need to upgrade Canada’s electricity infrastructure. The reality is the Government of Canada, in co-operation with the provinces and territories, can and should take steps to facilitate the creation and interconnection of critical electricity infrastructure in the country, while producing a made-in-Canada response to greenhouse gas emissions that assists in building a greener economy and maintains stable electricity prices for average Canadians. From the perspective of business, the availability of reliable, clean, predictably priced electricity is a key factor in the competitiveness of many industries. One of the actions for the future outlined in Newfoundland and Labrador’s own new energy plan is to develop transmission capability within the province (linking the Labrador electricity system to Newfoundland’s), so abundant, clean and relatively stably priced hydropower generated by the lower Churchill can be delivered to an otherwise isolated island grid that currently relies on fossil fuel. That additional power reach throughout the province would help meet normal domestic electricity needs and attract and support industrial activity in the province. It will mean a lot of infrastructure, a lot of technical work and, above all, a lot of money. It will also require alignment with federal financing programs and green initiatives. But it’s definitely the kind of thinking and leadership we need on a national scale, to secure and optimize Canada’s energy potential. Without a doubt, more action is needed to facilitate electric power transmission from areas of supply to areas of need in Canada. Whether it’s the lower Churchill or resources in other parts of the country, Canada has significant potential that could be developed if the appropriate infrastructure and regulatory frameworks were in place. Right now, a substantial amount of that power potential is stranded because of the limited interconnection in transmission grids to be able to get it to market. With more voices from groups like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, at some point the federal government will have to sit up and take notice that this is critical to the growth of industry, economic competitiveness and the standard of living in Canada, and begin working with the provinces and territories to make things happen. Cathy Bennett is president of the St. John’s Board of Trade. Her column returns Oct. 5.

The Oceanex container vessel ASL Sanderling is shown in St. John’s harbour in 2006. A consortium of companies led by former Marine Atlantic chairman Sid Hynes plans to buy Montreal-based Oceanex, the shipping company that operates the terminal at St. John’s harbour and owns a fleet of container ships. The purchase is expected to be finalized in November. Paul Daly/The Independent

20 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

Opportunities

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Harper, Dion might both want fall election OTTAWA By James Travers Torstar wire service

Tenders DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & WORKS INVITATION TO TENDER Tenders will be received up to the dates and times indicated below for the following projects: A/PROJECT # 110705003 – Structural steel end wall reinforcement, Sigh Shop, Pleasantville, St. John’s, NL. PURCHASE PRICE: $ 11.40 CLOSING DATE: OCTOBER 09, 2007 @ 3:00 PM B/PROJECT # 104-07PSR – Timber deck replacement on Bay de L’Eau River Bridge, km 16, R215, NL. PURCHASE PRICE: $ 22.80 CLOSING DATE: OCTOBER 09, 2007 @ 12:00 NOON C/PROJECT – Leasing 3529 sq. ft. of office space & 220 sq. ft. of garage space for the Provincial Information & Library Resources Board to be located within the City of Corner Brook, NL. PURCHASE PRICE: $ 11.40 CLOSING DATE: OCTOBER 04, 2007 @ 3:00 PM D/PROJECT # CLEA11210 – Cleaning services, Arts & Culture Centre, Gander, NL. SITE BRIEFING – OCTOBER 02, 2007 @ 10:30 AM. PURCHASE PRICE: $ N/A CLOSING DATE: OCTOBER 11, 2007 @ 3:00 PM (PROJECT “D” SPECS AVAILABLE AT SITE BRIEFING ONLY) E/PROJECT # 410705053 – Supply & installation of approx. 318m of security fencing & two double gates, Highway Depot, Corner Brook, NL. PURCHASE PRICE: $ 11.40 CLOSING DATE: OCTOBER 09, 2007 @ 3:00 PM Upon receipt of the purchase price indicated above, (NON REFUNDABLE, HST INCLUDED) plans and specifications may be obtained from Tendering and Contracts, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building, P.O. Box 8700, St John’s, NL. A1B 4J6, Ph# 709-729-3786, Fax # 709-729-6729, and viewed at the offices of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association, Tenders addressed to the Deputy Minister of Transportation & Works must be delivered to Tendering and Contracts at the address above and be submitted on forms and in sealed envelopes provided, clearly marked as to the contents. Tenders will be opened immediately after the tender closing time. The Department does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Hon. John Hickey Minister Transportation & Works DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INVITATION TO TENDER Tenders will be received up to the date and time indicated below for the following project: PROJECT # 300145001 – Soil remediation & associated work, Exploits Valley Intermediate, Grand Falls Windsor, NL. . PURCHASE PRICE: $22.80 CLOSING DATE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2007 @ 3:00 PM Upon receipt of the purchase price indicated above, (NON REFUNDABLE, HST INCLUDED) plans and specifications may be obtained from Tendering and Contracts, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building, P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL. A1B 4J6, Ph# 709-729-3786, Fax # 709-729-6729, and viewed at the offices of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association. Tenders addressed to the Deputy Minister of Transportation & Works must be delivered to Tendering and Contracts at the address above and be submitted on forms and in sealed envelopes provided, clearly marked as to the contents. Tenders will be opened immediately after the tender closing time. The Department does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Hon. Joan Burke Minister Dept. of Education

Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) Consultant Services for Building Capital Asset Assessments for Group 1 Government Building on the Avalon Peninsula, NL. The Government of Newfoundland & Labrador are inviting expressions of interest from consultant teams to conduct a building capital asset assessment for group 1 Government Buildings located on the Avalon Peninsula, NL. A copy of the EOI maybe obtained from the address below. Submissions are to be forwarded to the address below & will be received up to 3:00 PM, OCTOBER 10, 2007. Deputy Minister Dept. of Transportation & Works c/o Tendering & Contracts Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 Telephone: 709-729-3786 Facsimile: 709-729-6729

Request for Proposals (RFP) Consultant Services for File Review, Plan Forward, and Cost Information for Former U.S. Military Facility at Hopedale, Labrador The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is inviting proposals from consultants for a ﬁle review, plan forward, and cost information for the former U.S. military facility at Hopedale, Labrador, NL. A copy of the Terms of Reference may be obtained from the address below or by emailing: dawek@gov.nl.ca or crottyp@gov.nl.ca . Submissions are to be forwarded to the address below and will be received up to 3:00 pm, October 9, 2007 (Newfoundland and Labrador Time). Deputy Minister Dept. of Transportation & Works c/o Tendering & Contracts Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 Telephone: 709-729-3786 Facsimile: 709-729-6729

tephen Harper and Stéphane Dion share little after Monday’s byelections. One is reaping the early returns of transforming Conservatives into Quebec’s federalist option; the other is harvesting the rotten crop of Liberal scandal and leadership quarrels. But there is one counter-intuitive common denominator. Two politicians with entirely different prospects share a qualified interest in a fall election. Harper’s advantage is self-evident. Buoyed by the Roberval win and the Liberals’ Outremont loss, he has momentum that experience says will only erode with time and the feared spillover from a shaky U.S. economy. Still, there are risks in trying to use the October throne speech to bring his government down. Poll after poll suggests voters are comfortable with a minority status quo that keeps Conservatives in check and Liberals out of office. So Harper must choose between seizing the moment and the personal perils of being denied a majority. A campaign failure to turn undecided voters into Tory supporters would spark disaffect-

ed rumblings about a leader more respected – and feared – than loved. Flip the coin and find Dion’s head. Facing insurrection, he needs an imminent, collective danger to remind Liberals that the leader is not the enemy. Fighting a problematic election has limited appeal until it’s compared to the alternative. Dion’s current fate is to be pecked apart by the anonymous forces of boundless personal ambition. A campaign is no panacea. It would further expose the party’s organizational impotence and the leader’s political shortcomings. Even so, elections encourage even the most dysfunctional political families to temporarily pull together. Being seen as equivocal when shared interests are at stake carries stiff penalties for those aspiring to leadership or conspiring to create room at the top. Like Harper, Dion has options. He can do what he hasn’t done since his upset victory by building a team able to maximize his still mostly hidden strengths and minimize too obvious weaknesses. While it’s true that once-dominant political machines fall apart shockingly fast, there’s still enough residual Liberal structure and talent to elevate

the leader’s office above the ineptness of Outremont. Difficult and humbling, that cry for help is essential if Dion is to recruit wavering Liberals for the one election fight a new leader is traditionally guaranteed. Sadly for Liberals, the noise so far from the Dion camp is that it’s business as usual. Graveyard whistling about a great party rebounding from adversity entirely misses the point. Liberals need immediate reassurance that lessons have been learned, that there will be no repeat of strategic and tactical blunders that foolishly made Outremont a failed leadership test. Forging unity after the nastiness of the Jean Chrétien-Paul Martin rivalry isn’t going to be as easy as Liberals had fantasized. A party that skimmed over cathartic renewal in favour of a compromise leader bizarrely opted for someone apparently incapable of delivering what it wants most – a speedy return to power. Liberals must now work through that mistake just as Harper must decide if it’s worth risking his current minority to chase an elusive, perhaps impossible, majority. Imperfect and precarious, a fall election may prove the best alternative for both leaders and their parties, if not necessarily the country.

U.S. apparel maker inks Leafs deal

nder Armour Inc., the fast growing U.S.-based athletic apparel company, has signed a three-year sponsorship contract with the Maple Leafs to sell clothing branded with the NHL team’s logo at the Air Canada Centre. The agreement marks the first time Under Armour has signed such a contract with a pro team, a company official said. Because the Maple Leafs play in Canada’s largest media market and are

widely considered to be the country’s most scrutinized NHL franchise, the Under Armour contract may also come as a blow to rival athletic apparel company Reebok, an NHL sponsor. “If I was Reebok, I wouldn’t be too happy about it,” said Roy Roedger, a Toronto sports marketer. “It shows that the Leafs have done a good job of further splintering their sponsorship categories. But if you start seeing branded outerwear or hoodies, I think they’d definitely be on Reebok

territory.” While Reebok is the NHL’s official on-ice apparel sponsor, Under Armour executive Rick Anguilla said his company has signed on with the Maple Leafs as the team’s “athletic performance apparel sponsor.” While neither the Maple Leafs nor Under Armour are expected to disclose financial terms of the contract, Roedger said the deal is likely worth at least $500,000. — Torstar wire service

INDEPENDENTLIFE

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2007 — PAGE 21

Petrina Bromley, Frank Holden, Sarah Loveys, Jessica Power, Calvin Powell and Michael Peddle in a scene from The Nobleman’s Wedding, a production by Rising Tide Theatre.

