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Canada Today: Getting Away From It All on Cape Breton Island Canada Today: Getting Away From It All on Cape Breton Island
(12 days later)
Along with its scenery and coastline, the scarcity of population on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia can be an attraction for tourists. For locals, however, the population decline on the island is a headache. In an effort to find employees for their store and bakery in one town there, Whycocomagh, members of the Austin family offered two acres of free land to anyone who would work for them for at least five years. Although the land was well off the grid, more than 50,000 people applied.Along with its scenery and coastline, the scarcity of population on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia can be an attraction for tourists. For locals, however, the population decline on the island is a headache. In an effort to find employees for their store and bakery in one town there, Whycocomagh, members of the Austin family offered two acres of free land to anyone who would work for them for at least five years. Although the land was well off the grid, more than 50,000 people applied.
Craig S. Smith, who has joined Dan Levin and me in reporting from Canada, traveled there to meet the three families chosen by the Austins. The result is a charming story of dreams, community and new beginnings.Craig S. Smith, who has joined Dan Levin and me in reporting from Canada, traveled there to meet the three families chosen by the Austins. The result is a charming story of dreams, community and new beginnings.
Impossible. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government was strongly in favor of a free-trade agreement with Europe, even though it had been negotiated by the Conservative government that was voted out a year ago. Mr. Trudeau had penciled in a trip to Brussels on Oct. 27 to sign the pact.Impossible. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government was strongly in favor of a free-trade agreement with Europe, even though it had been negotiated by the Conservative government that was voted out a year ago. Mr. Trudeau had penciled in a trip to Brussels on Oct. 27 to sign the pact.
He can stop packing his bags. The deal, at least for now, appears to have fallen apart. Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s international trade minister, walked away on Friday from a last-minute attempt to save the agreement in Namur, Belgium, and used some unusually blunt language to describe the outcome.He can stop packing his bags. The deal, at least for now, appears to have fallen apart. Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s international trade minister, walked away on Friday from a last-minute attempt to save the agreement in Namur, Belgium, and used some unusually blunt language to describe the outcome.
“It is now evident to me, evident to Canada, that the European Union is incapable of reaching an agreement — even with a country with European values such as Canada, even with a country as nice and as patient as Canada,” she said in a statement. “I think it’s impossible. We are returning home, at least I will see my three children tomorrow.”“It is now evident to me, evident to Canada, that the European Union is incapable of reaching an agreement — even with a country with European values such as Canada, even with a country as nice and as patient as Canada,” she said in a statement. “I think it’s impossible. We are returning home, at least I will see my three children tomorrow.”
A mouse-that-roared situation seems to have killed the plan.A mouse-that-roared situation seems to have killed the plan.
While Belgium’s central government backed the agreement, the legislature of Wallonia, the French-speaking region with a population of about 3.5 million, voted it down. The prospect of a free-trade deal had provoked concerns among Wallonia’s farmers, environmentalists and union activists. Belgium’s government then withdrew its support because the pact needed the endorsement of each of the country’s regions. Europe, similarly, would have required unanimous consent from its 28 member states to approve the deal.While Belgium’s central government backed the agreement, the legislature of Wallonia, the French-speaking region with a population of about 3.5 million, voted it down. The prospect of a free-trade deal had provoked concerns among Wallonia’s farmers, environmentalists and union activists. Belgium’s government then withdrew its support because the pact needed the endorsement of each of the country’s regions. Europe, similarly, would have required unanimous consent from its 28 member states to approve the deal.
The agreement’s failure is not likely to have much of an effect on Canada’s economy. But shoppers in Canada, who were hoping for lower prices on French cheese after tariffs were lifted, now face disappointment.The agreement’s failure is not likely to have much of an effect on Canada’s economy. But shoppers in Canada, who were hoping for lower prices on French cheese after tariffs were lifted, now face disappointment.
Boundary Lines. As all Canadians know, the land border with the United States is the longest between any two countries in the world — and isn’t exactly undefended anymore. Ron Nixon, one of my colleagues, went out with American Border Patrol agents and found they employ lots of high-tech gadgetry to keep an eye on things. But he also reported that, just because the border patrol can see what’s going on, it does not mean they can necessarily stop it.Boundary Lines. As all Canadians know, the land border with the United States is the longest between any two countries in the world — and isn’t exactly undefended anymore. Ron Nixon, one of my colleagues, went out with American Border Patrol agents and found they employ lots of high-tech gadgetry to keep an eye on things. But he also reported that, just because the border patrol can see what’s going on, it does not mean they can necessarily stop it.
The story’s accompanying video dramatically shows that, despite the electronic monitoring, much of the border between New England and Canada is remarkably ill-defined, in many spots is marked by little more than cut grass.The story’s accompanying video dramatically shows that, despite the electronic monitoring, much of the border between New England and Canada is remarkably ill-defined, in many spots is marked by little more than cut grass.
