...for taking care of thousands airline passengers stranded on Sept. 11 (http://"http://stjohns.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/nf-delegation-bush-20041130.html"), 2001.
Oh, so THAT'S why he's going to Halifax. Nice. I personally would like to see him get pied, or something, but it's a nice gesture. It's about time we get some positive attention from that man.
I'd be surprised if he even knows why he's there, though.
Oh, I'm sure he knows. 9-11 has sort of been a point of intrest for that man. (massive understatement) It took three and a half years, but you're welcome. Well, those travelers are welcome, anyway. Now send them back. We could always use the tourism. :grinno:
Many life long friendships were formed during the days following Sept 11, 2001 between Newfoundlanders (I'm sure Nova Scotians as well) and Americans.
In the Gander area local people opened their homes and their hearts to these stranded travelers. My sister even volenteered to ensuring that these people were as comfortable as they could be under the cirspoogestance. I've heard stories of Americans making hugh donations to the small towns that adopted them during this terriable time. Many Americans have returned every year since.
I'm a proud Newfoundlander (Newfoundlander first, Canadian second) but I was never more proud then i was that day when I saw how my people reacted to this event.
As much as i dislike George Bush, it's nice to get an official thank you from the American government...eventhough it will be in Halifax and not Gander where it should have been.
Yeah. Seems to be a bit of a cheat, to not at the very least be in St. John's. And I know the sentiment. New Scot first, then Canadian. I imagine the feeling is a little more widespread in Nfld., seeing as you've only been with us for 50 odd years and NS was one of the four originals.
Actually, I think it goes, New Scot (Newfoundlander), Maritimer, then Canadian. ;)
Feelings still run pretty deep on that topic, especially after all the talk lately about the Atlantic Accord. I think the deal to join Canada was done LONG before the vote was taken and the papers were signed. Even after two votes it was still only 51 to 49.
I've always thought that if any province were to seperate it would be Nfld. The second you fullows joined confederation your economy went to the shiznitter. Then again, so did ours. They shut down all the fisheries at once, screwing everybody out that way.
Any news on the Maritime fight with Ottawa? We don't get much news from home around here. Is it just to get higher quotas, or are they trying to open the fisheries completely?
Ol' W will be just a few miles from me, and he'll be flying directly over my house. I feel honoured. I'd LOVE to see Bush get pied - even better, I'd love to see him strangle a protester. And people said Cretien was no fun :D
Thundergrowl: I, too, wondered why he's visting Halifax but not Gander, though I think Halifax deserves some kudos as well - we did, after all, host stranded visitors here too. I offered to volunteer at Sackville High School, which was a short walk away from my house and where 1500 or so visitors were put up, but was politely told that they had more than enough volunteers. They took my info and told me they'd call me if they needed me, but they never did. Tens of thousands of people from Sackville and the surrounding communities offered help. I think in total it was over 20,000 that were stranded in the Halifax metro area, most of whom ended up in Sackville because we're close to the airport. Those days following 9/11/01 made me proud to be an atlantic Canadian. Scores of people who didn't even know Atlantic Canada even existed got a dose of our famous hospitality, and scores of people made new friends.
My first thought when I heard W was coming was "How did he ever find the place?". Then it was "Could he even spell Halifax?". I'm no Bush fan, but I do appreciate the fact that he is only the third US president ever to come to Halifax on an official visit, and as for the thanks: Better late than never. He didn't have to come to Canada, much less Halifax, so the very fact that he is shows he may finally be softening up on the political rift between our two countries.
As for Atlantic Canada in general, I would love to see NS, NB, PEI and NFLD unite as one province. I think we'd stand a better chance against Ottawa if we were one 2.5-million-strong province than we do as several tiny ones. The rest of the country might take us a little more seriuosly, too, especially when that offs oil finally starts flowing. Some might say that regional pride might prevent that from ever happening, but I think that our distrust of Ottawa would be enough to make us unite against it. I also think that should Quebec ever shiznit or get off the pot and finally get the hell out or stop holding the whole country hostage to an empty threat, unification would be our only option.