Ned Pratt photo

‘The joy of the fall’ Rising Tide Theatre works to extend tourist season: reworks older shows and experiments with new

By Stephanie Porter The Independent

he version of The Nobleman’s Wedding, Pamela Morgan’s folk opera, appearing on stage in Trinity this fall, is a far cry from the one that debuted a year ago this month. Morgan developed the play using old and traditional ballads she collected in outport communities, intricately interweaving the melodies and stories to tell a “quintessential story” of class struggle, love and tragedy of the heart. She brought her work — originally put together 25 years ago — to Rising Tide artistic director Donna Butt to see if it could be brought back to life. Butt agreed to give it a go. “Last fall we put up a version, she saw potential and so did I,” says Morgan. “We put the play up, as it was, saw its strengths and weaknesses and built it from there. “My expertise is not theatre, it’s music, and (director) Charlie Tomlinson’s and Donna’s is theatre so they’ve been concentrating on the story … I wrote a few pieces to complement the story and expand it a bit and we’ll probably

do more with it over the winter so it will be even stronger next season. “It’s a pretty exciting process.” Key to the process is the existence of Rising Tide Theatre’s fall season in Trinity Bight, now in its third year. After the busyness of summer — when the Trinity Pageant, a dozen other plays, dinner theatres and comedy nights entertain up to 800 people a day — the five weeks after Labour Day are a time for smaller audiences, a tighter cast and crew and plenty of research, writing, fine-tuning, brainstorming and a little experimentation. There’s still at least one show — sometimes two or three — every night until Oct. 6, but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes too. “In some ways the fall is busier than the summer,” says Butt. “You’re trying to do a lot of things — remount the shows, you don’t have all the same cast, you’re reworking and researching others. “We can put up some new shows, stage readings for scripts in development, bring some of our shows to schools …” Busy, yes. But smaller audiences bring in less ticket money, and Butt admits “financially,

it’s a struggle” to keep the entertainment going when the weather cools down. “In the summer, we can pack the houses with the individual traveler,” she says, “and there are still people coming through in the fall, but we’re trying to get groups to come, to tap into the convention market … you really have to do special things in the fall, for the big shows.” The Discovery Trail — between Clarenville and Bonavista — is in the second of a threeyear tourism season extension program, funded by the provincial government. It’s a marketing initiative, aimed at tourists, corporations, and locals looking for a getaway. Restaurants, accommodations and attractions stay open a little longer, in the hopes of keeping people at work and communities busy for a month or two longer. Rising Tide is a big part of the program. “This place is renowned for culture and historical product and sites, for accommodations and trails,” says Butt. “The region is quite extraordinary and we need to keep building on that, and that doesn’t come cheap. “There will always be a fall season, it’s essential. There’s an economic component to

what we do and why we’re here — and an artistic component. We want to keep our best here. There’s so much work for artists in the summer, but it’s really hard afterwards. We have to find a way to expand the tourist season. “And there’s the reward at the end if you can keep people working longer and have wonderful work you can watch blossom and grow.” This season, there are about 20 people employed by Rising Tide in Trinity, about half the summer contingent. Butt says Susan Kent and Jody Richardson, co-writers of The Joan Morrissey Story, are in Trinity now, reworking the show to take to provincial arts and culture centres in the fall. The Nobleman’s Wedding, apart from its showings in Trinity, will play at the Gander Arts and Culture Centre Sept. 23. “The folk opera, I was really interested in it from the beginning,” says Butt. “We put the show up last fall for an early version, worked on it over the winter; this summer we remounted it with some changes. This fall, we’re continuing with it, and reworking it again. See “People love it,” page 24

Must-read new non-fiction

he Report of the Auditor General to the House of Assembly on a Review of Constituency Allowance Claims 19891990 through to 2005-2006 is the best non-fiction piece I have read in a long time. A slim volume of merely 86 pages, the work is nonetheless a gripping and often harrowing read of malfeasance and betrayal. Don’t let the baggy title throw you off. After all, who would have thought that works like Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith’s Death or

NOREEN GOLFMAN Standing Room Only The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism would be rising to the top of the non-fiction best seller lists, but they are. Well-known local author John L. Noseworthy skillfully flexes his writing muscles in what is arguably his best

work to date. In the Report he achieves an elegant simplicity of expression, at once direct and profoundly meaningful. Earlier works by the author (Excess Constituency Allowance Claims By Mr. James Walsh, Former M.H.A. and Double Billings By Ms. Kathy Goudie, M.H.A.), showed much promise while hinting at the hard-boiled narrative approach that characterizes his mature style. But in the current Report, Noseworthy fully realizes his talent. His spirited representation and analysis of the facts paints a vivid portrait of

corruption in high office. A glance at the table of contents shows the ambitious reach of the work, beginning with the thoughtful Reflections of the author and moving from such provocative entries as How the Money Was Spent, Appropriateness of Claimed Expenditures, through to Adequacy of Claimed Documentation. Of course, as anyone who has read reviews of the work would know, the chapter headings might more accurately be expressed as Inappropriateness of Claimed Expenditures and Inadequacy

of Claimed Documentation. This is, above all, a long and sad story of exploitation. The culprits are elected officials and the unsuspecting victim is the public. Always fair to the historical context, Noseworthy avers that the absence of adequate management controls made for an “environment ripe for abuse.” While Noseworthy isn’t exactly a Marxist, he does situate the blame largely on a shabby system of neglect and irregularSee “Hallmarks,” page 23

22 • INDEPENDENTLIFE

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

GALLERYPROFILE

Contained lets loose at Devon

n Contained, a group exhibit marking Craft Year 2007, participating artists produced objects as beautiful as they are distinctly varied in material and medium. But they do have one thing in common: they are all representative of the role of the vessel — or container — in our province’s culture and civilization. One such example is furniture-maker Mike Paterson’s Labrador travelling box. Painted pine and rope handles attached, it is reminiscent of chests made and used in outport Newfoundland to store clothing and supplies while men fished on the Labrador. Paterson’s piece is immaculately proportioned and gleams beautifully, but its purpose is highly practical. On the flip side, another artist takes a typically functional object and transforms it into a three-dimensional canvas. Kippens-based silversmith and carver Michael Massie’s Communi-tea, a teapot composed of oak, bone, brass and sinew, has become a storyboard for the legend contained on its wooden sides. Two panels of bone carving tell an ancient Inuit legend of an old grandmother falling behind the younger family members. Historically, Inuit elders would be left behind to die in specially built igloos, but this grandma had other ideas. Seeing a polar bear creeping up behind the family, she fooled the attacking predator by putting her mitt on her walking stick and choking the animal to death — thus providing protection and meat. As Massie puts it: “She wasn’t left behind after that.” Amongst Trine Schioldan’s hand-felted cocoons hanging from the ceiling and Brian Banfield’s simple but elegant bowls are some less obvious containers. Rigolet artist Garmel Rich usually sews salt grass baskets, which reveal a deliciously briny scent when one sniffs deep inside, but for this show she included a miniature log cabin. Gathering grass late in the year after it has been bleached in the sun and therefore easier to sew, Rich took three months to construct the cabin she has only made once before in her 50 years of grass work. The first went to her daughter and she thinks this one will be a gift to her son, a symbolic familial refuge contained between four walls. Securing a safe place is echoed in Isabella St. John’s raku clay tower. Stemming from a psychological sense of unease due to an unstable global climate, St. John pictured herself high inside a tower, above the fray, protected and looking out in every direction. Her research into the subject revealed similar towers on every continent, symbols of power and religious purposes, and a place of sheltered sanctuary, something she says exists to a certain extent in this province; isolated as we are, off-the-map and under the radar of the world’s violent factions. Working in hammered copper, Topsailresident Elly Cohen produced Spirit of Queequeg, having recently reacquainted herself with the Moby Dick character. The exquisite vessel is something to which anyone in this province can relate: a sea-faring one. This particular boat, however, is one of ethereal and exotic inspiration, with a tattooed and spearwielding indigenous warrior straddling the front. Limbs curved and paper-thin, his strength shows through his buoyed and prominent position on the prow of the boat. Guest curator Gloria Hickey says she hoped one of the artists would produce a boat for the show. A vessel without which Newfoundland and Labrador would not exist, she was delighted when Cohen’s piece channelled the theme of Contained so succinctly. But the variety of the objects on display are all of equal delight — from Gordon Gosse’s polka dot vase to Janet Peter’s paper maché trunk and King’s Point Pottery’s architectural vases, Contained is an experience which will comfort, fortify and inspire. Contained will exhibit until Oct. 5 at the Craft Council Gallery, Devon House, 59 Duckworth St., St. John’s. mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTLIFE • 23

Hallmarks of Noseworthy’s style From page 21

Megan Williams at The Rooms, St. John’s.

Paul Daly/The Independent

Fourth one’s a charm New Rooms art gallery director says opportunity ‘irresistible’ By Mandy Cook The Independent

esides her family roots in Carbonear and St. John’s, the New Brunswick-bred and most recently appointed provincial art gallery director of The Rooms is no stranger to Newfoundland and Labrador’s art scene. Megan Williams, most recently of Nova Scotia, was a student at Newfoundland and Labrador’s craft school in Corner Brook — a program started in part by craft developer Anna Templeton — and held the position of director of the Craft Development Association in the 1980s. In recent years, Williams worked as director of the Ottawa Art Gallery for a six-month period and was also the director of a national arts advocacy organization. When a temporary opportunity to come back east popped up, she jumped at the chance. “I care about the Rooms and have been really excited about the whole development and have been here several times and know lots of people who work here, so it was sort of irresistible to me,” she says. “Living in Nova Scotia, where the government is actively anti-art, made me even more aware of how unique this institution is in Atlantic Canada, and even Canada. It’s a real privilege to be involved with a new institution that’s starting out and to help shape it … it feeds all my interests at once.” Williams is the fourth director of the art gallery at The Rooms since the building opened in July 2005. Longtime director Patricia Grattan was

