JANnuaRY 25, 2005

THE CADRE @ 3

NEWS

Sgro Resigns as

Immigration Minister

Embattled Immigration Minister Judy Sgro resigned a week ago amid sev- eral allegations of wrongdoing. Earlier, her chief of staff conducted business meetings at a strip club, and she granted a special immigration permit to a Ro- manian stripper who worked on her election campaign last summer. The new allegation which prompted her res- ignation comes from Harjit Singh, a pizza shop owner in Brampton, Ontario. He contends Ms. Sgro promised to

help him avoid deportation ifhe worked

on her election campaign. She denies this allegation and has vowed to fight it. The credibility of Mr. Singh is question- able; he has previously been convicted of fraud. Prime Minister Paul Martin has appointed Joe Volpe to replace Ms. Sgro as Immigration Minister.

Polar Foods Cost Taxpayers $31 Million

Auditor General Colin Younker released his view of the failure of Polar Foods International and concluded the ill-fated business venture cost the provincial government $31 Million. The Binns government defended itself in a press release issued immediately after the report, boasting the creation of Polar Foods created hundreds of additional jobs in addition to the 600 jobs brought into the company in the merger of 6 processing firms. The Auditor General slammed the government, claiming it paid shareholders $11.5 Million to amalgamate into Polar Foods before Teceiving financial statements of their businesses. Opposition leader Robert Ghiz has demand Development Minster Mike Currie resign in the wake of the Teport.

In Da Club - Biggest Seal Hunt Under Way

Jamie McGuigan Reporter

It’s the heart of winter in Atlantic Canada, which means two things: unpredictable weather, and the seal hunt. Widely denounced, this year’s seal hunt (which began

November 15") promises to be one of

the bloodiest yet. In 2003 the Federal government announced a quota of 965,000 seals could be killed over a three-year period.

These animals, not to be confused with pop star Seal, have been the subject of a long debate on whether the hunt should be cancelled. PETA, the group who once compared serving children hamburger to feeding them weed killer, calls the seal hunt “barbaric” and advocates people “sending polite, but very firm letters to the fisheries minister.”

Celebrities such as Paris Hilton have also slammed the seal hunt. Hilton, who is most widely known for having sex on video tape, advocates clubbing sandwiches instead, which as we all know is a ridiculous idea.

However, there are always two sides to astory. The Australian _ Antarctic Division (AAD), says “all seals are dangerous.” This danger is a part of what attracts many hunters, who view hunting seals as a rite of passage. These purists only hunt with clubs and spears, and

avoid rifles which they believe are “for

pussies”.

This is the case with super-vet seal hunter, and 3™ year business student Steve MacLeod. “I remember the first baby seal I clubbed. I didn’t

want to do it but my father made me. Afterwards I really felt it was one of the steps necessary to become a man.” MacLeod also feels many people overlook the benefits people receive from the seal hunt. Seals are used for their fur, oil, penises (which end up as aphrodisiacs in Asian markets, apparently seal penis is very erotic in Asia), and meat (think canned tuna). Furthermore, it is also believed that seals kill off an already low cod stock. With the lack of NHL hockey many Newfoundlanders have turned to seal hunting aS an obvious replacement. Over 2000 people have received personal licenses, on top of 10, 000 commercial licenses. Things are set to heat up in the next couple of months as the biggest leg of the seal hunt begins in March. Pacifist letter writers, and barbaric seal clubbers are set to clash in what may, or may not, go down as one of the bloodiest hunting seasons in the history of the world.

The Maple Leaf Pre- vails: Canadian Flags Flies High and Proud in Newfoundland and Labrador

Julie Bull Reporter

As 1am sure most of you are aware, the day that the last issue of The Cadre came out was the day that the Newfoundland and Labrador government decided to withdraw the decision to stop flying the Maple Leaf at Provincial Government Buildings. Premier Danny Williams feared the missing Canadian flag was becoming a bargaining chip for the federal government in the Atlantic Accord negotiations. Whatever one would call it, removing Canada’s flag sparked debate in this province and invited a mixed bag of criticism and condemnation from mainland Canada. Premier Williams says it was not a mistake to remove the national flag, and that it was an effective way to send a message to the people of Canada. Now all that remains is a waiting game that is amplified by a ‘he said, she said’

‘type scenario, Each side is waiting for

something from the other and people are left wondering who and what to believe.

At present, January 28 is the day that is set for Prime Minister Paul Martin and Premier Danny Williams to sit face-to-face and reignite talks of the Atlantic Accord. Though we may never know the whole story behind the decisions that have been made in regards to this, it is certain that it has left a mark for those people who were affected in any way, which inevitably includes nearly all Canadians.