As you watch Lisa Moore's taxpayer-subsidized Newfoundland nationalist puff-piece on CBC Newsworld's
The Passionate Eye, meditate on the following political and economic
koans:
Does Iceland have a neighbouring territory comparable in status, size, and economic condition, to Labrador, vis-a-vis Newfoundland?
What are the similarities and differences between the way fish quotas are allocated in Iceland and in Newfoundland [
sic]?
Quaere, what government-to-government transfer payments does Iceland receive? How do they compare with those received by Newfoundland [
sic]?
Lisa Moore and guests make numerous references to how Newfoundland [
sic] gave up control of its resources.
Quaere, which resources? Which resources are under provincial jurisdiction and which are under federal jurisdiction?
Count the number of times Lisa Moore and her guests say “island”, “this island”, “our island”, etc., and cross-tabulate against the number of references to Voisey’s Bay.
Lisa Moore notes that 1000 or so books were published in Iceland last year.
Quaere, why?
Quaere, how does the structure of the Icelandic labour force compare to that of Newfoundland [
sic], with particular reference to the size of the public service, the fisheries work force, and unionization?
Mary Walsh has counted the number of House of Commons seats which are allocated to Quebec (125 [
sic]) and Ontario (134 [
sic]). What does this tell you about the state of civics education in Canada?
Quaere, do Icelandic fishermen and fish plant workers collect something resembling employment insurance? What are the rates and qualifications?
Assuming, solely for the sake of argument, that the tourism promotion budget for Newfoundland [
sic] is so much lower than that of Iceland, whose fault is that?
How does Iceland manage fisheries beyond 200 miles? How is this similar to, or different from, Canada's fisheries management beyond 200 miles?
Lisa Moore mentions outmigration from Newfoundland [
sic]. What is the net migration figure for Newfoundland [
sic]? What about recent years? What are the comparable numbers for Iceland? What is the demographic trend in Iceland, as concerns the rural and urban population balance? Has Iceland ever undergone significant depopulation in the past; if so when; if so why; if so what was the long-term result?
How do the climates of Iceland and Newfoundland differ? What are the economic implications?
Lisa Moore notes the difference between literacy rates in Iceland and Newfoundland [
sic]. What are the implications?
Lisa Moore points to the existence of an Icelandic airline as a key to Iceland’s economic success.
Quaere, are there any airlines headquartered in Newfoundland [
sic]? If so, what are their names, and where do they fly?
Quaere, what is the economic significance of Iceland’s geographical position and proximity to other land masses? What is the significance of Newfoundland’s?
Lisa Moore and Mary Walsh go shopping at Canadian Tire. Lisa Moore also goes shopping in Iceland.
Quaere, why could they not find Newfoundland-made products at Canadian Tire in St. John’s? Whose fault is that?
Lisa Moore states that Iceland borrowed Coaker’s fisheries plan, lock, stock, and barrel. Is this historically accurate?
What is the size of the agriculture industry in Iceland; what are its products; what are the implications for the Icelandic economy; how does it compare to Newfoundland?
What protectionist measures does Iceland engage in? What are the implications for the local economy?
What are the savings and investment rates in Iceland, compared to Newfoundland [
sic]?
Compare the venture capital industry in Iceland to that of Newfoundland [
sic].
What government business subsidies are available in Iceland? How do they compare to those available in Newfoundland [
sic]?
Where does a body apply for a grant to do a documentary comparing Labrador to Yukon, Nunavut, or Greenland?
