Anniversaries

So today marks the 60 year anniversary of Newfoundland and Labrador joining Canada. Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of the creation of Nunavut. There's going to be a lot of celebration as well as reflection for both and I look forward to reading a lot of it over the next few days. I'm not really sure how much of a milestone 60 years in Canada is, to be honest. I suspect if the current premier wasn't kicking up such a racket about Ottawa it might have passed with little comment. But no, there will be quite a bit of navel gazing happening across the country on this one, I suspect.

Nunavut's 10th is a far more interesting and legitimate anniversary. After 10 years it's fair to look back and see what's been accomplished and what still needs work. What have been the successes and the failures. However, this anniversary hits a little too close to where I work, so as is my standard policy on this blog, I won't be commenting on it. But I do encourage my fellow northern bloggers, those who feel comfortable commenting, what they think of Nunavut over the past 10 years. I think it could be a fascinating discussion.

As for Newfoundland and Labrador, well, there will be no shortage of words written. The Telegram did some nice work this past weekend. As for myself, well, rather than get too long-winded on this, I think I'll just republish something. Craig Westcott of The Business Post asked me, a bunch of other people, a couple of weeks ago to write 200 words on what Confederation has meant for Newfoundland and Labrador. There's nothing like having a small word limit to hurt the brain and make you focus.

It's being published this evening, but I don't think Craig would mind if I put up here what I sent to him. Anyway, my thoughts on 60 years of Confederation.

There are times when I think joining Canada been one of the few signs of maturity and wisdom we've displayed over the past 60 years. It takes a bold gesture to realize that you're better off being part of something greater than yourself rather than to try and flail about miserably on your own for more decades.

Never doubt there were going to be miserable decades to come after 1949 if we stayed on our own, likely run by politicians so inept as to make Smallwood look like a genius. For all the nationalists who like to write the alternate history fantasy about how grand Newfoundland and Labrador would be if it had never joined Canada in 1949, I have a different world in mind that is grimmer and far more likely. Where poverty and corruption, long a part of Newfoundland life when it was an independent nation, continued for the rest of the 20th century.

Are there things that could be better between the rest of Canada and the province? Of course. Like most worthwhile things, it takes time and effort. When you have leaders willing to work to solve problems rather than pick fights to score political points. Perhaps when we elect some of those, it'll be the next sign that we're continuing to grow up.

Last Five
1. Since I don't have you - Guns 'n Roses
2. Missing you - Bob Mould
3. Apres moi - Regina Spektor
4. Extraordinary girl - Green Day
5. No surprises - Radiohead*