Newsreel subject area – Newfoundland

The third place among the developed countries means responsibility for peace, support to needed and burden that is laid by global unions and associations to Canada. It is a front line, without any place to step back. But, all these duties and obligations may weaken Canadian ‘body’ if there is no inner support and strength. Destruction always follows up division and the core factor to avoid it is to submit provincial powers to single governmental authority.

Disregarding the Conservatives’ opposition, Canadian government took actions to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. On October, 2006, Liberals made the first attempt to meet Kyoto goals and introduced the Tory bill that would regulate auto industry and oil and gas sector, and apply fines and jail terms in cases of industrial over-pollution. It was supposed that smog levels and emissions would be cut by 45 to 64 percent from 2010 to 2050 and next four years were aimed at short- and long-term schedules for industries to cut emissions. Still, ‘if production increases, the overall amount of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants could grow’ (CBC News, October 19, 2006).

Thus, the bill was called ‘economy-devastating’ and declared invalid (CBC, February 14, 2007). Today Baird said “the government will explore emission credit trading with the U.S. and Mexico” (CBC, CBC, April 25, 2007), along with domestic trading, technological investments and cleaning development. The details and expenses to cover were not revealed, but, the nearest future will disclose a standstill or headway of the government.

As a democratic country, Canada turned to be among those countries, which compose the International Assistance Force and, since 2001, were involved in democratic process in Afghanistan. Canada’s military mission included post-war assistance, heavy weapons cantonment, demining, training, along with loans to individuals (CBC, November 1, 2006). In 2006, Canadian soldiers were elected to operate two more years.

This fatal vote engraved 46 military and one diplomat, comparing to total 55 soldiers, in nation’s memory (CBC, April 20, 2007). Eight of them were killed in one week: “six were killed on Easter Sunday, while two were killed three days later (CBC, April 25, 2007). According to “The Telegram”, all soldiers, who died of roadside bomb explosions, were from Atlantic Canada, ‘including Newfoundlanders Donald Lucas and Kevin Kennedy (April 25, 2007). These soldiers will be honored by 5,000 people in New Brunswick on Wednesday. The facts show that democracy, as any other good, is paved with thorns, rather than roses.

Fishery Products International was formed in 1984 in Newfoundland; therefore, rural province was given a chance to raise inner economy. Nevertheless, workers, who were standing for the company, were left without a contract since March 31, 2005 (CBC, April 22, 2007). Overseas competition resulted in labor costs’ $2 cut and a strike. The Fish, Food and Allied Workers union agreed on a $1.06 reduction, yet workers voted against the agreement and were ready to ‘starve to death on the picket line’ (CBC, April 23, 2007), rather than work. Their devotion passes unnoticed on top; thus, current wages $13.66/hour remains open till the strike deadline on April 30 (CBC, April 25, 2007).

Residents of Newfoundland’s Daniels’ Harbor run the risk of slides, when the cliff based in clay become eroded at the bottom (CBC, April 19, 2007); while twelve of them were evacuated. Five buildings, one business and a highway were affected by the series of slides and were waiting for the officials, who faced this kind of emergency for the first time.

Victims of the disaster are expecting financial aid from Emergency Measures Office to rebuild new homes (CBC, April 20, 2007); but public is also welcomed to contribute its share to the Daniel’s Harbor Disaster Fund. The outcome of a possible destruction of other structures was another evacuation, ordered by Newfoundland’s officials (CBC April 25, 2007).

The planned girls’ ball hockey championship finally starts on April 27 in Bonavista. School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador sponsors provincial girls and awaits the championship banner and medals that will be gained through the series of games on Friday and Saturday. Moreover, sponsors have nominated individual players, who will ‘receive an individual sportsmanship medal’ (“The Telegram”, April 25, 2007).

Surfing forums of the National Magazine, I took the one that exactly fits the articles, mentioned above. I’ve marked four subdivisions in the National News forum that will be listed in descending order: politics (8 threads), society (5 threads), and both economy and environment hold three threads. The top issue of the day for Canadians is decentralization of Canada. Quebec that is looking for the ‘freedom from external authority’ (Halonen, March 30, 2007), along with British Columbia and Ontario seems to stay aside from the needed regions and equal payments.

Posts ‘for’ the split are united by the idea of self-government and all-sufficient autonomy, turning the blind eye towards the inner competition and ashes that will follow the years of separation. Lack of a domestic freer trade does not mean that Canada has ‘screwed itself’ (Newgold8, April 16, 2007), because of the positive trade balance, comparing to the U.S.’ and EU’s negative ones, and surplus that covers national debt (DennisP, April 12, 2007).

Posts ‘against’ modernization and smaller chunks prove that Canada will stay in its leading position only if the play will go on collectively, not separately. ‘Decentralize … and you lose one of the incentives for the provinces to play nice with each other’ (ThinkOrThwim, April 7, 2007).

Canada is a country of democrats, who wish they would veto seal hunt and destruction of fisheries, separatism, anti-Semitism, along with global warming, military issues and capitalism, if only they could be united, which is the greatest contrast with the U.S. Yet, they are the patriots, like we are; but, inter-provincial separation makes them inwardly focused more that outwardly. My life in Canada seems to be more stable, aside of terrorism, hurricanes and taxes that are spend on weapons and national defense.

Works Cited

• The Canadian Press. Thousands Expected to Attend Memorial Service For Fallen Canadian Soldiers. Online. The Telegram. Internet. April 25, 2007. Available:
  https://www.thetelegram.com/news/newfoundland-and-labrador-1994-crab-quota-agreement-not-a-contract-judge-287177