“Living in Nova Scotia where the government is actively anti-art made me even more aware of how unique this institution is in Atlantic Canada.” Megan Williams let go in 2003, during the move from Memorial University to the new building. Gordon Laurin, former director of St. Mary’s University art gallery in Halifax, came aboard after a 15-month search. He was suddenly relieved of his duties a year later, two weeks after The Rooms officially opened its doors. Shauna McCabe was then appointed as the new permanent gallery director in May of last year, having served as interim director since December 2005, only to announce a year-long leave of absence early this year. Given the high turnover of the position, Williams is aware of past controversy, but diplomatic in addressing the perceived acrimony between staff and The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador, which functions as an arm’s-length Crown corporation headed by CEO Dean Brinton. “I know all the previous directors and (I’m) well aware of what’s gone on here since the beginning and how difficult the transition was,” she says. “My real interest is helping the staff to feel

their work is valued … creating an environment that makes it easy for them to do their work and accomplish what they want to do. “Three big, important, independent institutions had to co-locate — a process that’s fraught with difficulty — so the fact The Rooms has succeeded as well as it has speaks well of all the people involved.” McCabe left a “road map” of programming for the year, so Williams says most of her work will be day-today management. However, she will be applying her art education background — part of which will be sending education kits out to school children — and is looking forward to upcoming exhibits such as artist-in-residence Annette Manning’s Oct. 12 show and a Canadian painters’ show entitled Hot Wax. Williams also points out that Defiant Beauty: William Hind in the Labrador Peninsula, currently showing in the gallery, is an opportunity to marry the skills of the team of art and culture professionals in the province she so enjoys working with. “We just opened the William Hind show, which might seem sort of anachronistic. It’s a historical show about the exploration of Labrador, but it is so illuminating because we can work with the museums and archives which also have things in their collection pertaining to the early exploration of Labrador. “We’re hoping to be able to make new knowledge out of all the holdings of these institutions. I find that really exciting.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

ity. Without a defined set of guidelines and any noticeable leadership, elected officials were encouraged to follow base instincts of greed and self-interest. At times, the work reads like Lord of the Flies, where a group of men (and a few elected female officials) shed their masks of civility and behaved like children in the jungle of their constituency offices. Without the ordering restraints of civilization, as Freud well observed, man [sic] easily gives in to his primitive inclinations to consume, in this case worldly goods and the occasional hockey tickets. To be sure, although he situates the story in the spend-like-a-drunkensailor era of Premiers Tobin, Tulk and Grimes, Noseworthy ultimately insists on the culpability of each individual member of the legislature who was expected to behave like “any reasonable person.” This phrase surfaces as a ringing leitmotif in the work, reminding the reader that certain officials chose to indulge in unreasonable behaviour. Moral divides were crossed without apology or hesitation. Emerging as central players in this tale of reckless excess is a fine cast of leading characters. Who was it who squandered $2.2 million and the public trust? The most compelling parts of the work are those sections that detail both the central characters and their actual expenditures. Deft with the pen as he is, Noseworthy teases the reader by tracing back to the first inkling of a problem. Early in the work, he notes that in 2000 his office identified a cabinet minister who “had what we considered claims for inappropriate expense items — artwork and alcohol.” That query led to the dramatic banishment of Noseworthy’s office from the House of Assembly and the order to cease all audit work. As we all know from a somewhat dryer form of non-fiction called The Green Commission Report, the prequel to Noseworthy’s report, Noseworthy’s query also led to severe amendments to the Internal Economy Commission Act, resulting in a general relaxation of accountability. But the reader is now curious to persist, eager to discover that unnamed cabinet member whose curious expense claims provoked a chain of events that led, like the arrow that landed on Achilles, to a certain fate. Noseworthy shrewdly carries the eager reader along for 20 or so pages until the culprit is revealed. Too good a writer to hammer the obvious, he lets the table of double billings speak for itself. Indeed, one doesn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to realize that

Paul Dicks occupies an inordinately high percentage of expenses on that table and the ones that follow. For example, the “Alcohol-Only Claimed by Members” table boldly announces Dicks’ inordinate consumption — or acquisition — of fine aged liquids. But in case the gentle reader fails to recognize the import of the figures, Noseworthy reinforces the message by observing that Dicks’ “claim total was 121 per cent higher than the claim total of the Member with the next highest alcohol-only claims.” Shock and awe are hallmarks of Noseworthy’s style. Likewise, the “Personal Items Claimed by Members” table identifies Dicks’ penchant for artwork ($59,753), books ($581); a Cartier pen ($319); and jewelry ($1,537). That table makes for particularly fascinating reading as it embodies a virtual register of taste and privilege. A keen researcher far into the future will be able to draw useful sociological conclusions from the inventory of late twentieth-century purchases by elected officials of Newfoundland and Labrador. What kind of leaders used tax payers’ money for personal snow clearing, Costco goods, ladies’ underwear, and clock radios? What kind, indeed? Noseworthy’s own impeccable research credentials made him well suited to the task of uncovering the spending practices of all the premiers’ men. His Report is highly recommended, although not for the faint of heart. Thanks to the miracle of open access publishing, the work is available for free downloading on the government website. One final note: the title, although helpfully descriptive, is cumbersome and far too long for the spine of a bound copy. Perhaps the editor should shorten it to offer more punch and encourage a wider readership. Just a suggestion: House of Scandal? Noreen Golfman is a professor of literature and women’s studies at Memorial. Her column returns Oct. 5.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

24 • INDEPENDENTLIFE

‘Jodie’s got a gun’ Brilliant performances in both 3:10 to Yuma and The Brave One elevate films beyond usual action fare The Brave One Starring Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Nicky Katt, and Mary Steenburgen (out of four)

rica Bain’s affection for New York City forms the basis of her regular radio program. We are introduced to her while she laments the loss of some of the city’s older buildings, structures that have long been elements of her environment, some of which have been immortalized in literature. These are some of the things she loves about her town, and as they disappear, Bain feels they’re taking something of her with them. With this kind of reaction to the architectural landscape, it’s easy to understand that when Erica experiences great personal loss, she is deeply affected — as we are soon to discover. Later that same evening, she and the love of her life are attacked and brutally beaten while taking a walk through Central Park. It takes weeks for Erica to regain consciousness and learn that her fiancé didn’t survive the assault. The agony of loss is one thing, but when Erica finally gets to go home, she becomes overwhelmed with fear. The sights and sounds of the city streets, which, only a short time ago, had been such a comfort to her, have become menacing and frightening. In an effort to bolster her security, she buys a handgun and unfortunately doesn’t have long to wait before she needs to use it. Cheating death a second time, and still affected by the trauma of the first assault, Erica begins to feel more powerful, but she’s certainly not more stable. There are a number of similarities throughout The Brave One with Death Wish, from more than 30 years ago, but the first third of the film is almost a thinly veiled rewrite of the latter picture. Unfortunately, it seems that some viewers have not been able to pick up on the numerous differences between the two, and The Brave One has been both praised and dismissed as though it

were a film about vigilantism. Unlike the Charles Bronson feature, the character of Erica Bain is not acting out of anger, or an increasing sense of self-righteousness in a completely lawless society. She is reacting to her fears, instead of getting the help she knows she needs. She’s constantly fighting her own conscience, and despite an increasing manifestation of bravado in her mannerisms, she seems convinced that she’s helpless. As expected, Jodie Foster’s performance as Erica Bain is brilliant, and scenes she shares with Terrence Howard, who plays a police detective, are the high points of the film. Together with director Neil Jordan, they turn this into something more than “Jodie’s got a gun.” In their hands, The Brave One is not a political argument for or against gun control, possible deficiencies in the criminal justice system or even revenge, but a story of hurtin’ humans, trying to deal with drastic changes in their lives. In this case, the two people who can be of the most benefit to each other find themselves on opposite sides of the clearly defined line of the law. To its credit, there is no shortage of uncomfortable moments in the film, but considering the circumstances, wouldn’t anything more clear-cut be too trite? Whatever the case, The Brave One is a surprisingly effective picture that endeavours to give us something to take with us when we leave the cinema. Just allow time for the after-show conversation that you’re sure to want. 3:10 to Yuma Starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe (out of four) Civil War veteran Dan Evans is up to his ears in debt. Trying to make a go of cattle farming during a drought is difficult enough, but in addition to his cash crunch, he’s facing increasing pressure to move off his rented land so the owner can take advantage of the financial benefits of the railroad that’s

Jodie Foster stars in The Brave One.

coming through the area. His struggles are many and his family is losing faith in him. During a trip into town, Evans finds himself in a position to earn some much-needed money by agreeing to escort the legendary outlaw, Ben Wade, to the train station in Contention. From there he is to be transported to Yuma, where he’s to be tried and surely hanged. Such a journey is not without risk, however, as

Wade’s gang is expected to try and orchestrate his escape. In addition to the rootin’, tootin’, and shootin’ that we anticipate, this movie features a couple of interesting characters played by two talented actors. No surprise there, either. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe are nothing if not reliable performers, and in the roles of Evans and Wade, respectively, they bring dynamic drama to what would still be a pretty

good action film. From start to finish, 3:10 to Yuma is a solid motion picture in almost every respect, and it looks great on the big screen. The first of a few westerns that are set to come through over the next few months, we’d be well served if the others are on par with this one. Tim Conway operates Capitol Video on Rawlins Cross, St. John’s. His column returns Oct. 5.

Jessica Power as the nobleman’s young daughter, Nancy. Ned Pratt photo

‘People love it’ From page 21 “I’m working with Charlie and Pam to see where we want to take it next — and that’s the joy of the fall.” “I would be all over working on it again over the winter,” says Morgan, delighted with the evolution of her work. “In 1982, I had no budget and no director and asked my friends to do it. This is a totally different ballgame and it’s great to see it flourish under the hands of people who know what they’re doing.” Morgan envisions taking the piece to the point it could be performed with “an orchestra or in another theatre context.” For now, though, she’s happy the ballads and stories she loves so much have found a home — and an appreciative audience. “People love it,” she says. “It’s definitely not a comedy … there are literally people weeping when they leave the theatre. The audience reaction must have been strong because Donna really wants to continue with it, and make it grow.” She offers one last comment to the public, lest they be put off by the slightly intimidating label of “folk opera.” “I’m not absolutely certain that’s the right title,” she says with a laugh. “It’s a story that’s sung, and it’s sung with a lot of heart and it’s acted and the music is incredibly beautiful. “People don’t realize the wealth of music that came from the oral tradition of Newfoundland and Labrador. The traditional songs are one thing … the ballads are another, that came from the old country, and they’re really, really beautiful. To think it all exists here, it’s pretty amazing.” stephanie.porter@theindependent.ca

INDEPENDENTSTYLE

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2007 — PAGE 25

Emma Moores, four, practices her dance moves at Bulldog Interactive Fitness in St. John’s.

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

Child’s play

Dedicated fitness facilities for kids are the new outdoors By Mandy Cook The Independent

emember when you were a kid and your mom booted you out the door right after breakfast and you returned home, happy and sweaty, at dusk? Not so much for this generation of youngsters. Kids today are more accustomed to car rides and play dates than roaming the neighbourhood on foot or playing pick-up games of soccer. As a result, overweight children have become the focus of health professionals.

Compounding the problem, according to Shelley Moores, owner of Bulldog Interactive Fitness in the Torbay Road Mall in St. John’s, are well-meaning parents wary of letting their children follow their noses out of doors. “Parents don’t feel as comfortable letting their kids go to their friend’s house down the road and play ball hockey as they used to because of all the stuff that happens in society now — you hear it so much there’s always that part of you that’s a bit nervous about doing it,” says the mother of two. Moores says the idea to open Bulldog — a kids-only gym — came after see-

ing similar facilities while living in Scotland. Plus, she wanted to put her kinesiology background to work. Recognizing the integral role video games play in children’s lives these days, bringing Bulldog’s collection of exercise-powered PlayStation 2 game bikes to local children was a no-brainer. Besides running games like Gran Turismo 4 by pedaling furiously on specially designed exercycles, kids also have the option of conquering Mount Everest on a rotating climbing wall, dancing up a storm with a Nintendo Wii or playing any number of sports or aerobics.

While crossing kids’ beloved video games with exercise was a big hit at Bulldog’s grand opening last week — Moores says the place was “blocked” — Stella Maguire of The Little Gym, also on Torbay Road, believes in tapping into the health benefits of children’s natural tendency to somersault, cartwheel and roll. “Just watch children at the park. You know what they’re doing? They’re hanging on bars, they’re jumping, they’re balancing, those are all gymnastics skills. Kids love to do these things. They are just drawn to our equipment,” says Maguire.

