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Wednesday February 8, 2012
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The Stanley Cup made a stop at the Alberton Elementary School, where spectators filled the gymnasium just hoping to catch a glimpse.
All of the classrooms in the school will get three or four minutes with the Cup while it is on display before the general public had their chance. The three are former Regals players, Roy Fraser, a long-time manager of Jacques Cartier Arena, Mike Kinch, team sponsor, and Westisle teacher Darcy Harris, former player of the Montreal Canadiens.
CBC P.E.I. is following the Stanley Cup on its visit to P.E.I. in celebration of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada.
The main factor explaining the increase in P.E.I. is immigration, according to an official with Statistics Canada.
When it opened in 1971, it was Ontario’s $29 million answer to Montreal’s Expo ’67, if not in terms of civic pride then in dreams of waterfront and economic stimulus (a Toronto theme that never seems to go away). Designed by Toronto’s Eberhard Zeidler, it was constructed on fill dumped into Lake Ontario off the CNE shore, including three old lake freighters that were sunk and filled with sand to act as anchors for the landfill. The five pods that were suspended over the lake are like nothing else in the world, and the Cinesphere had the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre. For those who like to fret about Toronto’s world-class-ness, we’ve got some beauties right here. Once housing exhibits, the pods are only used for wedding and event rentals now. With floor-to-ceiling glass, they have some of the best views of Toronto, and few people get to see them.
Like Expo ’67, its opening brought with it a kind of Trudeaumaniacal excitement. If Expo let Canada be sexy, Ontario Place said this historically uptight province could be too. Ads from that first year proclaimed the glories of “The Girls of Ontario Place” claiming “There’s a lot to see at Ontario Place, and some of the easiest things on the eye are the attractive guides.” The Globe and Mail even did a photo spread of said girls, writing, “The 100 girls who are the hostesses at Ontario Place for the summer… have hot pants and pantsuits, a midi, a jacket and a stretchy yellow-and-white bubble blouse. Most popular are the hot pants. One girl commented ‘I’ve just got to shorten them.’”
Today, Ontario Place could use more hot pants. The uniforms (on both sexes) are frumpy and oversized now (though perhaps on account of the deep-fried foods that are served in huge portions — even the coffee bar is called a “fill station”). On a recent trip there, I spent over $15 just to enter the grounds for a walk that included few free attractions and a lot of either rundown or neglected buildings. On the east side, where the beloved children’s village once was, a dead, mostly paved space called “South Beach” is located near the waterslide park. The other older bits that have survived here and there are unloved, and the newer games and attractions seem temporary, as if part of the CNE.
[. . .]
Ontario Place needs a near-complete rethink. We should bring back the park, make it free and turn it into a great Toronto public space. Build housing in and around it, so it’s a 24-hour neighbourhood, not just alive during the summer daylight hours. As dense communities are growing in nearby Liberty Village and Fort York, putting people in Ontario Place would nearly surround the CNE with life.
Yet whatever we do with this place, we must retain the hot-pants parts: the pods and sphere. Modernist buildings at this age are at greatest risk. Like awkward teenagers, they are unloved and are routinely disrespected, but parents don’t disown them; they know they’ll come around in a few years. Also at risk is a particular Toronto look that Zeidler gave us at Ontario Place and at his Eaton Centre, itself about to get a $120-million renovation which will likely remove many of the 1970s “futuristic” Space Shuttle–era details. Because of the age of both these places, and their connections to fun times, it’s easy to dismiss our built heritage as nostalgia.
Hopefully I cut and paste this link properly.
Anyways, it looks like Charlottetown grew 7.4% since 2006 and the Island grew 3.2%....
Premier Robert Ghiz's driver has been charged with impaired driving while off-duty.
Laureen Harper, the wife of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has written an introduction to a new Mandarin translation of the classic Canadian story Anne of Green Gables.
Hundreds of people lined the boards along the rink at the Tignish Credit Union Arena early Wednesday morning, all straining for a glimpse of the iconic Stanley Cup, professonal sports most recognized trophy.
Precisely on the stroke of 10:30 am the Cup and its entourage, including Phil Prichard, vice-president and curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the trophy’s constant companion, arrived. He wore his trademark white gloves when the Cup was removed from its case and taken onto the ice to loud cheers, and then placed in the centre of two lengths of green carpet for young fans and for the young at heart art to pose next to, touch and even kiss.
The Cup’s next destination after Tignish was Alberton Elementary School, arrivng during noon hour, before finishing its West Prince visit in O’Leary in the early afternoon.
James Rodd, leader of P.E.I.'s NDP, is resigning his position. He made the announcement at a news conference Wednesday morning.
A house was destroyed by fire on the Linwood Road in Clyde River, just west of Charlottetown, early Wednesday morning.
The latest census suggests the Atlantic region may have finally turned a corner after decades of losing its young people to Ontario and Western Canada.
Oshawa has once again reclaimed the title of automotive capital in Canada. 2011 was a good year for the auto city as Oshawa built more cars than Windsor, Oakville and Cambridge.
Oshawa produced approximately 303,500 units last year, according to industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers. Windsor came in second at 301,500 units and Cambridge finished third with 290,400 units.
I hope everyone is ok.
Does anyone know any details on the fire?...
Ed
Patrick J. Buchanan is co-founder and editor of The American Conservative. He is the author of [i]Where the Right Went Wrong[/i].
'Who Wants War With Iran?
by Patrick J. Buchanan
'
Appearing alongside CIA Director David Petraeus before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week, James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said of Iran:
"We don't believe they've actually made the decision to go ahead with a nuclear weapon."
Before the hearing, as James Fallows of The Atlantic reports, Clapper released his "Worldwide Threat Assessment." It read, "We do not know ... if Iran will eventually decide to build nuclear weapons."
Clapper thus reaffirmed the assessment of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies in 2007, reportedly repeated in 2011, that the U.S. does not believe that Iran has decided to become a nuclear weapons state.
In December, when Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that if Iran went all out, it might be able to build a nuclear weapon in a year, Pentagon spokesman George Little hastily clarified his comments:
"The secretary was clear that we have no indication that the Iranians have made a decision to develop a nuclear weapon."
On Jan. 8, Panetta himself told CBS:
"(Is Iran) trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that they're trying to develop a nuclear capability. And that's what concerns us. And our redline to Iran is: Do not develop a nuclear weapon."
On Super Bowl Sunday, President Barack Obama told NBC's Matt Lauer that he hopes to solve the Iranian problem "diplomatically."
From the above, we may conclude that the administration does not believe that Iran has crossed any redline on the nuclear issue and President Obama does not want war with Iran.
