labradore

"We can't allow things that are inaccurate to stand." — The Word of Our Dan, February 19, 2008.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Dance to the cartographic time-warp

It’s a bloody shame that too many Newfoundlanders exhibit too much of a francophobic tendency. If the province’s population had great competence in the French language, they might do some reading and finally get over the paranoid delusion that Quebec, even if it is “out to get Labrador”, doesn’t have a shadow of a case, let alone one that is re-inforced by creative cartography. If so, then what are the implications for Saint-Pierre & Miquelon, which have, apparently, been claimed by the government of Newfoundland and Labrador (and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon?)

In the late 1960s, the Quebec government of the day appointed the Dorion Commission, la Commission d’enquête sur l’intégrité du territoire du Québec. It studied all the land and maritime boundaries of the province, but it was really little more than a colourable attempt to re-open the Labrador boundary dispute.

Dorion and his colleagues were very clear: Quebec lost in 1927. Its loss was confirmed in 1949. Quebec has no legal claim to Labrador, and does not gain one by pretending that 1927 never happened. Indeed, by its cute pretence that the watershed boundary applies in southern Labrador, Quebec is in fact giving credence to the general legal argument that led to the height of land being established as the boundary line along most of its length.

There is no Labrador boundary dispute, Tom Kierans’ vivid flashbacks to the 1960s notwithstanding. It’s baffling that the media would still, in 2005, give any credence to the supposed “dispute”, when even Jacques Parizeau, the purest and durest of les purs et les durs, has thrown in the towel.

No, the cutesy Quebec map thingy is not the product of some conspiracy to undo what the Privy Council did in 1927. It is the result of a Quebec government cartography policy, which leads to maps like this.

Would that the province which Labrador is actually in would adopt such a policy. Then we might see the last of maps like this.

After all, if those Quebec maps which claim Labrador strengthen Quebec’s claim, then there must also be legal implications of those Newfoundland and Whatchamacallit maps which ignore Labrador or treat it as something other than the integral part of the province that Danny Williams says we are. They must, if you accept the Kierans theory, weaken Labrador as a legally integral part of Newfoundland and Labrador.

And would that Newfoundland nationalists would broaden their narrow minds long enough to get at least as torn up about their own government’s and society’s attitudes towards Labrador, as they are about Quebec’s. If they want to start changing those attitudes, they should start at home.

Oh, and Brian Peckford: you’re not a lawyer. It shows. Your government talked to Quebec in the 1970s and 1980s, when their maps were often even more extreme. If you don’t like implications, then shut up.

3 Comments:

At 8:24 PM, July 24, 2005 , Blogger Liam O'Brien said...

Some of us Newfoundland AND Labrador nationalists simply want to live in a country that's fair to its provinces. And yes, you're right about many of your complaints concerning problems facing Labrador. And some of us "narrow minded" folks have indeed started at home. It won't change our reactions to maps that misrepresent the boundaries of the province. If you're into "starting at home," and you live in Ottawa and for for the federal government, please feel free to get the federal links on that "wall of chame" you linked-to change their ways. You can also secure a written guarantee from the minister of defence on the future of 5 wing Goose bay military base. In the meantime, I will indeed support increased funding for TLH, the end of un-necessary or unfair insets etc...

If you could just get the chip off your shoulder, you'd realize that many people on the island aren't the villains you assume them to be. We actually agree on most of these issues.

 
At 12:07 AM, August 24, 2005 , Blogger NL-ExPatriate said...

By Argueing with them about it your just lending credence to their arguement.

You as A Labradorian should be more concerned about your high gas prices now this has credibility. And oozes of injustice. Where is the price controlling thingy they have for NL?

You might start with logging the prices into this web site to get your plight national attention I do but I don't live in NL by the nic

http://www.newfoundlandgasprices.com/index.aspx

I think if we have to follow the world market prices why not make it the same price right acros the country!

This should get a few people talking :)

If you need help with any Lab issues I'll try and do my damndest to help. Yes get that dam chip of your shoulder.

Didn't anybody ever tell you you get more bees with honey than vinegar. Your obviously a very outspoken person and fairly well informed even if it may be swayed. You could do alot of good if you were to lend credence to your arguements instead of name calling and putting everyone of.

I challenge you to point out one post where someone doesn't show respect to Labrador and it's neglect? It's just the uninformed who are ignorant and it's your call to arms to inform. If your cause is just it will win over all odds.

EX: How can people call into VOCM open line and complain about holes in their pavement when Labrador doesn't even have roads. Or roads that aren't paved. Remember the dust that used to get on your laundry drying on the line. Or has it been that long?
One call and you would shut up the whole province!

Be careful what you wish for road means no ferry. But in time they will pave it. Baby steps one step at a time. Even if a proposed date for paving were discussed.

Personally I think Labrador is going to see a boom of tourism and traffic once the TLH opens in 2008.

I would like them to call that highway Innukshuk highway and put some innukshuks along it. Forgive the spelling.

I really shouldn't give you ammo you're liable to go on a shooting spree half cocked.

I guess i'll know by what you do with these suggestions.

 
At 12:09 AM, August 24, 2005 , Blogger NL-ExPatriate said...

Dam you look and sound familiar?

 

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