The Little Gym uses bars, vault and beam to develop motor skills, says Maguire, and has recently incorporated karate into the schedule, in addition to teaching the fundamentals of tennis and football. They also use music to help with rhythm and listening skills. Maguire says the 350 kids enrolled in the program respond to the non-competitive environment and that most of them have no idea they are actually exercising. Busy parents now need to schedule exercise time for their children, See “Lifestyle change,” page 27

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

26 • INDEPENDENTSTYLE

Odds and ends

A few hints to help you make the most of your pantry

love to eat well. That’s the main reason I was entranced by the culinary path. It seemed like a match made in heaven: I love to eat and I live to cook. But everything has its price. There is only so long I can go before I look at the grocery bills for a month and stare in disbelief at what I’ve spent. One would think there was a squad of professional eaters living under my roof. But no more. I’m tightening the belt a bit (after I punch another notch in it) and I’m going to take it easy on the old food purchases. It doesn’t mean that I won’t be having fun; it just means that I’ll cut back a bit. I’ll cut back on the heavy purchases and I’ll use up some of the things I have in the pantry before restocking with staples. My cupboards are stocked with wonders. Rice noodles in hard packages ready for a quick Asian salad. Pour boiled water over the noodles to soften them, and the salad comes to life. Add some sliced green onions, sesame seeds, julienne peppers and crunchy Asian pear, throw on a dressing of soy and toasted sesame oil and it’s a perfect side dish. This is really good with warmed fish cakes — homemade of course. Somehow, it just works. Bags of croutons from the store are

NICHOLAS GARDNER Off the Eating Path

Tomato soup is like a warm blanket on a cold day and sadly, those days are coming back really soon.

good and all, but they lack the oomph I generally like to add to the party. Since I am cutting back, but certainly not on flavour, I keep some bacon fat around for that big flavour kick. Croutons baked in the oven with a little olive oil and salt and pepper are one thing, but those same little cubes of hardened bread really soak up warmed bacon fat and the results, once golden brown, are little gems of

crunchy flavour. I recommend you try them as garnish for a fresh Caesar salad. Slightly warmed, they are both chewy and crunchy and are not to be missed. One of my weaknesses is fresh Parmesan cheese. It’s nutty and fragrant and it makes even the simplest of dishes seem like it came from a fourstar establishment. The main problem with this habit of mine is that it is a little expensive, and when it gets down to the waxy rind, I am almost afraid to part with it. Tomato soup is like a warm blanket on a cold day and sadly, those days are coming back really soon. When you’re making your soup, be it fresh or from a can, add the rind from a wedge of Parmesan as it’s cooking to release some of the nuttiness. It places a cheesy note in the soup, making the whole thing really distinctive. Just remember to remove the rind before serving. Using a near-empty mustard jar for making a salad dressing is a fantastic and easy way to eke out the remaining bits of flavour from the container. I recently finished a jar of Maille mustard with tarragon. The jar, although it looked pretty empty, still had a considerable amount of mustard remaining inside. I added some chopped shallot, about three teaspoons of red wine

vinegar, three tablespoons of olive oil and a little salt and pepper. I put the top back on the jar containing all those fine parts and gave a shake around and that was it. Drizzled over some local bib lettuce and a couple cut tomatoes — it was a very simple salad and was ready for the table. The last tip involves mason jars. I’ve used them on occasion for everything from having a drink to shaking up a salad dressing. But how about a martini? For those of you who haven’t made a purchase of a sleek stainless shaker,

a mason jar works just as well. Unscrew the cap, pack it with ice, and add the ingredients for the drink. After it has been shaken or stirred — I’ll let you decide which is best — pour into suitably chilled glasses. Pouring can sometimes be a mess, but if you use a tablespoon to hold back the ice, all will be forgiven. Nicholas Gardner is a freelance writer and erstwhile chef living in St. John’s. Nicholas.gardner@gmail.com

Spring styles soft, floating NEW YORK By Bernadette Morra Torstar wire service

rab yourself a tablecloth and knot it at your neck and knees. Now you’re ready for spring/summer 2008. OK, not quite, but you get the drift. The direction for spring according to the designers showing at MercedesBenz Fashion Week is soft, romantic and light. And why not? There’s enough harsh reality on the news and in the streets. Might as well keep the fashion spirits up, up, up. And that is just where some of the bubble coats and dresses looked as though they were headed — into the clouds. The stiff couture drama of fall has relaxed into a somewhat leaner silhouette. There is still volume, but it has settled into a soft egg shape, which somehow seems to make more sense. Or maybe it’s just that our eyes have adjusted. Vera Wang took the fluidity of the toga as an evening look for her collection, inspired by ancient Rome. She swagged, rolled and scrunched silk jersey, wool gauze and metallic basket weaves with a papery or wrinkled finish. Sapphire-blue jersey spilled from one shoulder of a dress at Generra, designed by one-time Toronto Fashion Incubator resident Pina Ferlisi. Unstructured anoraks, all over the runways here, also had that nonchalant attitude. Jersey rippled like drapery on Doo. ri Chung’s dresses and tulle cocoons veiled silk sheaths. “That’s all the buyers want to see — dresses,” said Erin Leslie of Jeremy Laing. Some seem straight out of a ’70s French Vogue shoot by Guy Bourdin, one of the influences cited often by designers for next spring. Shorts are prevalent as a modern suit staple. Jackets are still cropped and shrunken, as are coat sleeves. Vests are worn singly or layered. And embellishment continues — how else to distinguish between a designer’s signature collection and their lower-priced interpretations for the fast-fashion chains? You’ll find minuscule feathers and gold leaf in Proenza Schouler’s main line, but not at Target.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTSTYLE • 27

Girls gone wild

There’s nothing wrong with a little sibling rivalry — as long as you follow the rules

e had rules growing up. Us girls were ignored when we fought but not when we pushed each other. Pushing was never allowed. That made fighting interesting — pulling someone to the ground is more challenging than having the laws of physics and gravity work in your favour. We weren’t allowed to throw things either. My mother figured we might toss something that would be harmless if it hit the back of an unsuspecting head, but dangerous if the intended victim suddenly turned around and took a smuck in the eye. The last rule wasn’t about fighting, though I think it was made to prevent it: never date your sister’s ex. The baby in our family of five kids was male and our rules didn’t apply to him. He wasn’t the fighting kind for one thing. For another, my mother figured there was no chance of him dating one of his sibling’s old flames. Except for a scattered poke or pinch from the youngest girl, he was generally spared our wrath. We were never told we couldn’t get dirty or wet, and often we were both. We

PAM PARDY GHENT

Seven-day talk played in the gully and on the tracks by our home and regularly fell (or were pulled — not pushed) to the ground or into the pond, yet my mother says we were all precious darlings growing up. I suppose we were — at times. We knew how to behave in public. When my parents took us to church or out visiting we could be puffed, ribboned and frilled up. But when we were home, we played hard and were hard on each other. My older sister and I fought like proverbial cats and dogs. Since we couldn’t throw things we hit one another with whatever we could get our hands on. One Christmas we each received a sewing machine. The only time I used mine was when I was smacking my sister with it. I still can’t sew a button on a shirt without flinching. There was more than one door torn off its hinges in the midst of some battle, and the glass panes leading to our rec

room had a few body parts put through them as we tried to get at one other through a saucily locked door. While we were pretty bad, we weren’t the only female scrappers in our clan. Two of my cousins fought so much over the one window in their shared room that my aunt stormed in one day with an axe and an attitude. They thought they were goners. But instead of maiming the young warriors, my aunt took aim at the wall and didn’t stop until both girls had their very own window, kind of. A contractor was called and since he had to fix the wall anyway, he turned their big room into two smaller ones. They still fought — just not over a window. Clothing and footwear were areas of non-constructive contention in our home. We were always wearing, or trying to wear, something that wasn’t ours. Many mornings one of us would sneak out to the bus stop wearing a forbidden item. If caught, the stolen clothing would be ripped off right there in the yard. If you were sly enough to make it on the bus, you were safe — once we were off our property we knew to behave.

Two of my cousins fought so much over the one window in their shared room that my aunt stormed in one day with an axe and an attitude. The rush of an ambush was part of the fun and I sometimes let a sister make it out of the house only to pounce on the front steps. Despite such mayhem, we were all quite close. Having siblings means you always have a playmate as well as a rival, and we valued both. We rarely told on one another since we were all guilty of something. We never held grudges and no one ever really won. The fighting lessened as we aged, though I admit we fell into old patterns a time or two long after we had stopped brawling regularly. Two sisters almost beheaded each other over a pair of old, smelly sneakers

TASTE

Conquer your fear of flatbread By Susan Sampson Torstar wire service

f I urge you to make naan, do you promise not to run away screaming? This Indian flatbread, normally baked in a tandoori oven, has been adapted for the grill. Making it is ridiculously easy — and gratifying. GRILLED NAAN Adapted from Ricardo magazine. Use any spice blend that appeals to you. I made one naan cross-cultural with dukka (an addictive Middle-Eastern nut and spice blend) and sprinkled another with an Indian barbecue rub. If you don’t have a stand mixer, blend the dough in a food processor, preferably with a plastic blade. • 1 cup lukewarm water • 1 tbsp each: extra-virgin olive oil, honey • 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus • extra for dusting • 1/2 tsp instant quick-rise yeast • 1 tsp sea salt • 2 tbsp melted butter • Spice blend to taste (optional) In large measuring cup, stir together water,

Lifestyle change From page 25 she adds. “We tend to drive our kids everywhere, they’re not used to walking and we tend to lead more sedentary lives,” she says. “With all of our electronic stuff like computers and TVs and that sort of thing, it’s much easier to just sit on the couch than to go outside. It’s a lifestyle change,” she says. At Bulldog, exercise is a must for any child in the building. Between the electronic dance pads to the smoothie bar and back to the game of Dodgeball in the gym, Moores says the sweat is “just pouring off” the youngsters. And staff don’t put up with lazy boys or girls, either. “Kids can’t just come here and slack off. It will not turn into a hangout.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

oil and honey. Using stand mixer fitted with dough hook, briefly mix 2-1/2 cups flour, yeast and salt. Add water mixture. Blend on medium speed just until dough forms a ball. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead five minutes, until smooth. Pat into ball. Place in medium, lightly oiled bowl. Cover top of bowl with damp kitchen cloth. Let sit in warm spot until doubled, about one hour.