Who, then, does want war? Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
From their actions, it would appear not. If Iran wanted war with the United States, any terror attack inside this country or on U.S. forces in Iraq or Afghanistan could bring that about in an afternoon.
Expulsion of the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from the Natanz enrichment facility, covering up the IAEA cameras, breaking the seals on the low-enriched uranium stockpiled there, or removing the LEU would be a fire bell for the Pentagon.
But the IAEA inspectors and LEU are still there.
When the alleged plot by a used-car salesman in Texas to hire Mexican cartel criminals to blow up a D.C. restaurant and kill the Saudi ambassador was revealed, Iran denied it emphatically and demanded to interview the alleged mastermind.
Moreover, Tehran has yet to retaliate for the assassinations of five of its nuclear scientists and four terror attacks by Jundallah in Sistan-Baluchistan and PJAK, a Kurdish terrorist organization operating out of Iraqi Kurdistan. Iran has alleged Western and Israeli involvement in these attacks.
Now that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has denied any U.S. involvement, Mossad is the prime suspect behind the killing of the nuclear scientists. And U.S. writer Mark Perry, in Foreign Policy, alleges that Mossad agents posed as CIA and used U.S. dollars in London to recruit Jundallah.
If this is true, this would be a false flag operation to provoke Iran into lashing out at America. Apparently, Iran did not take the bait.
Why have the Iranians not followed through on their threat to close the Strait of Hormuz and begun to dial it back?
War with the United States would be a disaster. Though the Tehran regime might survive as Saddam Hussein's survived Desert Storm Iran's navy, most of its armor, anti-aircraft and anti-ship defenses, and its strategic missile force would be destroyed, as would much of the country's infrastructure. Iran would be set back years.
Who, then, wants war with Iran?
All those who would like to see exactly that happen to Iran.
And who are they? 'The Netanyahu government and its echo chamber in U.S. politics and media, the neoconservatives, 'members of Congress, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.
And as the Obama administration is the major force in U.S. politics opposed to war with Iran, its defeat in November would increase, to near certitude, the probability of a U.S. war with Iran in 2013.
Yet if the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence community are correct Iran does not have a bomb and has not decided to build a bomb why should we go to war with Iran?
Answer: Iran represents "an existential threat" to Israel.
'But Israel has 200 atomic bombs and three ways to deliver them, while Iran has never built, tested or weaponized a nuclear device. Who is the existential threat to whom here?'
And though a U.S. war on Iran would be calamitous for Iran, it would be no cakewalk for Americans, who could become terrorist targets for years in the Gulf, Afghanistan, Baghdad's Green Zone, Lebanon and even here in the USA.
Year 2012 is thus shaping up as a war-or-peace election, with Republicans the war party and Democrats the peace-and-diplomacy party.
And as the months pass between now and November, this will become clear to the nation.
February 8, 2012...
The CBC is 'waxing poetic' about what an uplifting opportunity it is for kids to be (gasp) in the same building with IT.
![":D"]("{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" "\"Very"){kind=icon}
Ed...
The owner of Advanced Shuttle will have to wait a little longer to find out if he can set up service between P.E.I. and New Brunswick after objections were filed against his proposal.
It may be February, but some cycling stores in Charlottetown are seeing record business.
The Stanley Cup landed on P.E.I. Tuesday night for a tip-to-tip tour of the Island as part of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada celebrations.
Health PEI is shaking up the staffing at Kings County Memorial Hospital to improve service, but the PEI Nurses Union opposes cuts to the number of registered nurses.
Effective April 1, four currently vacant registered nurse (RN) positions will be cut, offset by the addition of a part time position. There will also be additional Licensed Practical Nurse staff and new Resident Care Worker positions.
The end result is an increase of 3.6 full time equivalent nursing positions at the hospital, with 9.4 RNs, 11.2 LPNs and 5 RCWs. The new model of staffing will cost more than the old one.
“What it’s about is making sure we have sufficient resources in order to deliver services,” Pam Trainor, chair of the model of care steering committee, said.
Ms Trainor said Health PEI has found it difficult to fill vacant RN positions.
“There are vacancies. That’s the problem, there are vacancies all over the place.”
Seventeen years ago, a modest hockey tournament in memory of a young man who died in a tragic accident was held over a weekend in Georgetown.
By the next year, the Jimmy Carroll Memorial had blossomed into a week-long event capped with a pub night and a dance.
“I was engaged to Jimmy, and his brothers, they all played rec hockey ... we just decided we would have a tournament,” organizer Dawn Kerr of Roseneath said.
It became a popular event, hosting as many as 16 teams while having to turn others away.
She said a lot of the success is due to support from the community.
“If we didn’t have the volunteers we never would have lasted 17 years.”
But this year may be the last for the tournament, as players are getting harder to come by, Ms Kerr said.
This year there are just eight teams. Last year there were only six, the bare minimum needed to hold the event.
Montague Town Council has told the provincial Attorney General’s office it won’t be renewing its direct contract with the RCMP, and council will be explaining its decision at a hastily called public meeting at town hall Wednesday, February 15 at 6pm.
Council will convene another special meeting the following evening to vote on the matter. Until council votes, the decision is non-binding.
While the issue was brought up at December’s Committee of Council meeting, the proposal specifically to not renew hasn’t been discussed publicly - only in budget meetings - until this point.
The town’s contract is for three officers who work out of the Brudenell Detachment in addition to the rest of the force which covers Southern Kings.
Under that contract, the town had to give notice of its intentions regarding contract renewal within 30 days of its expiry - March 31.
By Cindy Chant
cindy@peicanada.com
For Hamilton, Ontario born Katherine Burleigh spending summers with her grandmother, Sylvia Smith, in Bideford was one of the highlights of her childhood. It was also one of the things that brought her back to West Prince.
It seemed like a great notion when 14-year-old Drew Murphy pitched the idea for a youth centre to Alberton Town Council last spring.
Drew, accompanied by several supporters, was encouraged by the reception he received from councillors.
It seemed the proposal would take root, especially with letters of support from the Alberton Lions Club and the Alberton and Area Development Corporation.
But little has happened since.
Mallika Chopra knows about the world of personal development and seeking out balance. She grew up around thousands looking for it through her father Deepak Chopra. In this short video she shares a bit about her story and how she achieves a balance of family life and business. The video is hosted on INC.com so [...]
Read more at Grow Business. Live Life.
"Embracing the Future" is the theme of the 4-H Atlantic Leaders Conference planned for March 2-4 in Debert, Nova Scotia.
Leaders are the lifeblood of 4-H in Atlantic Canada. Join the Atlantic 4-H Committee and learn, discuss, and recharge . . . and prepare to Embrace the Future. Transportation to and from conference will be arranged. Registration cost of $100.
