Well, it's fine that the Canadian Transportation Agency has filed a court order against Omnitrax, but the question is, is there any teeth to it?
By that I mean fines, asset seizures, or other penalties if they don't come through? The article doesn't say. If Omnitrax attention isn't gotten by a hit in the wallet, all the court orders in the world won't make a difference.
You know, back during one of the railroad controversies here in the US, I think in the 1850's, a New York paper editorialized that "Corporations do not have souls, but they DO have pockets! They cannot be punished in the next world, but they can be punished in THIS one!"
Sound advice then and now.
Well yes it is sound advice, except that it this day and age there will be endless appeals and the lawyers rack up the bills and drag it on and on. Unless there is a courageous judge who slams down the gavel and says "that is enough!" Not sure you can do that.
You know what would not be too surprising...something like China or the Saudis steps in and pays for everything from soup to nuts and reroutes grain routes and intermodal thru Churchill. Allready happening in the prairies. The Saudis own the grain, railroad shortlines ex CNR and CPR branches, elevators and ships at the Great Lakes transfer. Now that wil put you in your seat.
That would be a pleasant surprise to have a bunch of foreign investors with money come into this country and get our manfacturing sector up and running so we could get this economy moving ahead and improving the world.
Hmmm...the Chinese will have soverienty aspirations and the Saudis societal change, have to be careful with parallel societies, their values are not our values....but it definitely could be done right with plenty of safeguards and it could be a good thing for all.
In the meantime the Native communities along the line are facing winter soon and the line needed to start repairs by July 3 to beat the snows and the ice. It looks like, and I fear, another year goes by with no hope in sight.
Also as Firelock has reminded us through history, it is almost certain the Government wants everyone resettled. Leave or you are on your own with nothing.
EuclidThat would be a pleasant surprise to have a bunch of foreign investors with money come into this country and get our manfacturing sector up and running so we could get this economy moving ahead and improving the world.
Chop sticks and burkas!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Of course we have foreign investment now in Churchill..OmniTax in Denver bought the railroad in 1999 and still owns it, and the Port of Churchill too!
The old CNR and new imaged CN did a great job with the line. Of course they were mandated by being a Crown Corporation to do so. Profit was not a motive but then neither is the Post Office.
CN provided a great service.
Here is the whole ad, courtesy of a previous well respected and beloved Forum member
Now didn't that look like a fun and fascinating trip!
Although I could do without the dead belugas. I know, different time, different ways. But aside from that, wow!
Even that non-resident fishing license was reasonable! And well worth it, I'm sure. Canada's got the best trout fishing I've ever done.
Yeah the Belugas are from a time past. No way that happens today. Kind of embarrasing these days and they are protected, as are Narwhals. Also we do not use the term Eskimo any longer. It's Inuit. Rightly so. Although we do still have the Edmonton Eskimos football team.
By the way bad boy Johnny Manziel is now a Hamilton Tiger Cat.
I understand. We still have Eskimo Pies in the ice cream sections of American supermarkets!
Off-topic, but as a life-long Esks fan I can't resist.
Every few years someone tries to get the Eskimos to change their name, but the issue always dies down after a while. Personally I think there are more important things to worry about, and that the name-change advocates are simply latching onto a cause to grab some publicity for themselves.
But the issue has flared up again recently, and this time it feels different. Perhaps next year I will be cheering for the Edmonton Pink Elephants!
Now for a bit of history, the Esks' name originated (like so many things out here) from the Edmonton vs Calgary rivalry, we said they were too far south and might as well be Americans, they said we were too far north and would better be called Eskimos! Back in 1905 that probably seemed harmless, and the name stuck.
The "Eskimos" name is not the only case of the team wearing a would-be insult with pride, more recently we were nicknamed the "evil empire" due to the team's wealth and success on the field. In response the Stadium staff started playing the Imperial March (Darth Vader's theme) when the players took to the field!
And to keep this slightly railroad-related, CP's Edmonton-Calgary passenger trains were once named for the cities' respective teams; Eskimo northbound and Stampeder southbound.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Now thats a great story about the origin of the team's names. Both Alberta teams have been dominant in the CFL for a while now with a little bit of the Saskatchewan Roughriders sticking their nose in.
For our American cousins our football is a wee bit different .. the field is wider, 65 yards vs 53, it is longer by ten yards ( there is a 55 yard line in the middle), and we only have 3 downs, not 4, which makes for a faster paced game. No time for foolin' around. There are 12 players on the field not 11 for each team and the endzones are 20 yards not 10.
Only scoring difference is a single point awarded for a missed field goal or punt that goes out of bounds in the end zone or is not run out by the opposing team.
Some American quarterbacks never adapt well to the 3 downs and others thrive with the larger field. Manziel is doing fine. Kapernick is next.
MiningmanNow thats a great story about the origin of the team's names. Both Alberta teams have been dominant in the CFL for a while now with a little bit of the Saskatchewan Roughriders sticking their nose in. For our American cousins our football is a wee bit different .. the field is wider, 65 yards vs 53, it is longer by ten yards ( there is a 55 yard line in the middle), and we only have 3 downs, not 4, which makes for a faster paced game. No time for foolin' around. There are 12 players on the field not 11 for each team and the endzones are 20 yards not 10. Only scoring difference is a single point awarded for a missed field goal or punt that goes out of bounds in the end zone or is not run out by the opposing team. Some American quarterbacks never adapt well to the 3 downs and others thrive with the larger field. Manziel is doing fine. Kapernick is next.