I think you've got something there. But less as one province, more like they have in Scotland. They're still part of the United Kingdom, but have their own level of Sovereignty as a collective of shires. We could still remain as our own provinces, but have the Maritimes govern itself to a greater degree. Just as the west feels detached from Ottawa, so does the East.
My first thought when I heard W was coming was "How did he ever find the place?". As for this.... :grinno:
:giggle: - I saw that in the Herald the other day and was gonna scan and post it :D
Personnaly, Im really impressed that Uncle Bush is able to say "thank!"
Hummm..... Im from Quebec and I thought it would be the Quebec Separating before any others province...
How come a one province only political party could be the official Opposition if we have no deputy in any other province? The Ukraine situation remind me ours here...
Our stupid Jean Cretien with his commandite and Canadian Unity fund spent 13 million just to try to keep us as Canadian and also pay Bus to any canadian willing to come here to try to convince us not to separate while the 1995 Referendum....
Federal Government were scared in 1970 but not as much as in 1995.... So, We will win the next one... :rock:
I hope you Newfoudland will join with us if this happen.... Cuz when Quebec will sperate from canada (And it will), Canada will Kiss Other Maritime Province Goodbye! We are between Ontario and Nfld, Prince Edouard Ilands etc... what do you think is gonna happen?
Im already feeling better talking about it...
Did you read the article linked in my first post? 21000 people landed in the Atlantic provinces with the magority in NL. 6500 in Gander which has a population of only 10000 - the population of Gander went up 65% in just a couple hours. I wouldn't want to take any kudos away from Hailfax but I think the Gander area did way more than it's share.
Hmmm??? I'm not sure how that idea would fly here. I don't think I would want the country to spilt up but sometimes I wonder what would have been if NL didn't join Canada in the first place???
That's why NL wanted Que to leave. With Quebec out of the way it'd be quicker to drive to Ontario :) j/k
ive been to halifax and id love to go back one day,, maybe ill take over the castle on the hill :evilgrin:
anyways,, you all beat me to posting something about this but what about the humor factor?????
G bush quote
"id like the thank all the canadians who showed up today to wave.................
......with all five fingers" :giggle: :giggle: :giggle: :giggle:
another one......
"parlament was canceled today for fear of hecklers" :giggle: :giggle:
(not sure if you all call your senate "parlement" but you get my drift"
i love canada :ies: except for the aluminium coinage
Quebec will not separate. If they did, they should have no dependance on Canada, whatsoever. If you want to govern yourself, you must fund your own government and services. I actually take great issue with the situation between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The government should stop pouring money into Quebec. Then we will see what everyone really wants.
Now, what I propose is that Quebec govern itself completely, as the group is so incredibly divided from the rest of us. I feel you deserve that, since obviously you are not being represented in Ottawa. I can understand that. But Quebec has a larger voice than the rest of Canada, second only to Ontario. The massive population in these two provinces make 90% of all decisions in our Country. Anyway, let Quebec govern Quebecors. But, these massive equalization payments (yeah right, my arse. The Atlantic provinces gets equalization payments too, but they're nothing in comparison to that which Quebec receives) have got to end. You said it yourself. The Federal government has been 'bribing' the people of Quebec for ages, trying to keep them in confederation. If they want to go, let them go! Just make it clear what will NOT be happening. Life does not simply go on with Ottawa funneling massive sums of money into the province.
Now if that happens, you'll be completely screwing the Maritimes, so there would have to be something worked out so trade between east and west doesn't stop completely, and free passage between the two Sovereign states would be extremely important.
The reason I assumed Nfld would go back first is because a good portion of the people there remember what it was like living under the Union Jack, and realise what happened to their industry after they adopted the leaf.
The Maritimes could work as its own entity but still remain Canadian. If less taxes went to Ottawa, and more to the Maritimes themselves, then we, the Atlantic Provinces, could decide how the money would be spent there. We are very proud of who we are, as the Maritimes, and as our own states, and we know what's going on down there better than anyone from Central Canada.