Workshops will include: 4-H Project Skill-a-thon; The Art of Delegation and Negotiation; Senior Members as Junior Leaders; Recruitment and Retention; Communications Workshop; Different Learning Styles; Board Governance; Risk Management;Fifty Fast Fun Filled Fillers, and more. The keynote speakers will be Chet McPhail and Canadian 4-H Council President, Rob Black.
“The Future Face of Island Agriculture” will be the theme for the annual meeting and conference of the PEI Adapt Council.
The annual meeting will be held at the Farm Centre March 7 starting at 5:30 p.m. The evening will also include presentations from Dr. Av Singh of AgraPoint and Lucia Stephen, the executive director of the Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network.
The evening will end with the Atlantic premiere of “Grow”—a film that won best documentary honours at the 2011 Rome International Film Festival and was an official selection at the 2011 Slow Motion Food Film Festival in Nova Scotia and the 2012 Macon Film Festival.
Eastern PEI homeowners will have several new options to purchase smaller amounts of furnace oil later this week.
Jeff Mellish, a Montague native who now lives in Charlottetown, has recently established Feasible Fuels, which will deliver orders from as low as 100 litres to the Charlottetown area as well as Montague, Cardigan and Georgetown. Many major oil companies will only deliver a minimum 100 gallon order.
At the same time, Montague Esso is currently installing a furnace oil tank which is expected to be operational by the end of this week or early next week at the latest.
Mr Mellish said after receiving clearances from the Irving Oil Terminal in Charlottetown, he’d be picking up his first truckload of oil on Tuesday at 8am. He will be selling his oil at $1.06.3 cents a litre, which is the maximum price set by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.
As the possibility of producers defaulting on Advance Payment Program loans is starting to loom large, PEI Cattle Producers is trying to convince the provincial government to refinance the loans over a longer period.
The matter was one of the main topics discussed when representatives of the industry group met recently with Agriculture and Forestry Minister George Webster. Executive Director Rinnie Bradley said the group would like the province to take over the loans and spread the payments out over a longer period of time, while hopefully retaining the federal guarantee.
The loans date back to 2008 when they were issued under program’s Severe Economic Hardship provisions. The money was originally slated to be paid back in September of 2009, but Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz moved back that deadline twice.
Hockey Night in Canada personality Ron MacLean will hit the ice in Murray Harbour to tape a segment for Hockey Day celebrations Wednesday, February 9.
A patch of ice on the harbour has been cleared and flooded to accommodate Mr MacLean and some young players.
Avery, Griffin and Maria Reynolds, children of Jeff Reynolds and Cherie Clements, and a dozen others will be the backdrop for a CBC segment.
While the three cousins of Brad Richards are no strangers to playing on “the pond” this time is a little different.
Ten-year-old Avery is a big fan of Coaches Corner.
He said he watches it all the time and can’t wait to meet Mr MacLean.
The youngsters had a practise run on Tuesday where a crew filmed them from a helicopter and 8-year-old Griffin said it was fun to play on the ice.
Maria, 6, is looking forward to being on TV.
Brookfield Gardens has been named the 2012 winner of the Gilbert R. Clements Award for Excellence in Environmental Farm Planning.
The family owned business, which was nominated by the Wheatley River Improvement Group, received the award from Agriculture and Forestry Minister George Webster during the recent annual meeting of the PEI Federation of Agriculture.
Brookfield Gardens Inc. began as a small family farm nearly 30 years ago. Bert, Eddy and Gerald Dykerman produced 40 acres of vegetables for local sale their first year and the operation has since grown to produce nearly 300 acres of vegetables.
While Bert has now retired, Eddy and Gerald continue to run the farm, along with their nephew Travis, producing carrots, parsnips, cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, green beans and napa cabbage. Their vegetable production is done in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Canada’s trade policy must begin from one basic premise: the objective should be to protect existing markets and expand, to the benefit of this country, trade opportunities elsewhere. Concern is growing that the Harper government has failed on both counts.
From the trade perspective, the events of 2012 could be as significant as those of 1989. The likely agreement between Canada and the European Union on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the effort to enter into negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could be transformational events rivaling those of the FTA’s with the US and trilaterally with Mexico.
The question is not whether Canada should be examining new and more open trading relationships, but rather the conditions and concessions this Conservative government is prepared to accept in order to participate in, and subsequently conclude, such agreements.
Canadian beekeepers produced 78.1 million pounds of honey in 2011, down nearly 4.0 million pounds, or 4.8%, from 2010.
On average, each colony had a yield of 124 pounds, down from 132 pounds in 2010.
In Alberta, which accounts for over 40% of Canada's honey production, yields fell by 13 pounds per colony to 117 pounds. The decline was the result of several factors, including a long winter and rainy spring and increased splitting of colonies as farmers increased their hives.
The two other Prairie provinces account for an additional 40% of national production. In Manitoba, a hot, dry season provided good conditions for bee activity, resulting in above-average production. Yields averaged 200 pounds per colony, up from 165 pounds in 2010.
In Saskatchewan, yields and production were lower in 2011, with average yields at 177 pounds per colony, down from 214 pounds in 2010.
Lorna Hume of Montague recently put the finishing touches on the 200th dress she’s made for a girl in need.
“I was really excited,” she said of reaching the milestone. “But it still doesn’t seem like I’ve made that many.”
The simply-designed dresses were made using her own material and some donated by friends, and she made them in adult and children’s sizes. They’re embellished with lace hemlines and matching pockets.
The Smile Dresses, as they’re called, are sent to girls from ages 2-15 in orphanages and community centres in countries such as Kenya, Cuba and Thailand.
“(I like) knowing those little children down there are going to be dressed in something I made,” Ms Hume said.
She started making them in August, after reading a newspaper article about First Baptist Church in Charlottetown asking for help to reach a goal of 100 dresses.
Canadian producers are keeping up with the times when it comes to the use of mobile technology. Farmers have been as quick to purchase a smartphone (29%) as other Canadians (30%), according to a recent Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Vision Panel study.
It’s the same story for tablet use. Six per cent of producers own a tablet, as do 6% of Canadians. Tablet adoption is expected to be highest among current smartphone users. More than half (53%) of Canadian producers who own a smartphone today plan to buy a tablet within two years. With a strong web connection, these devices can turn vehicles and farm machinery into a mobile office where producers can conveniently place orders, market products, and monitor weather, interest rates and grain markets, for example.
“Getting access to relevant financial data and economic information can be a real advantage in a fast-moving marketplace,” says Jean-Philippe Gervais, FCC Senior Agriculture Economist.