Preheat barbecue to high. On floured surface, divide dough into four pieces. Shape each piece into uneven discs seven or eight inches in diameter. Grill naans on oiled grate, uncovered, about one minute per side, or until lined with grill marks and cooked through. Brush each naan on both sides with melted butter. Sprinkle one side of each naan with spice blend (if desired). Serve warm. Makes four.

long after both had graduated from high school. I smacked one sister so hard with the phone she flunked on the floor and I thought I had her killed. We had boyfriends waiting outside at the time and were much too old to be battling. I never fought (physically) with any sister after that. We can’t believe how rough we were with one another back then. While I have an only child, my sisters all have a few kids each and we get a kick out of how much the rules have changed. Fighting is forbidden altogether to this new generation, though I have witnessed a few slaps, pinches and pokes as my nieces and nephews explore the wild, wild world of siblings. The last time us girls got together we reminisced about those rough survivalof-the-fittest days and agreed it was a bit much. We concluded we were trying to find our place in the world and left it at that. It wasn’t that bad, I suppose. After all, we knew — and followed — the rules. Sort of. No one was pushed (usually), no one had anything thrown at them (mostly) and as for that last rule — these lips are forever sealed.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

28 • INDEPENDENTSPECIAL SECTION

Buy Local. SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS IN NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

Hayward Interiors: making dream homes reality for 35 years

ayward Interiors is celebrating its 35th year in business, and owner Connie Hayward couldn’t be more excited. “We started out as a decorating business and grew into what we have here today,” Hayward says with pride. When Hayward began her career, she was entering a field that presented many challenges. “Trying to find places to purchase accessories was certainly interesting,” she says. Finding something a little different back then was often difficult. “Everyone had one of the five colours of Castle Twist carpet and that was it when it came to floor covering,” she laughs. “We worked with what we had.” Hayward turned her need for variety into a growth opportunity for her decorating business. “Little by little we expanded into lamps, furnishings, draperies and a host of other home furnishing accessories.” Times have certainly changed, says Hayward. “We bring in stock from all over the world and we can compete with anyone,” she says. This variety means that Hayward’s has a wide range of decorating options available at every possible price point. “We have always been known for our quality but that does not always translate into being expensive,” she says. Without

compromising their high standards, Hayward says the store has been able to stock products that suit almost every budget. Hayward has been hands on from day one, and one of the benefits of her hard work has been the thrill of seeing the next generation of clients enter her store. “When someone comes in and they want a room put together and I remember them as a little one coming in here with their own mom and dad, well then that shows that we must be doing something right,” she beams. Hayward Interiors is so much more than a furniture store. “We will go into your home and put together anything from one room to the entire house, from the lighting to the layout,” she says. Many customers consult the store in the planning stages, before the home is even constructed. “Sometimes people struggle with where the plumbing should be placed or how large or small a window should be,” she says. A consultation with Hayward or one of her staff will ensure your home is what you intended it to be. “We can help with all projects, big or small; new space or an old space that needs to be updated. Ceramic tile, hardwood, taps, appliances, draperies … we provide the full package.”

Connie Hayward

Hayward Interiors can even put your dream room together in-store, so you can get a feel for what it might look like in your home. “Gone are the story board days when we used to just sketch it out,” Hayward says. Now you can see, feel, experience, rearrange and use items before you buy. Everything from the pictures on the wall to the rugs on the floor, she says, can be moved and switched until a customer is happy with the result. With the tremendous amount of stock the staff have at their fingertips and the sewing room where they make custom draperies, Hayward says making a dream home a reality is just a visit away. Of course, styles have changed over the years — so much so that sometimes the old is new again. “Patterns are creeping back in style now on furnishings,” she says. “But most of all, people just want something

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

that suits them, and something with longevity.” Choice and quality are the Hayward Interiors specialty, Hayward says, and the business continues to grow and expand, 35 years after first opening its doors. “Staying competitive means we need to have products available, and that means we need space,” she says. Part of the Hayward Interiors experience is the delivery. “We don’t just drop off your furnishings. We will hang your pictures, fluff your pillows, put the duvet cover on the bed and light the lamps.” They also take extra special care to find room for your treasured keepsakes among the new additions. “Oftentimes, it’s the old things that make a home special, and we certainly appreciate that,” she says. Hayward expresses her gratitude to all

the customers that have trusted their homes to them over the years. She says she is also thrilled each time someone new walks through the doors. “Our homes are our private sanctuaries and at the same time they can be very public places,” she says. That Hayward Interiors has been a part of so many lives across the province is reason enough to celebrate. That’s why, Hayward says, there will be many activities going on at the store throughout the fall. “Keep your eyes open for our special events and drop by and visit. We want to take some time to celebrate that we have been around for 35 wondrous years thanks to those who brought us into their homes.” Find out more about Hayward`s by visiting the store at 203 Kenmount Rd. or online at www.haywardinteriors.com pamelamichpardy@yahoo.com

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

INDEPENDENTSTYLE • 29

Breasts that defy nature’s careful order By Antonia Zerbisias Torstar wire service

hrow away the push-up bra! Enough with the push-ups! An Israeli company is developing a new way to hoist those hooters, using pigs to test its Cup & Up, an internal silicone set of shelves attached to the ribs with threads and screws. And you thought your underwire was killing you? Well, what with everything else being sucked and tucked, why not an internal bra? After all, you can pump up until the cows come home and nothing will stop the drop. I mean, have you seen Ah-nold lately? The fact that breasts have nowhere to go but down is just one reason that Victoria’s Secret is no secret — and boob

jobs are the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the world. Women try to fight sag with lifts and/or implants, invasive and painful procedures. What’s more, there are no guarantees. “Statistics show that about eight per cent of American women who undergo breast-lifts end up filing malpractice suits due to sagging,’’ inventor Dr. Eyal Gur told Israel21c, a U.S.-based non-profit agency that puts out positive news about Israel. “Our device is safer than breast surgery and will prevent the need for these women to undergo a second invasive procedure.” Women have been trying to “lift and separate” well before multi-millionaire aviator Howard Hughes cantilevered Jane Russell’s assets for takeoff in The Outlaw. Contrary to myth, the bra-burning days of the late ’60s were mostly

symbolic — although they did radicalize fashion for awhile. That’s because women were either bouncing around braless, or in the no-bra-bras that manufacturers rushed to market in order to salvage their drooping sales. Now women have more choices than ever, with backless, T-strap, one-shoulder, halter and convertible options. You can get a bra cut to your navel if needed, or one that thrusts your ta-tas right up to your chin. A good thing, too, because if the explosion of bra options in the DD-JJ range are any indication, women’s cups runneth over. And, what with the obesity epidemic, not to mention hormones, PCBs and other endocrine disrupters leaking into the water supply, men’s might, too. “Hey George, what d’you like better?

The Bro, or The Manssiere?” But seriously ... So much of the meds we swallow leak into the oceans that, as The Scientist reported last week, sharks are testing positive for the anti-depressant Zoloft. Okay, so happy sharks are not necessarily a bad thing. But consider this: Last week The Guardian picked up on news from the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme that, in some Arctic villages in Russia, Greenland and, yes, Canada, girl babies are outnumbering boys as much as two to one. In one community, only girls are being born. Scientists attribute this to the scary levels of man-made chemicals in the blood of pregnant women. Closer to home, in a lake in northwestern Ontario last spring, biologists were

alarmed by what happened to the fish population after they dropped a tiny amount of the same synthetic estrogen used in the Pill. The male fathead minnows started to look like females, and instead of producing sperm, they churned out eggs. All over the world, the warning signs are there. Male fertility rates are dropping. Girls are getting chestier. And, coming full circle, some estrogenic chemicals seem to promote obesity. But, thanks to Israeli innovation, we soon might all torch our bras, stand at attention and never again need a tray to hold our hormone-laced burgers in fastfood joints. And while we’re strutting our perkier stuff around, we can all forget that this is Mother Nature’s way of telling us what udder boobs we are.

Repulsion returns with Marc Jacobs’ show By Bernadette Morra Torstar wire service

Essential reading for food guide fans By Jennifer Bain Torstar wire service

he New Whole Grains Cookbook: Terrific Recipes Using Farro, Quinoa, Brown Rice, Barley and Many Other Delicious and Nutritious Grains The author: Robin Asbell is an American chef, food writer and cooking teacher specializing in natural foods. The book: Softcover, 167 pages, colour recipe photos, 75+ recipes, Chronicle, 2007, $24.95. The food: Breakfast, bread, warm/cold side, soup/dumpling, entrée, dessert dishes that revolve around familiar (whole wheat, oats, rice) and still exotic (farro, teff) whole grains. The point: You really should replace your white bread/rice dishes with hearty whole-grain versions. The quote: “In the last hundred years, our taste for refined foods has gotten the better of us. In stripping off the nutritious outer layers of the few grains we continue to consume, we throw out the minerals, antioxidants, and fibre, keeping only the quick-burning starches and a bit of protein. White

bread and white rice are the only grains most Americans eat.” The good: Primers on 14 grains are fascinating and easy to digest. Nutrition information on 17 grains is appreciated. Three pages on cooking grains outlines cleaning, soaking and toasting, plus six cooking methods (absorption, baking, steaming, pasta-style, pressure and automatic rice cookers). The importance of the final steam is stressed. The bad: I have yet to find fault here. The recipes are well-written and to my taste. The bottom line: Essential reading for those keen to abide by Canada’s Food Guide recommendation that we make at least half of our daily grain products whole grain. The recipes: Sweet Breakfast Tabouli With Dried Plums, Sweet Potato-Cheddar Biscuits, Persian Spiced Rice With Crispy Potato Crust, Millet-Cauliflower “Mashed Potatoes,” Indian Red Rice Pualo With Pistachios, Whole Wheat Potato Gnocchi With Truffle Oil and Mushrooms, Composed Salad of Grains With Hazelnut Vinaigrette, Spicy Yellow Split Pea Quinoa Dal, French Lamb and Rye Berry Braise, Maple Oat Crisps.

epulsion. Every time I feel it, I know I am witnessing a fashion shift. It happened in Paris in 1990 when Karl Lagerfeld showed nothing but black leggings with all of his jackets for Chanel. It happened again in New York two years later with Marc Jacobs’ grunge collection that got him fired from Perry Ellis. But unkempt, casual dressing came to define the end of the 20th century. I was repulsed again by Jacobs last week, this time by half-finished prom dresses, skirts that went only three-quarters of the way around the legs, underwear printed on georgette track pants, silly string fringe, bizarrely reconfigured footwear and cobwebby hair. Jacobs is making us all crazy — and not just with his clothes. The hordes that had arrived at the Armoury for his 9 p.m. show were told to come back in an hour. The photographers still hadn’t been let in and backstage staff were

milling around the stage door, chatting and smoking. All bad signs. At 10:50, as I sat in my seat watching the hysteria ignited by the arrival of Victoria Beckham, I received a text message from photographer Vince Talotta. He had reached the end of his rope. “Never again,” the message read. I typed back: “It’s like childbirth. You’ll forget the pain.” The show began a full two hours late. It played out in reverse, starting with Jacobs bounding out to take his bow and followed by the finale procession of 56 models. As the models wandered Stefan Beckman’s set, wearing sheer panels over satin bras and panties, a video captured earlier by artist Charles Atlas displayed the same girls in their underwear. The suggestion that Jacobs’ collection redefines what’s sexy made some crazy, too. “If that’s sexy, I’m switching teams,” Talotta bellowed. “Those young girls in those clothes sexy? That’s jail time.” But put a body like Beckham’s in the dishevelled peek-a-boo dresses and Talotta might think differently.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