*disclaimer*
Alright, this is how I see things. I don't represent anyone but myself with these opinions. If I'm mistaken about some of the relationships between provinces, please correct me, and back it up, if you can.
I'm just pissed off that Bush has been up here all day, and the only thing that's happened is smiling, nodding, and bs'ing the public. This is 110% PR. No border issues have been addressed. Not even talked about. He's here to show us 'we're friends', but has absolutely no intention of proving it. He even said, 'There's no reason we two Countries can't disagree on the war in Iraq, and have that effect trade.'
WHAT A **** NUT! Both of them. Martin just sits there, with his constipated smile, and pretends like everything is peachy, while the Border has been closed to Beef for a year and a half, and lumber has been stuck in BC for even longer. If you'd get off your knees, someone might respect you enough to trade with you, Pauly.
But puppiesan is taking our beef again, and numerous other Asian countries are opening their borders for the first time, or all over again. NAFTA is bullshiznit, and these past two years have proved it. Time to find some new people to sell our shiznit to.
:rollin:
Sly: I think that had there been a vote in the
rest of Canada for that referendum y'all woulda been out on yer arses, regardless of what your province voted for (I know how
I woulda voted, anyway). Canada does not need Quebec as much as Quebec needs Canada, and we're all growing tired of having a bunch of whiners crying because we don't consider them to be special. Any person that would support a political movement that refused to honour the soldiers that died in two World Wars to keep their asses from saying "Heil Hitler" on the very day that was set aside to remember them is beneath contempt. You're Canadian or you're not. You are not "distinct". Only in Canada could a political party that would in any other country be called treasonous and thrown in jail actually be voted in as the opposition party! And Quebecers actually complain about being a part of such a country!
If you think for one moment that the Maritimes would even consider joining Quebec should it separate you're dreaming. We all think you're a bunch of treasonous s for even floating the idea of separation, and we certainly wouldn't join you. Yes, we'd be separated from Ontario, but we already are anyway. Plus, Alaska is separated from USA and you don't see them begging to join Canada or Russia, and to top all of that off, we have oil. Quebec has
nothing to offer anybody except Quebecers. Imagine, a province that actually passed a law against english on signs. I can just imagine how much freedom you all will have without the protection of the constitution (which your treasonous government ignores at its whim anyway). I just wish Quebec would hurry up and leave so I can watch your economy go swirling down the toilet without Ottawa's handouts. Think the GST was bad? Just wait 'til you see your taxes after the separation. Think health care sucks now? Just wait 'til you see how it goes without Ottawa's hand-outs.
This country needs work, to be sure, but it does not need to bless Quebec with any special rights, grants, laws or omissions. Every single province in this country should be treated equally. We should not have to bend over backwards to accomadate a whiny child that wants to sit in the front seat every time. If you want to leave, try to convince your friends. Hopefully you'll get what you've been asking for sooner or later...
That being said, this thread is about Bush visting Canada, it's not about Quebec pipe dreams. If you'd like to start a thread about Quebec there is a forum for that kind of thing on Cougarnuts. I'll not lock horns with you on the subject here.
Scott, if you knew what that castle is famous for you'd want nothing to do with it :grinno: , eh Oldraven?
thinking,,,,,,,thinking,,,
blue beard the pirates castle?
i feel like the 2million dollar man that finally lost tonight on jeopardy.
Let's just say that pirates of a different sort frequent the place at night...
Aye, Carmen. I'm with ye.
(the bunghole pirates)
As for the Citadel itself, you probably wouldn't want anything to do with that either. Consider it the Hub of the war of 1812. Da's where the Privateers got the King's go ahead.
1st of all I wasnt bullshizniting the maritime province.... I'm sorry if it sound like it (My english is not perfect).... I was just saying, How can a country be split in 2 with an other between both part... this make no sense..... :screwy: :screwy:
:giggle: :giggle:
Good one.....
They are working on it... probably will not affect Transport at all....
We will probably have better cooperation of Rest of Canada with trading than US representative. (Wood, Beef....)