Markets are extremely dynamic with an abundance of variables. Knowing how to navigate through this is a farmers' best tool in gaining a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Now more than ever, consumer preferences dictate markets. Consumer trends have significant influence on our success, what we produce and even how we produce. There's heightened interest among consumers in the environmental, ethical and health aspects of production. Retailers are responding to this, implementing their own standards based on consumer demands that farmers need to meet if they want to sell their products. To thrive in this environment, business as usual won't get us ahead. Success is not just about the level of production, but about anticipating market signals and spotting opportunities. Discovering niche markets and proactively seeking out contracts is part of what will keep a business ahead of the curve.
Using the argument that today’s modern farms require more land to implement crop rotations, members of the PEI Federation of Agriculture are calling on the provincial government to increase the ownership limits under the Lands Protection Act.
While there have been some minor amendments to the act since it was passed over 35 years ago, one thing has remained constant—the ownership limits of 1,000 acres for individuals and 3,000 acres for corporations. That number now includes both land owned outright and rented or leased.
Long time potato producer Morley Wood introduced the motion from the floor to have the limits increase to 1,500 acres for individuals and 4,500 acres for corporations. Wood said he would like to see only arable land included in that total for farmers.
All-terrain vehicles trespassing on farm property should be hit heavily in the pocketbook for any damage they cause.
That was the overwhelming sentiment of a resolution that passed easily during the recent annual meeting of the PEI Federation of Agriculture. The resolution calls on the provincial government to increase fines under the Trespass to Property Act from $200 to $500. The maximum fine under the act is $2,000.
They also want the Off Highway Vehicle Act changed to require the owners of all such vehicles, (commonly known as ATV’s) to carry liability insurance. They are also suggesting ATV’s should be plated and they should be registered annually similar to the requirement now in place for snowmobiles. They also want a minimum fine of $500 for non-compliance under that act.
Douglas Llewellyn Miller, 38, of Montague, was sentenced to 105 days in jail after pleading guilty in Georgetown Provincial Court to two charges of theft. He is also barred from all liquor stores on Prince Edward Island for the next 18 months.
Mr Miller stole a bottle of Captain Morgan at the Queen Street Liquor Store December 20 in Charlottetown. The Crown said Mr Miller was intoxicated when he put the bottle into his pocket and walked out without paying. The liquor store was out $53.29 as a result of the theft.
On January 30, Mr Miller stole several 20-litre cans of diesel from a trucking company in Alliston. Witnesses spotted a suspicious vehicle and called police and the cans were recovered. Mr Miller was remanded in custody to face the charges.
Shawinigan Cataractes defenceman Brandon Gormley is taking it day by day as to whether he’ll be able to play in his team’s next QMJHL game Wednesday.
Brandon is recovering from a cut to his neck delivered by an errant skate during a game Saturday night.
With 15 seconds left and the Cataractes net empty, Brandon dove at the opposing Saint John Sea Dogs goal line to stop an empty net goal.
“I was a bit behind him and dove and hit his stick ... when I went down he kind of went down with me and his skate caught me in the neck.
“I was able to skate off the ice as soon as it happened and they were able to put pressure on it right away.”
The skate caught him above his neck guard. The gash was about two to three inches long and his jugular vein was exposed, but not damaged.
At the time, Brandon’s parents, who were watching the game from their Murray River home, didn’t know what had happened.
Thelma MacDonald, member of the Silver Threads Seniors Club of Souris, left, presented a $1,000 cheque to the new Colville Manor. This donation assisted the Colville Manor Fundraising Initiative Committee in completing the interior decor of the new facility. Accepting on behalf of the Eastern Kings Health Foundation is Board Chairman, Arthur Baker and Joanne Dunphy, member of the Fundraising Initiative Committee. The Silver Threads Seniors Club is an active Community Organization and is a generous supporter of the Health Services of Souris. Submitted photo
Hiring contractors who are not covered by your province’s worker’s compensation plan might save a little money but it could ruin your farm business.
Helping farmers and ranchers reduce the risks in their operations is the core message of the theme Plan • Farm • Safety, a three-year focus for the Canadian agricultural safety campaign. In 2010, the campaign promoted "Plan" with safety walkabouts and planning for safety. Last year, the focus is on "Farm" including implementation, documentation and training. And in 2012, emphasis will be on "Safety" including assessment, improvement and further development of safety systems.
Some farm operators mistakenly think that if they hire services from an independent contractor or an occasional day worker, any follow-up safety or disability costs won’t be on their books. Wrong. Here is why.
Dr. Vandana Shiva will be delivering a public lecture at the NSAC Auditorium February 25 at 1 p.m.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the world's greatest activists and authors on sustainable agriculture, seed saving, biodiversity and farmer’s rights. Tickets are $10 and those interested in attending are asked to register in advance by visiting the website of the Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network (ACORN).
Those interested "making a day of it", please check out Seedy Saturday, where Dr. Shiva will tour and give a brief talk from 11:00 until 11:30am. The event is being held at St. Andrew United Church, 55 King Street. For info on the Seedy Saturday, contact Mark Austin at m.austin(at)xplornet.com
There is one thing that absolutely makes Crystal MacKay cringe and “that’s when I hear one of my fellow producers say I’m just a farmer.”
“There is nothing more powerful to influence consumers than a passionate farmer telling their story,” said MacKay, who is executive director of Farm and Food Care Ontario. “We do a great job of producing food but a lousy job of telling people about it.”
MacKay was one of the keynote speakers at the recent annual meeting of the PEI Federation of Agriculture. She said her organization, which is an amalgamation of two previous groups, was formed largely to combat the negative image of the industry put forward by animal welfare groups.
Four Island students were honored for their academic achievements by being named to the president’s list at Nova Scotia Agricultural College.
Nathan Murray, Albany; Morgan Smallman, O'Leary; Robert Schicht, North Milton and Benjamin Strehler, Bonshaw were among the 136 students honoured during a reception held on campus February 2.
To be named to the President’s List, students must be within the top ten per cent of their program of study and have a term average of 80 per cent or higher. Students must also be enrolled in four or more courses per semester. The award covers the winter and fall semesters of 2011.
Students enjoyed a reception held in their honour in the Riverview room of Jenkins Hall with guest speaker Dr. Ilhami Yildez.
The Kings County Gymnastics Club will offer a Seven Week Gymnastics Program at Ecole La-Belle-Cloche School (the old Fortune Consolidated School) in Fortune Wednesday evenings starting February 15.
The program is offered to girls and boys ages 3-14 with the primary goal of providing children with Fun, Fitness and Fundamentals through the sport of gymnastics.