30 • INDEPENDENTSTYLE

EVENTS

Submit your events to Kayla Email: kayla.joy@theindependent.ca Phone: (709) 726-INDY (4639) Fax: (709) 726-8499

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 • Fall Bellydance classes, every day until Oct. 1, The School of Dance, 163 Water St., 738-0931. • Sinatra on the Rocks, dinner and show, Majestic Theatre, Duckworth Street, St. John’s, 7 p.m. • Chris Hennessey 5:15-8:15 p.m., and The Navigators 11:30 p.m., O’Reilly’s, George Street, St. John’s. • Uh Oh Canada, a selection of work by Bill Rose, opening reception at Christina Parker Gallery, 7 Plank Road, St. John’s, 5:30-8 p.m. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 • Pretending Your Vote Counts, a weekly comedy wrap-up of all things provincially electoral featuring Berni Stapleton, Sean Panting, Neil Butler and Aiden Flynn. Show also runs Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 8 p.m. at the Rabbittown theatre, 739-8220. • Family fun day, entertainment, barbecue and fun for the whole family, Bowring Park, St. John’s, 1-4 p.m., 754-1399. • Rock ’n Jazz with Billy & the Bruisers, Majestic Theatre, Duckworth Street, St. John’s, 10 p.m. • NSO Sinfonia Series: Fret Not, It’s Classical Guitar, Arts & Culture Centre, St. John’s, 8 p.m., 722-4441. • Little Hooping Harbour, a show for pre-school and elementary children, Majestic Theatre, Duckworth Street, St. John’s, 2 p.m. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 • Rummage sale, hosted by LETS Barter Network, Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Drive, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 579-5455. • Fergus O’Byrne and Jim Payne, Larry Foley and Pat Moran, The Dardanelles, and Colleen Power benefit concert, Club One, St. John’s, 7 p.m., 753-4348. • 5th Annual Pooches in the Park, an afternoon of tail wagging fun for the whole family, Bowering Park, St. John’s, 1 p.m., 738-7297. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 • Tai Chi Chih Joy Thru Movement classes for beginners and advanced with daytime and evening options in the St. John’s area, contact Sheila, 5797863, www.envision.ca/webs/taichichihnl TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 • Guitar Hero, come try your skills, beginners and experts welcome, Turner’s Tavern, Water Street, 9 p.m. • Sizzlin’ & Stylin’ Salsa, Bella Vista, Torbay Rd, St. John’s, 7-10 p.m. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 • Reading by Barbara Murray, author of Gifts and Bones, A.C. Hunter Library, St. John’s, 7 p.m. • Fall photography courses, The Studio (above Auntie Crae’s), 272 Water St., 739-0346, www.shanekellyphotography.com • Folk night with the Backyard String Band, The

Aiden Flynn, Neil Butler, Berni Stapleton and Sean Panting (not shown) are warming up for their weekly comedy wrap-up of all things provincially electoral. Show runs Sept. 22, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 8 p.m., at the Rabbittown Theatre. Each week will feature a different theme and special guest. Paul Daly/The Independent

Ship Pub, Duckworth Street, St. John’s, 9:30 p.m. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 • Book launch and celebration of publication by Maura Hanrahan, author of The Alphabet Fleet, Railway Coastal Museum, 495 Water Street West, 5-7 p.m., 739-4477. • Once in a Blue Moon, annual dinner and silent auction in support of the Craft Council Gallery, against the unique backdrop of the Johnson GEO Centre, Signal Hill Road, 753-2749. UPCOMING EVENTS • Renegade Rags, a fashion extravaganza featuring the province’s most talented young designers, Anna Templeton Centre, St. John’s, 8-11 p.m.

• Fall and Christmas bake-craft fair, refreshments served and door prize, 419 Old Broad Cove, St. Philip’s, Sept. 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • HB Creativity Workshop, hands-on tips to help you produce well-written documents and stories, led by Paul Butler, suite 304, 155 Water Street, 25 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, 753-7740, www.writingworkshop.ca • Evening with Margaret Trudeau in recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week, Trudeau will share her personal story of recovery, The Fairmont, St. John’s, Oct. 1. • Reign: YC 2007, annual youth convention featuring renowned music guests, speakers, and other entertainers, Mile One Centre, St. John’s, Oct. 5-7, registration required, www.ycnewfoundland.org. • CLB Band Reunion, CLB Armoury, Harvey Road, St. John’s, Oct. 11, 747-5701 or 579-4800. • The Alzheimer Society’s first annual Halloween Gala, sponsored by Sun Life Financial, to purchase tickets call 576-0608, Alzheimer_eventsplanner@nf.aibn.com. • St. Michael’s Printshop invites submissions from printmakers to apply for a one-month residency at St. Michael’s Printshop, 72 Harbour Dr., St. John’s, application deadline Oct. 31. ONGOING • Easter Seals seeking clothes donations, including overalls, rubber boots, fleece jackets, pajama bottoms and tops, wigs, mannequins, and canes, and volunteers over 16 years of age for Harbour Haunt 2007, contact Amanda, 754-1399, or apply

at www.easterseals.nf.ca. • All ’Round the Circle dinner theatre, The Collonade, 6 East Dr., Pleasantville, every Wednesday through Friday, 690-9929. • The Rooms, St. John’s, free admission Wednesday nights, 6-9 p.m., www.therooms.ca. • Gros Morne Theatre Festival, Main Street, Cow Head, until Sept. 15, 1-877-243-2899, www.theatrenewfoundland.com/gmtf.html. • Occupied St. John’s (book), wartime St. John’s oral history project, sponsored by the Paul Johnson Family Foundation, interviewees needed, contact 747-4113, or email k_ohare@alcor.concordia.ca. IN THE GALLERIES • Natural Energies by Anne Meredith Barry (1931–2003), including 90 works created since 1982, The Rooms, St. John’s, until Sept. 30. • The Will and Greg Show, new work by William Gill and Greg Bennett, Leyton Gallery of Fine Art, St. John’s, runs until Sept 29. • Defiant Beauty: William Hind in the Labrador Peninsula, The Rooms, St. John’s, November 10, 2007. • Uh Oh Canada, a suite of works by artist Bill Rose, at Christina Parker Gallery, Sept. 21Oct. 19. • Speaking Out of Turn, Upstarts on the Make, at the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador is a display of the fine quality of art and craft emerging from our under-30 demographic, 59 Duckworth St., Sept. 23-Oct. 27.

SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2007

What’s new in the automotive industry

FEATURED VEHICLE

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2008 Welcome to the sweet spot. It’s that stage in life’s journey when everything is in perfect balance. Work and play. Family and friends. Time for yourself. Now there’s the perfect vehicle to help bring it all together. It’s good to be here. The all new Highlander makes a strong design statement, expressing a forceful, forward-looking presence from every angle. Highlander is here to raise the bar of refinement and sophistication with expressive surfaces and dynamic forms. At first glance, you might not think there’s a seven-passenger vehicle with four-wheel drive capability wrapped inside the sleek, aerodynamic silhouette. Toyota 2008 Highlander is a 270 – hp, 3.5 – litre V6. You can find the Toyota Highlander 2008 at Toyota Plaza 73 Kenmount Rd., St. John’s. Nicholas Langor/The Independent

‘The horsepower buffet’ I

t was one of the most widely antic- curve to set as the benchmark for all ipated test drives I’ve ever done, three cars. I geared down to second, and certainly one of the most pop- hung a right into a tight, sweeping ular. Audi launched its Trans-Canada curve with a nice straight incline, and Tour at Bill Matthews gambled everything I had on Volkswagen Audi in St. the herd of ponies under the John’s recently and invited hood. She let out a roar that everyone to test drive the no one around here had ever new S-series sedans. heard from an Audi before, a Naturally, The Independent hard-thumping V-8 blast. It was permitted unrestricted was lovely and I never got access the day before the big past third gear before I was event and feted with a buffet at the fashionable lair of my of horsepower. employer. I jingled the keys MARK I was presented with three around, tempting the hardWOOD machines: the RS-4, a 420working staff until John WOODY’S Andrews, our production horsepower 4.2L V-8; the S6, a 435-horsepower 5.2L Vbravely took the WHEELS manager, 10; and the S-8, a 450-horsebait. I promised him a quick power 5.2L V-10. jaunt, long enough to drop That was more than enough work off this exquisitely hot car for another for one guy, so I relied on my co-work- even more exquisite and hotter one. ers for their opinions and observations. We hopped in the craft and I treated I took the RS-4 first, the smallest of him to a brief but exhilarating display the works, and headed to the office for of sound on the way back to the horsemy unsuspecting co-pilots. Along the power buffet. The pit crew were waitroute I looked for the perfect piece of ing for us with the S-6. They tossed us

a set of keys and we were gone again in under a couple of minutes. “What’s in this one?” asked John, a bit apprehensively. “A 435-horsepower V-10,” I replied, “and here’s my test curve coming up on the right, better hang on.” I whipped the herd again, causing a greater stampede than the last. For the second time in less than an hour, she let out a roar that no one around here had ever heard from an Audi before, a screaming V-10. A little quieter than the first, being a slightly larger and more refined vehicle, but a throaty song nonetheless — with John singing along too (something about a heart attack as I recall). He jumped out at the office and I scoured the halls for another victim. The advertising manager, Gillian Fisher, knew I was nothing but trouble but agreed to go for a spin because she loved Audis. (She’s since moved on to a more subdued line of work.) Gillian declared it was a very pretty car and I promised her an even prettier one — if that was possible.

The 2008 Audi S-8 has 450 hp 5.2L V-10.

Moments later at the horsepower buffet, my pit crew tossed me the keys to the flagship S-8, the most powerful, decadent craft in the fleet. We were thoroughly impressed and hit my curve again for the third song of the

Mark Wood photo

day, an uproar of 450-horsepower V10 Audi, previously unheard in these parts. Gillian loved roaring around in pretty Audis and that’s how I’ll always See “Power-hungry,” page 32

32 • INDEPENDENTSHIFT

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Power-hungry aficionados

Time to winterize

From page 31

remember her. I looked forward to the public debut on the following afternoon, looking to catch some first-hand reaction from the crowd, my kind of people. The finest test pilots in town all signed up to drive the new line of Audis. The place was turned into a racing paddock with talent milling about, noshing on a buffet in the showroom next to a stunning mid-engine Audi R-8. While cars and drivers shuffled in the pit-lane I teamed up with Cerith Wong, who happened to own an Audi TT, and was curious to see how the new RS4 measured up. As luck would have it, he was a highway off-ramp specialist and had the tires howling. They spoke volumes for him. Some of the other reactions: Mark Norman: “It’s a rocket.” Heather Pelley: “Handles like a cat on velcro.” It was a brilliant marketing strategy to hand over machines to the speed freaks who now hold their experience as a challenge to everything else. There may have been a race elsewhere on the island, but an afternoon amongst the crowd of powerhungry aficionados sounded like the Le Mans racetrack. A good day. Mark Wood of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s was honoured to meet his kind of people.

hat glorious Canadian driving novelty of having the heat on in the morning and the air conditioning on the afternoon can only mean one thing — it’s time to get your car ready for winter. Back in the Olden Days, my father would sniff the air and stare at the trees, trying to determine the day of the first snowfall so he could get the snow tires on. It was a game of skill and chance, but mostly it was a game. Too early or too late and you lose. But the rwrrr rwrrr rwrrr of the heavy tread on pavement meant winter was here. My father said so. The advent of year-round tires (which purists, and many not-sopurists will tell you are hogwash) has made us lazy. The changing of the tires signaled the time for a winter tune-up; many of us let that slide, and we shouldn’t. Whatever you want to call it, it’s a good time of year for a basic check of your vehicle. The first thing you should do?