BTW, We haven't sign yet the Constitution that Pierre Elliot Trudeau (P.E.T. = Fart in French) imposed us in 1982. Technically, we are not a part of Canada :screwy:
I cannot believe they renamed the Dorval Airport in his name Here in Québec.... It was kind of an insult to us... Quebec alway Hated Trudeau....
We are the only pr0nvice with 2 tax? GST/QST (15.5% total) :mad:.
You may think your smart with your Oil from Outs platform, but who's the lucky b*tch with the Hydro-Electricity? :flip:
I dont know were you take your infos but here in Quebec, we do not prohibit English sign or want it to be... The laws heres are You need to have French part bigger than any other language... (Ex : 60% of a sign in FR and 40% English/Chineese/Spanish/whatever
There was a proposition couples of year ago about Switching to U.S. dollars if we separate. I dont know if a decision was taken since...
Let me explain that right..... Its was a misinterpretation.... The deputy in question (Dont remember his name) said that he refused, as a Separatist party, to promote the Canadian Unity by giving canadian flag to MR. ANYONE who want one.... M. Duceppe Replied, "We will honor the Canadian soldiers, If they need Canadian flag we will provide em..."
I have absolutely no problem giving flag in honnor of those who deserved it giving their life for liberty in the name of Canada....
But still, the chance you see a :canada: outside my house are very thin.... not to say inexistant... :disappoin
And please, dont tell me all your representative in ottawa never get in hot water because of misinterpretation??? :dunce: :dunce:
My Grand Father is a Veterant and he is still voting "Bloc Quebecois".... are you questionning his opinion too?
As I said, We have 2 Tax and it wouldn't change if we split up....
We are fighting for year to run our Health Care Alone without funding Fed because we only get back a low percentage of what we pay for health.
Who want to live there anyway? :giggle:
Ill take it as a positive thought.... When American wanted to separate from Britain before 1776, do you think they said the same about it?
:stupid:
As I said before, WE DIDNT SIGN IT ANYWAY.... we will do our own...
We are a Multicultural society where we want to live.... not survive.... :bs:
Stop thinking we are just some :screwy: :dunce: :brick:
Most of your Prime Ministers were from Quebec... :slap:
Wilfrid Laurier (St-Lin)
Louis Stephen Saint-Laurent (Temiscouata)
Pierre Eliot Trudeau (Montreal)
Brian Mulroney (Baie Comeau)
Jean Chretien (Shawinigan) <<--- Worst Prime Minister ever (look & act stupid)
And maybe some more I dont remember.... :sleep:
Also, dont forget you voted for some of em.... (I dont know how old you are)
Do you think Newfie are better than everyone or is it only touching your Ego that we want and will get our independance before you?
We maybe speaking French, but we Arent.... Frenchs Suck and so you does if you really think all this :bs: you said....!
:repost:
Anyway.... I think I will shut it up cuz I'm the only one from Québec on this board and I dont want to argue more than this to finnaly end with 3000 threatening msgs in my Email box because of my "treasonous s" status.
Im out this thread.... My fingers are on fire and im here to have a good time with Cougar/T-Bird fans.... (our Common point.... I guess)
BTW, dont forget to add a Québec Flag to Smilies if we Separate... :deal: :grinno:
It was my 10 bucks instead of my :2c: today...
Now I need to smoke a Big Fat blunt of
(http://overgrow.com/images/oftheweek/strain-fiend_02.jpg)
Soon legalised too... :cheers: :headbang:
Um, Sly... I'm not a newfie. That would be thundergrowl. I'm Nova Scotian.
You actually believe that you are the only province with two retail sales taxes? I think Alberta is the only province without two taxes! Here in NS we pay 15% HST (harmonized sales tax - 7% GST, 8% PST) and before it became "harmonized" it was 18% (7% GST and 11% PST)! Ontario pays 15%, PEI pays 17%, NB pays 15% (I'm unsure of the rest of the provinces) - we ALL get suckered with the GST, and you'd have a hard time finding a Canadian in or out of Quebec that doesn't hate the tax with a passion.