Head coach is Darlene Grenier, a Level III certified gymnastics coach.
Registration will take place at the Main Street Mall, Souris Saturday, February 11 from 11am to 3pm. The fee is $50 (1 hour class) + $20 insurance fee. The insurance fee is a once a year fee (September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012). For more information contact Darlene at 687-2221 or 969-8209 or via email at dxgrenier@edu.pe.ca
A new Land Development Corporation that formed a key plank of the Liberal agricultural policy in last October’s provincial election will become a reality later this year.
Agriculture Minister George Webster told the recent annual meeting of the PEI Federation of Agriculture planning is now in the final stages for the new entity. The deputy premier said his department will not directly administer the program, as it will fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning. The corporation will purchase land from farmers wishing to exit the industry and lease it back to other farmers.
However, he told the meeting his department is having input into the process of establishing the entity.
“This will allow older farmers to exit the industry and new farmers to help purchase land,” he said.
While the beef industry in the Maritime Provinces has a long history of co-operation, Rinnie Bradley said it has now been taken to a new level.
The Maritime Beef Council has existed for the past several years largely as an informal group formed by the industry organizations in the three provinces. Now, it is a formal organization with Jennifer MacDonald as the first president. She is the chair of the New Brunswick Cattle Producers group.
“There are a lot of advantages to being formally incorporated,” said Bradley, who is executive director of the PEI Cattle Producers. “For example, the council couldn’t apply for a host of federal and provincial government programs or things like collective outcome projects with the ADAPT Councils unless it was incorporated.”
Thirty-two curlers participated in the Philip Curley Memorial Curl for Cancer Charity Bonspiel. Darlene Larter and her committee put together a great day of fun curling, silent auction, bake sale and trivia. The winning team was Howard and Elaine MacNeill and Joey and Linda Cain.
Ross Petrie, Mary Edmonds, Bazil Higginbotham and Malcolm Patterson were runners-up. Larry Richards along with Karen White, Harry VanDerbroek and Lenore Lubbert were third. Larry was also the top fundraiser.
Thanks to all who donated silent auction items, baked goods. Betty Fraser, representing the Cancer Society was on hand to thank everyone for their participation and support. Total proceeds towards cancer research for the day were $ 2,400. Great job.
Book fairs are a tradition in most Island grade schools and always a treat for the students, but one librarian wants to make sure the whole community can take advantage of the upcoming one at Montague Consolidated.
Anne Hawkins, librarian and vice-principal said there is something for everyone at the Scholastic Book Fair being held at the school this week.
“I think it’s really important that families read,” she said.
There are books that will interest people from preschool to adult and other items such as pencils and craft kits will also be for sale.
The fair is a fundraiser for the school’s library and Ms Hawkins hopes to see lots of people drop in and support the children.
“Children who love to read often request certain authors and it’s great when we can get those for them,” Ms Hawkins said.
An upcoming Easter Seals fundraising concert will, in part, be out of this world thanks to a donation of NASA memorabilia, including a t-shirt and cap, a space suit and packets of dry food that astronauts eat while in space, all of which will be put up for auction. Concert organizer Robert Benoit, left, said the donation came to Montague with the help of Marilee Dawn Ingalls, who is married to a NASA engineer in California and is the daughter of Montague residents Joan and Ron Livingstone. The full set of NASA memorabilia will be presented as one item up for bids at a silent auction during the concert, with a reserve bid already set at $250. The fundraising concert will include entertainers such as Percy Benoit, Eddy Quinn, Emma Bourgeois, Lester Stubbert, Peggy Clinton, Richard Wood, the Not All There Band, as well as Colton Matheson, right, who was the 2010 Easter Seals Ambassador. The event will take place March 1 at Red’s Corner, in Pooles Corner, beginning at 7pm.
New strains of potato virus “Y” have been detected in the province that should give growers cause for concern.
However, Dr. Robert Coffin said there is no reason to panic, adding a vigilant control program can help keep both the traditional and new strains in check. Coffin, who formerly worked with both the province and Cavendish Farms, is now a private consultant. He was one of the guest speakers at the recent PEI Potato Conference held at the Dutch Inn.
Nominations close February 13 for the Soil Conservationist of the Year Award in both the livestock and cash crop categories.
The awards are sponsored by the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association and they will be presented at the association’s annual meeting February 29 at the Slemon Park Inn. Nomination forms are available on the association’s website at www.peiscia.ca.
The awards are judged by directors from the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association on practices that conserve or protect soil, water and air resources. The awards were initiated in 1989. The winners will receive an award sign for their farm, and their name will go on a trophy that is on permanent display at the Crop and Livestock Research Centre.
Nuffield Canada is revamping its leadership program, which has been offered in Canada for over 50 years.
With a more focused itinerary which includes a new orientation process, additional skills and leadership training, and formalized mentorship committees, Nuffield Canada hopes to better equip their scholars with the skills, international awareness and networks to make a significant contribution to the future of Canadian agriculture.”
MP Merv Tweed (Brandon-Souris), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced an investment of $181,000 to the group last year to develop and pilot this new curriculum. The timing coincided with the inaugural orientation session for the new scholars.
Members of the Souris People First group invite the public to a movie (The PEI Freedom Tour) and discussion about “Speaking Up and Making Choices”, to be held Thursday, February 9 from 6pm to 8pm at St. Mary’s Church Hall, Souris
Refreshments will be served.
For more information please call the PEI People First office at 892-8989.
People First is a self-advocacy group for men and women labelled with an intellectual disability.
A new pilot program being introduced by the Island Waste Management Corporation will enable farmers to easily and efficiently recycle used silage wrap, says Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Robert Vessey.
“As a former farmer, I know how difficult it can be to dispose of used silage wrap,” he said. “By recycling this material, farmers are provided with a low-cost disposal solution, while improving the environment by minimizing the need to send plastic waste to landfill. Recycling this wrap will help ensure this valuable product is used in a sustainable way.”
The agricultural community produces a significant amount of used silage wrap each year on Prince Edward Island. Over the past several years, there have been a number of attempts to recycle the material but markets were difficult to secure. Those markets have improved and that
There will be three walks across Kings County as part of Family Violence Prevention Week and everyone is invited to participate, youth program facilitator Maxine MacLellan said.
“It’s a week to raise awareness about relationship abuse and domestic violence.”
Participants will meet at 11:45am with the walks starting at noon.
On February 13 the Montague route will go from Active Communities to Town Hall; on February 15 the Georgetown walk will go from the elementary school to Kings Playhouse; and on February 16 the Souris walk will start at the high school and end at Silver Threads.