Read your owner’s manual. have burned out. Sounds basic, but it’s a great startIf you’ve been using that pink ing point for information and bug windshield squirter stuff, direction. If you’re not a do-it- remember that it freezes at 0 yourselfer, the listed recommenda- degrees. Get it flushed out and tions should jibe with replaced with the approwhat a good mechanic priate blue stuff before tells you he is checking that first frosty morning, for you. which is probably only a If you stick with allfew days away. Store an season tires, make sure extra jug or two in the they’re in good shape. If trunk. you opt for snow tires, Your mechanic will go with all four. Have check all the fluids, top LORRAINE your tires rotated and up what’s low and SOMMERFELD your brakes checked. replace what’s no good. For tires and brakes, Antifreeze must be good 80,000 km is a kind of to 45 degrees below zero. magic number. If not, a flush and fill will Depending on your be required. While many driving habits, expect to engine oils are also constart putting some money out by sidered year-round, consult your this point. Make sure your spare owner’s manual for your best tire is full of air. Make sure you option. Canada is considered an know where your spare tire is “extreme weather” area, so that’s kept. the section to check. Our vast temTest the heater and defrosters perature fluctuations can lead to now. Do a check of all electrical deterioration of components, espesystems and make sure no bulbs cially those made of rubber and

POWER SHIFT

plastic. You can’t always see the cracks and splits, but timely maintenance is always cheaper, and safer, than costly repair. Manufacturers are now coming out with year-round wiper blades. Covered in rubber sheathing, they protect the mechanism from a build up of ice and snow. Anyone who’s blasted away at the blades with an ice chipper knows how easily destroyed many blades can be. The rubber component also provides better contact with the windshield. While these blades cost about fifteen dollars more than standard ones, they’ll pay for themselves on that first terrifying drive home in the first snow storm. You can’t drive if you can’t see. Finally, clean your car. Vacuum it out before whatever is rolling around now becomes mixed with ice and snow. Install winter mats, and keep the exterior clean. You’ll be leaning against that muck as you scrape snow before you know it. www.lorraineonline.ca

WEEKLY DIVERSIONS ACROSS 1 Orca families 5 The basics 9 Miss in the highlands 13 Thailand, once 17 Musical work 18 Satiate 19 PC operator 20 Tramp 21 Front office area 23 Bewildered 25 It does a bang-up job 26 Litter’s smallest 27 Neat 28 Fuming 29 Prod 30 Evergreen 31 Rascal 32 Alta. town with “world’s first UFO landing pad” 35 Was not off his rocker 36 The gift of the ___ 37 B.C.’s official bird: Steller’s ___ 40 Loon (Fr.) 41 U.S. magazine with Canadian ads (2 wds.) 44 Similar 45 Supporter 46 Foil relative 47 Prov. with most thunderstorms 48 The Edible ___ (Atwood) 49 Gambling cube 50 Small nail 51 Wife’s title 52 To and ___

53 Organized massacre, esp. of Jews 55 Like a fox 56 National Ballet founder 59 Possesses 60 Ribonucleic acid 61 Potter’s material 62 Leap on one foot 64 Norwegian composer 67 Giant N. Zealand bird, once 68 Demonstrative pronoun 69 Frédérique’s father 70 Jerry’s ___, Nfld. 71 Decapod crustacean (2 wds.) 73 Much, in music 74 Victoria summer time 75 “The Grey ___” 76 Bowler 77 Rower, famous 19th c. Canadian athlete 78 Prov. with Anglo Tignish 79 Teen dance 81 Ward 82 White heron 85 Fellow (esp. Brit.) 86 It replaced the lira 87 Purse 90 Knickknacks 92 Large Ontario park 94 Johann Sebastian___ 95 Our first female police officer: ___ Fortune 96 Quebec’s official flower: ___ flag iris

CHUCKLE BROS

SOLUTION ON PAGE 34

97 Language of Pakistan 98 Peter Pan pirate 99 Inspires reverence 100 Ogles 101 Young falcon DOWN 1 Halifax, e.g. 2 Not closed 3 Conduit 4 Wind dir. 5 Real 6 Venetian ___ 7 Marsh bird 8 With: prefix 9 Maritime wildflower 10 Remark to the audience 11 Hot 12 ___ Lanka 13 Natty 14 Minute amount 15 Drive the getaway car 16 With ice cream: à la ___ 22 Arrogant 24 An arm or a leg 27 S. American monkey 29 Breeder of the Yukon Gold potato: ___ Johnston 30 Lacking colour 31 A Hanomansing 32 Spring fish in N.B. 33 Spring flower 34 Archaic: prefix 35 Stepped on it 36 Famish ___, Nfld. 37 James, for some

38 Shortened alias 39 Japanese capital 41 Unwanted e-mail ads 42 Conservative 43 OR personnel 44 Ontario’s official bird: common ___ 46 Embodiment of love 48 “King Kong” actress 50 Boast 51 Provincial rep. 52 Campus club 54 Clarified butter 55 Yukon town with record coldest temperature 56 Love handles 57 Calgarian who invented the Bloody Caesar: Walter ___ 58 Main artery 60 Inventor of a better whistle: ___ Foxcroft 61 Have a conversation 63 Drudge 64 Econ. indicator 65 Slender bar 66 Believer: suffix 67 Blend 68 Streetcar 69 Garden feature 71 Japanese carp 72 Cut into pieces 73 First woman in NHL: ___ Rhéaume 75 Greek cheese 77 Men of courage 78 Peach, to Pierre 79 Stage

80 Off to the ___! 81 Composition of 94A 82 Recedes 83 Small metric weight

84 Basmati 85 Black bird 86 “FBFW” mother 87 Cover with earth

88 Verdi opera 89 Lions’ prey 91 Italian town, “slow food” centre

92 Canadian chess grandmaster: ___ Yanofsky 93 Prov. seven times UK’s size

Brian and Ron Boychuk

WEEKLY STARS ARIES (MAR. 21 TO APR. 19) Although practical situations continue to dominate this week, there’s time for the Lamb to indulge in the fun things in life — like maybe taking a special someone out for a great evening. TAURUS (APR. 20 TO MAY 20) This week favours relationships. Take time to renew old ones, and make time to go where new friends can be found. On a more practical note, expect news about a business deal. GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) You should be seeing some progress on that new workplace situation. Meanwhile, family matters might demand more attention, and you’ll want to set aside time to deal with them. CANCER

(JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) A relationship might suddenly present some challenges you never expected. After talking things out, you might want to consider taking some time to assess what you’ve learned. LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) A disappointing response to a request might dampen the Lion’s spirits. But you might want to ask about the reasons behind it. What you learn can be of great importance in a future undertaking. VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) A once-volatile situation should be settled by now, giving you a chance to refocus on a project you’ve been planning for. Look for an interested party to rally for your support. LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22)

A business matter that unexpectedly turns into a personal situation could create complications. Best to resolve the matter now before too much harm can be done. SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) Emotions can run high when they involve personal matters no one really wants to talk about. But this could be a good time to create the means to a workable outcome. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) A positive response to a workplace request could lead the way to other long-sought changes. Congratulations. A personal situation also takes a welcome turn. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) Patience pays off, as that onceoverwhelming work situation continues to become easier to handle on a one-by-one basis. Look for

positive news from a colleague. AQUARIUS (JAN.20 TO FEB. 18) It might be a good idea to take more time to reassess your next move in working out a complex situation. You could benefit from a new perspective on the matter. PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MAR. 20) You might want to consider making time to discuss a change of plans with everyone concerned. Be prepared to explain your actions. Also be prepared to listen to alternatives. YOU BORN THIS WEEK: You have a strong sense of what is right, and you try to work from that foundation. Friends see you as reliable. (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 34

INDEPENDENTSPORTS

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2007 — PAGE 33

Cape to Cabot race director Pete Soucy takes to the trails at Cape Spear.

Paul Daly/The Independent

Run for the hills

Inaugural Cape Spear-Cabot Tower road race promises lovely scenery and plenty of tough climbs By Brian Callahan The Independent

his is one race where the finish line — weather permitting — is within sight from the start. But that’s certainly no indication of ease. In fact, the inaugural Cape (Spear) to Cabot (Tower) 20-kilometre running race will be as much a test of one’s endurance as any in the province. One might think just the thought of a Signal Hill climb after already logging 19 kilometres would dissuade even the most seasoned runner. Not so, says race director Pete Soucy. The 250 spots were snapped up online as word spread, and there’s another

150 runners on the waiting list. Soucy expects the race to expand to at least 500 next year, after the first-year bugs and logistics are worked out. The race is set to begin 8 a.m. Oct. 21 at Cape Spear. The route follows the winding, hilly main road to Southside Road, where runners turn right and travel a few hundred metres to a water station and portable toilets. They then turn back and cross the bridge to Water Street where they continue to the harbourfront, up Prescott Street to Duckworth and straight to Signal Hill Road. Soucy says the original plan was to continue along Water Street to Temperance Street and on up Signal

Hill. “But the construction downtown put a crimp in those plans,” says Soucy, also the brainchild of the event. “This may well become the permanent route, though, because it does give runners a bit of a break before reaching Signal Hill. It takes the continuous rise out of it.” Soucy only picked up the running bug himself a few years ago, “feeling muddy of mind, creaky of joint, and short of energy.” He eventually advanced to the point that he qualified for and ran the Boston marathon in 2005. Locally, however, he began seeking out more of a challenge.