Like I said, I know our country needs work. Every single province in this nation thinks (knows, actually) that it is being boned by Ottawa. The Maritimes got screwed out of our fisheries and now Ottawa is trying to screw us out of our oil. Quebec and Ontario know that Ottawa has bled their health care systems white. The western provinces know that Ottawa has screwed their farming industries while draining their oil income away. Ottawa has bones us all, but none of us (except Quebec) are whining for special treatment. We need to UNITE to solve our problems. Saying "If you don't do things my way I'm taking my ball and going home" won't solve anything.
Here, here!
And we just have GST in Alberta. 7% It's nice.
I actually don't want to see Quebec leave Canada. There's no reason we can't work as one nation. It seems all of the animosity is coming from Quebec. As a Quebecor, how are you treated elsewhere in Canada? Well, I know when I've been in Quebec, I got treated like scum, because I asked for my coffee in English. I'm sorry if I can't speak French as well as I should. I'd probably piss you off worse if I tried.
Anyway, the federal government is VERY good at taking money from its citizens, but terrible at doing anything useful with it. That goes for Conservative and Liberal. We're all getting screwed. If you want to make a difference, join the rest of the voice fighting Ottawa. Divided, we're just 'a couple crying Newfies', 'a slew of Western wimps' and 'a bunch of whining Quebecors'. If we stood up to the shiznit our government dishes out as a single nation, don't you think we'd make a bigger impact.
Canada's goal is to be a bi-lingual nation, perfectly equal in every way. We've just got the wrong people doing the paperwork.
Actually, I don't want to see Quebec leave either, I just got a little over-emotional at the suggestion that the maritimes would join Quebec if they did. The thing I really want is for Quebec to shiznit or get off the pot. This nation will never get better as long as Quebec is dangling the separation sword over our heads. Leave or stay, but make up your frickin' minds (and sly, no hard feelings. You'll always be welcome here!)
Now in an attempt to get this thread back on topic: I just watched Bush's speech and I must say it was far more than the simple "thank you" it was supposed to be. He actually delivered a major foreign policy speech, and even touched on the cattle and softwood issues (he ate Alberta beef and is still standing). I haven't watched many of Bush's speeches, but this one happened here so I felt kind of obligated to, and I will say this: the man seems to be trying to patch up differences. I don't know Bush's record on following through on his speech promises, so I may be a bit more optimistic than I should be, but he actually did seem concerned about the rift between our countries and overcoming the problems.
Any links to that speach? I'd like to know what he had to say. Video's are no good to me at work.
How's this (http://"http://stjohns.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/nf-bush-thanks-20041201.html"). There are a couple other links in there as well.
Thanks Thundergrowl. Hey, looks like Bush has finally discovered how to speak with Canadians. With comedy. :p
"There's a prominent citizen who endorsed me in the 2000 election, and I wanted a chance to finally thank him for that endorsp00get," Bush said.
"I was hoping to meet Jean Poutine."
That, by the way, was my absolute favorite episode to date. This would be the first time in about two years I've reacted to Bush with anything but a snarl.
Here's another I found on Canada.com http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=effdcd66-fa2a-44b5-be8f-fa9dce562083
Also, for the first time since the election, Martin said something I agree with.
While Martin said he was opposed to the weaponization of space, he did not specifically rule out working with the United States on missile defence.
"We are a sovereign nation and we will make the decisions about our airspace,"
Martin told a news conference after Bush's speech.
Anyone from Quebec who wants to leave Canada, Feel free. Hop on a plane and get the hell out of the country that the rest of us love (faults and all). There are worse places to live. Maybe there's a piece of desert in the middle east where you can raise the Fleur du Lis And try to write your own constitution. Otherwise, shut up with all the seperatist whining and get on with what's important - living a normal peaceful life. This is where wars start you know, with all these lines drawn in the sand. :canada: :slap:
Umm, we kind of learned that the expulsion was a bad thing. We're not looking to do it again.