Family Violence Prevention Services have been available in Kings County since 1996, with offices in Montague and Souris. Ms MacLellan, Jamie Griffin and Gwen Davies offer youth programing, counselling and shelter if someone needs to get out of the situation.
There is no question a resolution passed during the annual meeting of the PEI Federation of Agriculture will generate plenty of discussion in the months ahead.
The proposal from long-time potato grower Morley Wood asks the province to increase the ownership limits under the Lands Protection Act. While there have been some minor changes to the act over its 35 year history, the bar has not moved from the upper limit of 1,000 acres for individuals and 3,000 acres for corporations. The major changes in the last three and a half decades have been to include leased land in the total and, more recently, to exclude environmentally sensitive land.
The resolution wants the limits increased to 1,500 acres for individuals and 4,500 acres for corporations. I understand the reasoning for the request-- today’s farms are bigger and three and four year rotations require more land.
Esther Gauthier, an active member of the Silver Threads Seniors Club in Souris, on the right recently received a member lifetime award from PEI Seniors Federation Secretary Margaret Ching from Kingsboro. Ms Gauthier has been an active club member for many years and has held executive positions during that time.
Submitted photo
Jeffrey Stewart has been named the 2011 agriculture employee of the year.
The award, sponsored by the PEI Agriculture Sector Council and Kool Breeze Farms , was presented during the annual meeting of the PEI Federation of Agriculture. The award recognizes an agricultural employee that makes an invaluable contribution to a farm operation and demonstrates strong work ethic, dedication and commitment to the agricultural industry.
Jeffrey Stewart is employed by Peter and Susan Bulger of Riverview Farm. Jeffrey is the herdsman and is also involved with the field operations of the dairy farm. Jeffrey has a strong level of commitment to the farm and to his employers. He is not opposed to working long hours, evenings and week-ends when necessary such as during harvest or when herd health issues arise.
Did you ever think about what agriculture and the food system would be like if it was run on policies and practices that would benefit both farmers and consumers, for both present and future generations alike?
Dream on, you might think, but now a second question. Did you ever think what agriculture and the food system will be like if farmers and consumers don’t help change agriculture and the food system for the better now? Two simple questions but only the naive could believe the status quo is for the maximum benefit of the food producers and/or
the consumers, either now or in the future.
Ten groups in rural Atlantic Canada, including three in PEI, will receive money from the AgriSpirit Fund of Farm Credit Canada.
The federal Crown corporation is spending $83,200 on the Atlantic projects as part of $1 million to 120 rural community groups across Canada for capital projects. The Ellerslie Home & School Association receives 10,000 to purchase playground equipment while the Municipality of Breadalbane will receive $5,800 to construct a community kitchen. The Vernon River Home and School Association will get $5,000 to purchase a playground structure.
The FCC AgriSpirit Fund annually awards rural community groups between $5,000 and $25,000 for community improvement projects, such as recreation and community centres, emergency services training facilities, health and safety centres, emergency services equipment, playgrounds and care homes.
The UPEI Panthers female hockey team, of which two players are from eastern PEI, will be taking on the Dalhouise Tigers at the Eastern Kings Sportsplex in Souris, Sunday, February 12 at 5pm.
“It’s a chance for some local girls and people to come out and watch high level female hockey,” fifth year business administration student Kelsey O’Donnell, a native of Souris, said.
Girls hockey has become increasingly popular on PEI over the past 15 years, but Ms O’Donnell said some promotion of the sport is still needed.
“I definitely think it still needs to be there. We’re kind of seeing, on the Island, ringette pick up a lot more. A lot of girls are switching over.
“Some smaller minor hockey communities can’t have a girls team in every age group, so girls are kind of forced to play with boys.”
Members of the public are invited to design a Logo for the 100th Anniversary (1913-2013) of the PEI Women's Institute. A cash prize of $100 will be awarded to the winner. Deadline for submission is March 31. Additional information is available online at http://www.womensinstitute.pe.ca or through the WI office - Tel: 902-368-4860, email: wi@gov.pe.ca or visit: Royalty Centre, 40 Enman Crescent, Charlottetown.
On February 16, the Federated Women's Institute of Prince Edward Island will be celebrating Founder's Day with an Open House at the WI office at Royalty Centre, 40 Enman Crescent in Charlottetown.
This is a special day set aside to welcome Islanders to Women’s Institute of PEI and mark the founding of Women's Institute in Canada. The Provincial Board of Directors of PEIWI invites all Islanders to the reception from 1-3pm. At 1:30pm final details will be announced on the recent Heart Health Campaign, as well as announcements on a new Healthy Lifestyle Program and information on an upcoming opportunity open to all Islanders to celebrate International Women’s Day.
In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held February 17 at the same time and place. For more information contact 902-368-4860 or visit online http://www.womensinstitute.pe.ca.
A Quebec psychologist who specializes in coaching and speaking to farm families will be in the province this month to participate in a pair of workshops.
Pierrette Desrosiers will be talking to participants February 27 about how to better initiate succession discussions for the farm and how to deal with difficult issues in the succession planning process, with greater confidence and competence. The session will be held at the Howard Johnson Dutch Inn in Charlottetown.
She will also be talking about “leadership and Emotional Intelligence” and “communication” during sessions at the International Potato Technology Expo.
A powerful speaker, original and recognized by the agricultural sector, she sets a standard with her thoroughness, her humorous approach and the pertinence of her words. This psychologist is known for going straight to the heart of the concerns of her audience.
Why not just call it the ‘Goldilocks’ winter. Not too cold and not much snow. Just right for adults who don’t want to get repetitive strain injury scraping frozen car windows.
Silver anniversaries are occasions for great celebration and remembrance within families. For the Stewart Memorial Hospital family, the 25th Annual Valentine’s Dance on Saturday, February 18 will be every bit as fun and special.
For the first few years, dances were organized by the Stewart Memorial Hospital Board. Throughout the mid-90s, the SMH Auxiliary had taken over the coordination of this major fundraiser for the hospital.
By Cindy Chant
cindy@peicanada.com
Verna and Kenny Banks of Alberton remember the day well, 61 years ago, when they said “I do.”
The Alberton synchronized skating teams have had a successful, busy few weeks.
The 2012 Friendship Synchronized Skating Competition was held at the Charlottetown Civic Centre, Charlottetown on Jan 15. This event was a Skate Canada PEI sanctioned event.
Teams competed in three categories skills, freeskate and a cheer event. The Ice Pixies, who just began skating together this year, won gold overall in their category, Beginner II. Ice Intensity, who have been skating together since 2006, won silver overall in their category, Juvenile.
Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) celebrated the deployment of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in Tignish, Jan 9. With the support of national sponsors Boston Pizza Foundations, The Cowan Foundaton and Tignish Volunteer Fire Department an AED will be placed at the Tignish Health Centre.
“Having an AED installed at the Centre provides a safer environment for our staff and for individuals who use our facility,” said Stephen Gallant, president, board of directors, Tignish Co-Op Health Centre.
(Cindy Chant's editorial)
There’s no escaping a day that is particularly hard on single people - Valentine’s Day. Store shelves are stocked with a sea of red and pink products, including a variety of fancily wrapped boxes of chocolates just waiting to make someone’s day.
It has been an unprecedented year so far in personal fitness. It seems like there are more people than ever who are taking control of their health and well being. Our gyms are certainly busier than ever and the growing number of fitness activities and classes seem to portray the same. The message is out there that your lifestyle has a direct impact on your fitness and health. Many people are eating better and more active.
West Prince RCMP have received a number of complaints about illegal snowmobiling activities over the past week, including complaints about possible intoxicated operators.
The complaints starting coming when the snow deepened, said Cpl Dominique Cloutier.
“We’re starting to see them now that the snow is starting to stay,” he said.
The majority of the snowmobile-related calls appear to have come from Tignish, said Cpl Cloutier.
By Cindy Chant
cindy@peicanada.com
Staff at the O’Leary branch of Access PEI have been busy organizing events in preparation for Family Violence Prevention Week which runs Feb 12-18. Valerie Smallman, director for the West Prince Family Violence Prevention Services, said the week helps raise awareness within the community about the terrible toll taken by family violence.
By Cindy Chant
cindy@peicanada.com
For young business owner Erica Wagner, operating a business in rural West Prince during the winter months can be a challenge. Ms Wagner is the owner/operator of The Landing Oyster House and Pub and she may have come up with an idea to get weary Islanders out on cold, wintery evenings.
More than any single vote, more than any single veto, more than any single legislative majority, the Ninth Circuit's decision in Perry v. Brown is the most significant advancement in the fight for marriage equality in American history to date. Consider this: Never before has a federal appellate court affirmed any of the conclusions that the Ninth Circuit did today:
•that denying committed gay couples their right to marry cannot encourage opposite sex marriages;
•that when a state denies the right to marry while allowing gay couples all the rights and privilges of marriage, it cannot base the marriage ban on any rationale that denigrates gay parents;
•that domestic partnerships are unequal to marriage;
•that, as a matter of law, marriage rights do not hinge on natural procreative ability;
and, of course,
•that a ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
Today's opinion was both broad and narrow, with wide implications and constrained effects. In 76 pages, Judge Reinhardt and Judge Hawkins affirmed the district court's opinion that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, but its decision hinged on the fact that Prop 8 effectuated a taking away of rights previously existing in California per In re Marriage Cases. That denial of an existing right violated due process and equal protection. The court declined to decide whether due process or equal protection would invalidate all bans on same-sex marriages, especially in those circumstances where no such right existed before. This is the narrow part of the decision. The court also used a rational basis standard of review, granted Proponents standing as a matter of federal law, and affirmed the denial of the motion to vacate. But, in so doing and by savaging the legitimacy of the Proponents' proferred reasons for Prop 8, the Ninth Circuit gave us a remarkable statement of gay rights, one that will have an enduring future regardless of the end result of Perry v. Brown.
Tuesday February 7, 2012
I wish her majesty long life, of course, and not only because I've no desire to see King Charles III on the throne. Do I wish the Canadian monarchy long life? On the balance, yes. Canadian democracy and Canadian civil rights haven't been obviously harmed by the retention of a constitutional monarch as head of state, especially since the monarch's limited responsibilities and powers are largely discharged by the Governor-General. It's nice to have a head of state be nominally apolitical and removed from the quotidian, inasmuch as this serves as another layer of insulation against undue politicization of the polity--compare the appointment, not election, of Canada's judges. I can imagine ways in which the Canadian system of government might go awry, but the person of the monarch doesn't feature strongly.
I don't think it an issue, incidentally, that the head of state of Canada isn't Canadian. Blurred loyalties and citizenships fit the postmodern world well, especially when there's no conflict. I do wonder whether it would have been possible for Canada to acquire its own royal family at some point, say, a cadet branch of the Windsors, in much the same way that newly-independent Norway selected its monarch (from the Danish family, true, not the Swedish). "The Kingdom of Canada." At least Kingdom has more of an obvious meaning than "Dominion."
All of the photos this week were untouched - SOOC. I'm sure those of you who edit photos could do an awesome job with the shots in this series. If you'd like to try let me know, I'll send you the shot. I did this once with five starlings sitting on a branch, through a dirty window. I got some great results. Click to Play: Come in from the Cold
Jamie MacPhail, special assistant and driver for Premier Robert Ghiz, has been suspended from his job with pay following a charge of drunk driving on Great George Street, in the shadows of Province House.
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday, January 28 about 2am.
Charlottetown City Police Deputy Police Chief Gary McGuigan confirmed James MacPhail, 23, of Argyle Shore has been charged with impaired driving and is scheduled to appear in court March 1.
Mr McGuigan said Charlottetown Police don’t release breathalyzer readings.
Geoff Townsend, director of communications for the premier’s office, said Mr MacPhail is currently on leave pending the result of his case, but didn’t provide any additional details.
Mr MacPhail was not driving a government-owned vehicle at the time.
Atlantic Canadians are increasingly facing "energy poverty" due to a reliance on foreign sources of oil, an expert on energy security told a parliamentary committee.
The Souris and Area 55 Plus Winter Games were held recently with more than 15 participants involved.
The results are as follows:
Curling - Gold medal - Dave Townsend, Fred Cheverie, Bev Thomas and Anne K MacDonald; Silver Gordon MacDonald, Floyd Steward, Basil Higginbotham and Sterling Higginbotham and Bronze Ernie Starvard Gene Murphy, Ruth Stavard and Pat O’Connor.
Washer Toss - Gold, Roger Jamieson; Silver Carol Peters and Bronze Donnie Robertson.
Bowling - Women (60-69) - Gold Anne Palmer; Silver Doreen Chaisson and Bronze Mabel MacKinnon. Bowling - Women (70 and up) - Gold Gladys King; Silver Bernice MacKinnon and Bronze Camilla MacPhee; Men’s (55-59) - Gold Louis Clinton and Silver Wayne Perky; Men’s (60-69) - Gold Clora Keus; Silver Dave Jenkins and Bronze Mickey Palmer; Age 70 and up Gold Ken O’Hanley and Silver Robert Baker.