And Boundary Waters. For the Times’ Travel section, Porter Fox visited the 1.1 million square mile Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness which separates Minnesota and Canada. “From the air it looks like a green carpet, gouged southwest to northeast by glaciers.” he wrote. “From the water it looks like another time — when nature was not a thing that grew at the edge of civilization, but a world unto itself in which humans were guests.” And Boundary Waters. For the Times’ Travel section, Porter Fox visited the 1.1 million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which separates Minnesota and Canada. “From the air it looks like a green carpet, gouged southwest to northeast by glaciers.” he wrote. “From the water it looks like another time — when nature was not a thing that grew at the edge of civilization, but a world unto itself in which humans were guests.”
Slow Takeoff. Plagued by debt and other problems, Bombardier said on Friday that it was cutting about 7,500 jobs worldwide. The reductions are on top of 7,000 jobs the company had, in February, said it would eliminate. Most of the job cuts will come from the division that makes transit trains and passenger rail cars rather than its aviation operations.Slow Takeoff. Plagued by debt and other problems, Bombardier said on Friday that it was cutting about 7,500 jobs worldwide. The reductions are on top of 7,000 jobs the company had, in February, said it would eliminate. Most of the job cuts will come from the division that makes transit trains and passenger rail cars rather than its aviation operations.
In a roundabout way, a company spokesman confirmed that the majority of the cuts will be in Europe, where the rail division is headquartered. But 2,000 jobs will be lost in Canada, 1,500 of them in Quebec.In a roundabout way, a company spokesman confirmed that the majority of the cuts will be in Europe, where the rail division is headquartered. But 2,000 jobs will be lost in Canada, 1,500 of them in Quebec.
Bombardier wasn’t the only company eliminating jobs this week. The Postmedia Network Canada Corporation, which owns the National Post and is the leading newspaper publisher in several major Canadian cities, including Vancouver and Calgary, said that it would cut 800 jobs through buyouts and, if needed, layoffs. The announcement was the latest in a string of severe job reductions at Postmedia, which bought a rival, the tabloid publisher Sun Media, last year.Bombardier wasn’t the only company eliminating jobs this week. The Postmedia Network Canada Corporation, which owns the National Post and is the leading newspaper publisher in several major Canadian cities, including Vancouver and Calgary, said that it would cut 800 jobs through buyouts and, if needed, layoffs. The announcement was the latest in a string of severe job reductions at Postmedia, which bought a rival, the tabloid publisher Sun Media, last year.
Lace Up. Watch skates being custom made for the stars of the N.H.L. in this video from the CCM factory in St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, by Nilo Tabrizy.Lace Up. Watch skates being custom made for the stars of the N.H.L. in this video from the CCM factory in St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, by Nilo Tabrizy.
Canadian Values. In The Times’ Opinion Pages, Martin Patriquin, the Quebec bureau chief for Maclean’s, looked at how Canadians view immigrants and found that, when it comes to fully accepting the ways of newcomers, “perhaps Canadians aren’t quite so Canadian as the cliché suggests.”Canadian Values. In The Times’ Opinion Pages, Martin Patriquin, the Quebec bureau chief for Maclean’s, looked at how Canadians view immigrants and found that, when it comes to fully accepting the ways of newcomers, “perhaps Canadians aren’t quite so Canadian as the cliché suggests.”
Here are some articles from The Times, not necessarily related to Canada, that I found interesting this week:Here are some articles from The Times, not necessarily related to Canada, that I found interesting this week:
— Phil Chess, who founded Chess Records with his brother Leonard in Chicago, has died at the age of 95. Chess was to Chicago blues what Motown was to Detroit’s music scene. The label’s roster included Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson.— Phil Chess, who founded Chess Records with his brother Leonard in Chicago, has died at the age of 95. Chess was to Chicago blues what Motown was to Detroit’s music scene. The label’s roster included Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson.
— Fleet Street in London was synonymous with the British press. Now the last two journalists have left the area which is now dominated by bankers.— Fleet Street in London was synonymous with the British press. Now the last two journalists have left the area which is now dominated by bankers.
— For much of its history, Walmart was known for low wages. What happened when it increased them? Cleaner stores and higher sales.— For much of its history, Walmart was known for low wages. What happened when it increased them? Cleaner stores and higher sales.
— The ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” are showing their age. The Smithsonian Institution, which has owned and displayed them since 1979, is hoping to raise $300,000 through a Kickstarter campaign to preserve the shoes (which are mismatched sizes) and build a special, temperature-controlled display case.— The ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” are showing their age. The Smithsonian Institution, which has owned and displayed them since 1979, is hoping to raise $300,000 through a Kickstarter campaign to preserve the shoes (which are mismatched sizes) and build a special, temperature-controlled display case.
A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for over a decade. Follow him on Twitter at @ianrausten.A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for over a decade. Follow him on Twitter at @ianrausten.
Tell us what you think at CanadaToday@nytimes.com. And, using the link above, please subscribe to the email newsletter version.Tell us what you think at CanadaToday@nytimes.com. And, using the link above, please subscribe to the email newsletter version.