A direct flight from Ireland to Halifax, a new hotel in Truro, tourists from New York and Philly, a completely incomprehensible business deal, plus discussion of premier RodMac’s tough line with Ottawa over the Atlantic Accord. This is Metro in the sleepy days of summer. Full links apres jump.
SEE YOU IN COURT
from Calgary
So the prime minister is telling the premiers of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to stick the Atlantic Accord up their asses. And the premiers are calling out the PM as a lying sack o’ shit. Sounds like a perfect time to visit a judge. The Calgary Sun runs a story that says although the provinces have a case, they’ll probably lose:
Wayne MacKay, a law professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, says the courts would likely agree to hear the case, based on the fact the 2005 agreements have legislative clout.
But the courts are just as likely to conclude the dispute, which centres on whether Ottawa is breaking the agreements, belongs in the political arena because of the constitutional supremacy of parliament. (story here)
I’m game to see how this plays out. As a bonus, getting RodMac and Harper tied up in court might keep them out of our hair.
IRISH FLIES
from Shannon, Ireland
According to a press release, Old Ireland politician Flan Garvey and New Scotland pol Len Goucher are trying to arrange a direct flight between their respective turfs:
Mayor of Clare Councillor Flan Garvey will this week meet with Nova Scotia’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage to discuss the potential for establishing a direct flight between the West of Ireland and the Canadian province. Currently, there is no established direct link between Nova Scotia and the West of Ireland. The Shannon-Halifax link was first proposed last August when the two public representatives met at the Milwaukee Irish Fest in Wisconsin, where both were engaged in separate tourism promotion campaigns. It is anticipated that this week’s meeting will lead to a submission being made to a transatlantic carrier regarding the proposed service. (story here)
With any luck, on the inaugural trip the two politicians will have a contest to see which of them has the most ridiculous name.
JARGON WATCH
from Presque Isle, Maine
Something seems to be happening to a Halifax company:
Officials at Maine & Maritimes Corporation (AMEX: MAM) today announced that the assets of the Halifax, Nova Scotia Division of The Maricor Group, Canada Ltd (“TMGC”) have been sold to M & R Engineering Limited. M & R Engineering is owned by Denis A. Morris, the previous Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of TMGC in Halifax. According to MAM Chief Financial Officer Michael I. Williams, the proceeds of this transaction will be used to retire debt incurred in connection with the original acquisition of the Halifax engineering division in 2004, and may result in an adjustment to the estimated book loss reported in MAM’s Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2006.
Richard G. Daigle, Chairperson of Maine & Maritimes Corporation’s Board of Directors, states, “We continue to make strides towards the divestiture of our unregulated businesses. The sale of the Halifax Division of The Maricor Group will enable us to focus additional resources on the utility sector of our business.” (story here)
If you know whether this is good news or bad, please drop a line.
HITTING THE HUB
from Oak Brook, Illinois
Hotels magazine has a report about a new Holiday Inn going up in Truro. Hot times for the hub of Nova Scotia — and the Halifax-based company that will run the new hotel.
Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. (PHSI) of Halifax manages the hotel. “Truro and surrounding area have a thriving business community and hospitality industry and as the Hub of Nova Scotia will benefit from an efficient and tastefully renovated hotel complete with many unique amenities,” PHSI President and CEO, Glenn Squires said today. “With 10,000 square feet of multi-purpose meetings and function space the new Holiday Inn can accommodate dinners for up to 400 people or meetings of 25 participants. We believe this hotel offers Truro new opportunities to build its reputation as a meetings centre and will help support its tourism base,” Mr. Squires said. (story here)
Good luck with that.
TOURIST MAGNETISM
from Philadelphia
Summer hits the province, and the American travel writers start gushing. Exhibit number one: A Philadelphia Inquirer story about biking from Halifax to Yarmouth:
No doubt about it, Peggy’s Cove is a tourist trap, especially on weekends, Mahone Bay is worthy of an artist’s colony, and Lunenburg, farther down the coast, fits the American image of elegant days on the shore.
But the allure of the remainder of Highway 3, the slow road to Yarmouth, is the quiet and solitude of a region that, for the most part, didn’t seem to get the memo that described “tourist magnet” and all the dreadful kitsch that usually comes with it. We traveled about 350 twisting miles in six days and took in the sights of a lovely coast largely unspoiled by condos, resorts and the blight of franchise creep, save for Canada’s national restaurant, Tim Horton’s Donuts.(story here)
The grass is always more unspoiled on the other side of the fence.
TOURIST TRIPE
from New York
Exhibit number two is this line from a Daily News writeup about travelling lovely Nova Scotia:
From Grand Pre, it’s only a short hop back to Halifax, the capital of the province, where 18th and 19th century architecture shares the streets with towers of glass and steel. (story here)
In New York, these romantic “towers of glass and steel” are simply “buildings” or “that piece of shit from .”
Let’s get this shit straight: If you see Halifax mentioned when you’re wandering cyberspace, send links here.
This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2007.