Only 500 tickets at $5 each will be sold in the upcoming Montague Rotary Club Gold Mine Draw, which will offer a guaranteed payout of $1,000 to the winner while supporting numerous organizations in eastern PEI. The Montague Rotary Club and The Eastern Graphic are the proud sponsors of this draw. The organizations benefiting from the draw include the Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank, the Souris Food Bank, Hospice of Southern Kings, Rotary Library, Harbourview Training Centre, Kingswood Centre, Souris Hospital Auxiliary, Kings County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, Montague Relay for Life and other charities. The draw will take place Wednesday, February 29 and is a precursor to a weekly ‘Snowball’ toonie draw beginning March 12, with more details to come. Tickets are available from any Montague Rotary member, including Scott Annear at 969-4463, Sharon Riley at 838-2515, and Brian Barry at 838-2695.
The Graphic incorrectly reported last week the cost to implement electronic health records provincially as being $68 million over budget from the initial $13 million promised by former Conservative Health Minister Chester Gillan in 2006.
When the auditor general reviewed implementation of electronic health records in 2009 he pointed out that a completely accurate accounting is impossible because of how government accounted for costs in the initial stages.
The Ghiz government hired DeltaWare in 2007 to review and reset the program. Government now estimates total capital costs to date at $39 million. Of this the federal government has contributed $16.5 million and hospital auxiliaries $2.5 million. This results in a total cost to Island taxpayers to date of $20.4 million.
However, this cost does not include annual operating costs for the system, which the federal government does not cost share to the same level.
Honorable Member McIsaac,
My name is Paula Paquet-Lutz and I live in Souris West. I am a member of the Souris Consolidated Home & School Parent Council and I have two children that attend school there. I am writing to you to express my concern regarding the possible further delay of the Souris K-12 school because of budget constraints.
Let me start by saying that, in my opinion, the students of Eastern Kings have waited long enough to see this school become a reality. In the seven years that this project was first brought to light, we have seen several new schools built on the Island and many others renovated. I believe Eastern Kings is long overdue for the educational infrastructure promised to us upon the closure of many of our small, rural schools.
The P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture is calling for changes to the provincial Lands Protection Act, arguing the land ownership limits are out of date and too restrictive for today's competitive industry, but not all farmers agree.
Editor:
Like many people, I knew Margaret Quinn who died recently and left such a wonderful legacy. And like most people I didn’t know all of her accomplishments until I read your article (1 Feb 2012).
In 2001, along with several other notable Kings County residents, Margaret agreed to answer questions at a Heritage Fair in Cardigan. Her wit and humour stole the show even though my questions mainly concerned the dark days of the Second World War Blitz. Margaret grew up south of London in the ancient Village of Hever, home of Anne Boleyn.
Two Montague Intermediate students will make their case as to why their school needs a long-promised $1.2 million expansion when they meet with Premier Robert Ghiz and Education Minister Alan McIssac next Tuesday afternoon, February 14, in Charlottetown.
Grade 7 student Eve MacKinnon and Grade 8 student Chloe Jardine had created a petition asking for support for the expansion, which would include an expanded music room and a new industrial arts lab.
The two students had a goal of 1,000 signatures, and say they’ve collected between 700 and 800 but haven’t counted all the signatures yet.
Chloe and Eve say they have a lot to talk about when they sit down with the premier.
“It’s one thing to do this around the community but to take it to the people who run the whole Island means we did a good job and got this far,” Chloe said.
Regarding the article “Incomplete health record project goes $65 million over budget” (Graphic, Feb 1, page 1), you assert that the province’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) initiative is $65 million over budget, which is incorrect and confuses your readers about what is involved with this important project.
The province’s EHR is a multi-part initiative that provides each Islander with a secure, private record of their health history and care. The net cost to Islanders for the overall EHR was $20.4 million as of March 31, 2011. While there will be further costs for future EHR components, the province is well within analyst estimates which project that the base EHR components will have a net implementation cost of $30.7 million.
In June 1992 Montague Council held a special meeting to gather the public's views on whether the town should continue to use RCMP coverage or establish its own municipal police force.
The subject has been bandied about among various councils for decades and now the matter is on the table yet again.
However there's a large difference between then and now.
Twenty years ago council realized the importance of public opinion, after all it's the residents' town. But the present day council waited until the last minute to rally taxpayers for their opinions on whether or not to cancel the town's RCMP contract and to top it off there's uncertainty about alternate plans.
One resident who has expressed concern over the idea to cancel the police contract is former mayor Patricia McGowan, who shares her views on the subject through a letter on page 5 of this week's Graphic.
The study, to be published in June in The New York University Law Review, bristles with data. Its authors coded and analyzed the provisions of 729 constitutions adopted by 188 countries from 1946 to 2006, and they considered 237 variables regarding various rights and ways to enforce them.
“Among the world’s democracies,” Professors Law and Versteeg concluded, “constitutional similarity to the United States has clearly gone into free fall. Over the 1960s and 1970s, democratic constitutions as a whole became more similar to the U.S. Constitution, only to reverse course in the 1980s and 1990s.”
“The turn of the twenty-first century, however, saw the beginning of a steep plunge that continues through the most recent years for which we have data, to the point that the constitutions of the world’s democracies are, on average, less similar to the U.S. Constitution now than they were at the end of World War II.”
I hate to say that, but is this really surprising? Yes, the United States Constitution is quite relevant as a historical document, but it's so darned idiosyncratic.
There are lots of possible reasons. The United States Constitution is terse and old, and it guarantees relatively few rights. The commitment of some members of the Supreme Court to interpreting the Constitution according to its original meaning in the 18th century may send the signal that it is of little current use to, say, a new African nation. And the Constitution’s waning influence may be part of a general decline in American power and prestige.
In an interview, Professor Law identified a central reason for the trend: the availability of newer, sexier and more powerful operating systems in the constitutional marketplace. “Nobody wants to copy Windows 3.1,” he said.
In a television interview during a visit to Egypt last week, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the Supreme Court seemed to agree. “I would not look to the United States Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012,” she said. She recommended, instead, the South African Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the European Convention on Human Rights.
The rights guaranteed by the American Constitution are parsimonious by international standards, and they are frozen in amber. As Sanford Levinson wrote in 2006 in “Our Undemocratic Constitution,” “the U.S. Constitution is the most difficult to amend of any constitution currently existing in the world today.” (Yugoslavia used to hold that title, but Yugoslavia did not work out.)
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, unsurprisingly, is identified as a more relevant model: it's a newer, more flexible, and more complete document.
A question to Americans: What is it with the United States' disinterest in getting a new constitution? The idea of having a constitution centuries old for a country that has changed hugely over those same centuries strikes me as bizarre.
3 geeks with their cameras
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