He was somewhat surprised to learn the beautifully scenic and challenging route from two major historic sites had never been proposed before. “It just seemed like such a natural idea — from Cape Spear to Cabot Tower. It’s a great distance and a very scenic course, albeit a very tough one,” Soucy tells The Independent. He also expects the high profile start and finish will entice runners from outside the province to compete. But Soucy doesn’t see the Cape to Cabot race as competition for the established Tely 10 summer race. “I think the Tely 10 is more of a speed thing, you know? We’re expecting a certain quality of runner because

of the difficulty of this race. “People are doing it for the challenge of finishing it, not for the time. There’s no question the lead runners will be going for it … but it’s a very difficult course to race.” That said, Soucy expects all 250 entrants to be serious, with few, if any, walkers. The race, the 17th and last in the Newfoundland and Labrador Athletics Association’s championship series, also marks the first to be organized by the Athletics NorthEAST running club. “It is the first race for our group, as far as hosting goes, so we’re learning

gible for the MLB draft, Bannister is close enough to this long-time dream now to taste it. According to the pitcher, he’s ranked 20th among Canadians eligible for the draft, and says the people he trusts are convinced he’ll be taken. “It was a tough decision,” he admitted. “It took me pretty much all summer. I talked to a couple of scouts, Walt Burrows being one of them. He’s the head scout for MLB Canada. “When you get to the next level, you realize Walt Burrows really knows his stuff. He gives me the best advice possible.” Bannister left for B.C. three years ago, to attract college scouts. He obviously did more than that. He also

attracted major league scouts. And while there may be a lot of head shaking over a decision to turn down an American scholarship said to be worth $35,000 over three years, it’s not like Bannister is putting all his baseballs in one glove. He is, after all, returning to university in B.C., where he’ll continue to combine education and athletics and hope that one day that dream of playing major league ball comes true. “I’m going to get a good education out of it. I’m halfway through a phys ed degree. If I don’t get drafted this year, I’ve got a good education to fall back on and a bunch of friends out in B.C.”

See “Medals,” page 34

The main man

Bannister rejects Black Bears scholarship, but hopes to be key pitcher in B.C.

ou know a baseball pitcher is being counted on heavily when he starts Game One of his team’s playoff series. That pitcher becomes even more important when two of your other key guys are out of action. Such is the case of Matt Bannister, the lanky right-hander who led Shamrocks to that first game win, a 7-5 victory over Gonzaga Tuesday. Bannister’s four-hitter got lost in a shabby relief effort, but he returned to save his own victory. The thing for Shamrocks is that Bannister wasn’t expected to be wearing green and gold in September. The 20-year-old with the high-80s fastball had secured and accepted a scholarship to the University of Maine, to pitch for

DON POWER

Power Point the Black Bears in Orono. At this time of year, Mario Tee and Bobby Kent figured heavily in the Shamrocks’ plans for another title. Bannister? Part of the team? Yes. In the team photo? No. But after a summer at St. Pat’s — and months of mulling over his prospects — Bannister has rejected the Maine scholarship, and is returning to British Columbia in January.

It was in Kamloops, with the Thompson River University Wolf Pack, that Bannister was first discovered by baseball scouts. And it’s in British Columbia where he figures his best chances of getting drafted by Major League Baseball lie. “This is my make or break year,” Bannister said Sept. 15, before that four-hit outing. “It basically came down to that.” Bannister says Walt Burrows — Major League Baseball’s Canadian scout — convinced him to return to Kamloops, where the right people will get to see him pitch plenty of innings. For Bannister, it was that simple. Yes, Maine offers a great opportunity, but with 2008 being his first year eli-

See “At the end,” page 34

34 • INDEPENDENTSPORTS

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Open season Paul Smith reflects on three decades of duck hunting

n Sept. 13, I indulged in my 31st opening day of duck season. I haven’t missed daylight breaking in the eastern sky on that very special day in 31 years straight. Plenty has changed over three decades. Obviously I’ve gotten older, but the drive to be out there in whatever conditions Mother Nature might serve up remains deeply rooted within me. Shooting irons and ammo have certainly changed. I started out with my dad’s old single-shot Iver Johnson 36inch barreled 12 gauge, shooting lead shot through an extremely tight choke. That old clunker was long and clumsy but threw a tighter shot pattern at long range than any of the modern and more expensive shotguns I’ve had the opportunity to take afield. But one shot just wouldn’t do. At 17, I bought myself a Remington 870 pump action, a beautifully crafted firearm that served me well for years. I experimented and tinkered with various double barrels, both side-by-side and over-and-under, but always gravitated back to the Remington Pump. While the aged and well-worn Remington still shoots like new and holds a place in my heart, I’ve caved in to the modern world and gone semi-auto. The seduction of three shots as fast as one can pull the trigger just got the better of me. For years I argued semi-autos were unreliable and susceptible to jams under exposure to harsh environments (snow,

PAUL SMITH

The Rock

Outdoors sleet, bitter cold, etc.). This was, and may still be true of some semi-autos, but certainly not all. Modern high quality semi-automatic shotguns are extremely robust and function flawlessly for thousands of rounds in the most extreme conditions. For the past five years my hunting buddy Robert and I have been shooting Beretta 391s, extremely well balanced and dependable gas operated firearms. From the old world factories of Beretta, Benelli, and Franchi, Italy produces some of the finest shotguns on the planet. Berretta has been in business since 1526. They must have learned something in five centuries of gun making and I’m happy to take full advantage of their experience. The shells we put in those shotguns have evolved even more than the guns themselves. For waterfowl, my father swore by Imperial special long-range shot shells. Remember those dark blue high brass cartridges? Dad had convinced me of their power and for a few years I used them exclusively and without question. Then three-in magnums hit the market and I had to give those a try. I experienced bigger bangs, bruised shoulders

Medals ‘as thick as coasters’ From page 33 the ropes a bit. We’ve been in a lot of races, but never organized one. And we wanted to raise the bar a little, too … offer a bit more, ya know?” Logistically, there were some obvious — and not-so-obvious — obstacles to overcome. “Since it is a new course, we had to look at traffic flow and things like that. And we had to look at transportation issues, too,” Soucy says. “That’s kind of why we had to keep the numbers low for the first year, until we see how everything goes.” Metrobus is a key sponsor, offering free shuttle service to Cape Spear, while Aliant — near the base of Signal Hill — is offering the use of its parking lot for participants’ vehicles. Metrobus is also looking after the water station. Other major sponsors include Scotiabank/ScotiaMcleod, Russell Solutions for crossword on page 32

and maybe a few more dead ducks. Honestly, on reflection, I’m doubtful about the ducks. I’ve kind of grown out of the bigger-is-better stage, and now suspect that I should have listened to my father and saved all that wear and tear on my shoulder. Then I discovered reloading and had a stint at custom ammo tailored to the needs of yours truly. It was fun and informative, putting to rest forever my obsession with super-duper powder burners. I loaded efficient rounds that killed ducks without dislocating my collar bone. In the ’90s it became mandatory to use non-toxic shot for waterfowl everywhere in Canada. Everything changed. For quite a while the only feasible alternative to lead was steel and it took the ammo makers more than a few years to get it right. To be effective steel has to leave the barrel at an extremely high speed. New powders were developed and loads tested until finally steel proved effective, at least at moderate range. But at longer ranges, it pales in comparison to the old reliable lead, and I suspect it always will. In recent years more effective nontoxic lead substitutes have become readily available, although they’re all quite pricey in comparison. But I look at it this way: ducks aren’t particularly plentiful here on the Rock and hunters put in many hours of stomping though bog and bush to get just a scattered shot at waterfowl. You might as well sling the best

Paul Smith photo

pellets available. To me the good stuff is worth the extra coin. To name a few, there’s Remington Hevi-Shot, Bismuth, and Kent Tungsten Matrix. I’ve been shooting Kent for four years now and can attest to its effectiveness: it’s probably better than lead. Where it all goes from here we’ll just have to wait and see. Hopefully the new non-toxics will fall in price as more hunters adopt them. Finally, and most dramatically, the weather is changing. Our falls are most

definitely getting warmer. In 31 years of hunting I’ve never seen it as hot as opening day 2007. I left home at 5 a.m. on my quad, and boy was it ever cold. The stars were out and the air was crisp. At least that’s the way it felt zipping along the old rail. Robert and I sat on a high hill and waited for daylight. The plan was to scan the ponds around us with our binoculars until we spotted a few birds. The first rays of light revealed a bull and cow moose feeding on the hillside just 50 yards from where we sat. Moist air exhaled from their nostrils, leaving a visible trail of water droplets. All was tranquil, cool and very autumnish. But when the sun peeked over the horizon, the thermometer shot up like a geyser. By mid-morning we had shot a few ducks and were sitting by the side of the pond with sweat rolling off our brows. Walk and stalk duck hunting isn’t easy in fall temperatures more typical of Arizona. Flies buzzed around the three Bluebills that lay at our feet. We opted for a lunch and short siesta under a big old shady spruce. My, how things have changed. Thirty years ago I’d have been looking for more ducks before my barrel cooled. Paul Smith is a freelance writer and outdoor enthusiast living in Spaniard’s Bay. His column appears weekly. flyfishtherock@hotmail.com

BLOOD SPORT

Canada (pension funds), Destination St. John’s, Molson, and Mazda Canada, whose president will run the race. The Nautilus running club has also lent a helping hand, Soucy notes. Medals “as thick as coasters,” as well as a horde of door prizes will be handed out at the post-race reception at, conveniently, The Battery Hotel and Suites, just down the hill. NTV will tape the event, complete with interviews. With most of the preparation work done, all Soucy and Co. can hope for now is good weather. “When we held a trial run last year, it was perfect — about 10 C, sunny, not a breath of wind … even out at Cape Spear. And that was on Nov. 2. “We’re hoping for the same this year … or at least calm enough not to blow the cups off the table at the water station.” brian.callahan@theindependent.ca

Solutions for sudoku on page 32

New York Islanders' Kip Brennan takes a breather following a big-league tilt with Boston Bruins' hulking defenceman Zdeno Chara during an NHL pre-season exhibition game at Mile One Centre Sept. 18. The Bruins won the game 3-1. Nicholas Langor/The Independent

At the end of the day, it is just a game From page 33 The TRU Wolf Pack play in the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference, comprising two Alberta teams and three more from British Columbia. Last season, Bannister pitched 57-and-twothirds innings, registering a 4-4 won-loss record in nine starts. He allowed 45 hits while striking out 50. More important than numbers, however, Bannister knows he’s going to be a key component of the Wolf Pack. That means innings and lots of work — and that means he’ll be seen by scouts. But there’s another aspect of leaving home that weighs on the kid’s mind, too. Just as he left home last year, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Bannister was in British Columbia while she endured chemotherapy and radiation. Phone calls home every night just didn’t cut it. Matthew missed his mother. His mom’s illness made him realize something all young athletes should. “It was tough leaving her and going to the other side of the country when she’s back here going through chemo,” Bannister said. “Before a game, my mentality changed. Previously, I’d get on the mound and think, ‘There are scouts around. This is huge.’ It makes you think there are more things in life than a baseball game. “It takes a weight off my shoulders. There are so many more important things than winning a baseball game. At the end of the day, it is just a game.” Whether he’s in St. John’s, Orono or Kamloops, he’s bound to be the main man. donniep@nl.rogers.com

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

Fig.16

INDEPENDENTCLASSIFIED • 35

friday through thursday, SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2007 — PAGE 36

FEATURE HOME 8 TRAINOR PLACE

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