Baltimore Stallions - 1994 Grey Cup finalist - 1995 Grey Cup Champions! Took my son to a Stallions game in August of 1995.
SD70Dude Off-topic, but as a life-long Esks fan I can't resist. Every few years someone tries to get the Eskimos to change their name, but the issue always dies down after a while. Personally I think there are more important things to worry about, and that the name-change advocates are simply latching onto a cause to grab some publicity for themselves. But the issue has flared up again recently, and this time it feels different. Perhaps next year I will be cheering for the Edmonton Pink Elephants! Now for a bit of history, the Esks' name originated (like so many things out here) from the Edmonton vs Calgary rivalry, we said they were too far south and might as well be Americans, they said we were too far north and would better be called Eskimos! Back in 1905 that probably seemed harmless, and the name stuck. The "Eskimos" name is not the only case of the team wearing a would-be insult with pride, more recently we were nicknamed the "evil empire" due to the team's wealth and success on the field. In response the Stadium staff started playing the Imperial March (Darth Vader's theme) when the players took to the field! And to keep this slightly railroad-related, CP's Edmonton-Calgary passenger trains were once named for the cities' respective teams; Eskimo northbound and Stampeder southbound.
@ SD70Dude... HOW DARE YOU! Insult Pink Elephants the world over by wanting to usurp their name for a mere sports team! Such a crude and rude thing to do!
I seem to remember some flap about an American sports team with an Indian inspired name that endured a protest by a bunch of European decendents that the name was insulting, even though the team was owned by an American Indian tribe.
But I want to know one other thing about Canadian/Canadien/Cannuck/whatever sports... Is your "football" so boring (like American football) that you have to have scantily clad females prancing around on the sidelines in an attempt to keep the crowd's attention at least toward the field of play?
At least "Railfanning" is exciting enough of a sport to keep the fan's attention toward the tracks... even when no trains are present!
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Balt--–You were witness to History and one of the all time great Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy questions.
Gotta luv that opening game of the CFL Las Vegas Posse team.. the singer forget the words and the melody of "Oh Canada" and made up a bunch of words sung to 'oh Christmas Tree' then on opening kickoff the Posse player got turned around on the reception and ran into the wrong end zone for a non touchdown. Wow!
The Baltimore Stallions were a top notch team and the only team outside of Canada to win the Grey Cup. Now that is something to boast about.
Well thank goodness I'm not the only one who thinks football's boring. I don't feel so alone anymore.
Folks, I've got better things to do with weekend afternoons than spending them sitting in front of the tube. Life's too short.
"Dost thou love life? Than do not waste time, for that is what life is made of."
Benjamin Franklin
How to invade Canada Blue vs Crimson Check this out!
http://www.glasnost.de/hist/usa/1935invasion.html
You see without the Port of Churchill we are done!
Of course we have the top secret Pine Tree Line with a displaced Newfoundlander behind every tree with a slingshot.
With the current invasion from your Southern border maybe you would have to move what's left up here anyway.
Ouch.
MiningmanHow to invade Canada Blue vs Crimson Check this out! http://www.glasnost.de/hist/usa/1935invasion.html You see without the Port of Churchill we are done! Of course we have the top secret Pine Tree Line with a displaced Newfoundlander behind every tree with a slingshot. With the current invasion from your Southern border maybe you would have to move what's left up here anyway. Ouch.
Churchill was such a busy port for the period measured - 15 arrivals and 15 departures.
The USA blew 57 million of 1935 dollars on this? Oh well you got some bases by the Great Lakes. Kind of wonder what they were worried about in 1935? Fascists and Communists were oceans away and were fringe lunatic movements in the Dominion. Of course the same applies to our allies England, Australia, New Zealand...oceans away.. by the time they mobilized and got here the invasion would be almost done.. I think. Didn't work out too well last time you tried but that was in the old musket days.
Maybe a make work Depression thing. I'm certain the 'plan' still exists in some updated form. Cutting off coal supplies to cripple steam locomotives doesn't seem too important any longer.
Maybe updated version is in case little green men from Xanadu take us over, after all, as we all know, those tasty Canadians are high on the Alien invasion list.
Interesting, that US Army invasion of Canada plan from 1935!
As an old Marine let me tell you what that's all about. The United States hasn't had any desire to invade Canada since the War Of 1812, and even that was a mistake, however to keep the staffers in Washington busy they have them come up with war plans/ invasion plans for areas all over the world. It's the fallout from the Spanish-American War of 1898 when the US Army had no General Staff at all, no war plans for anything at all, no mobilisation plans at all, so the build-up for and invasion of Cuba was a fouled up mess.
The re-organization of the US Army and the establishment of a General Staff during Teddy Roosevelt's administration made sure THAT was never going to happen again. And besides, you never know where trouble's going to start, do you?
So relax, Americans are only likely to invade Canada for three things ending in the letter "N."
Huntin', fishin', and relaxin'.
An appropriation of 57 million for air bases along the Canadian border? I don't know, this was Depression-era American and the American military was still pinching pennies. I'm not sure if they were ever built, at least not until the American build-up for World War Two that started in 1940.
Well the report is a nice geography lesson if nothing else.
Your invading forces would not get past the line of defense consisting of Tim Hortons, Harvey's, Swiss Chalet and our vastly VASTLY superior chocolate bars. Char grilled burgers, BBQ rotesserie chicken, crullers, apple fritters, Crispy Crunch and Smarties will stop you cold.
You left out the Laura Secord chocolate shops! Wow! Good stuff!
Keep talking about all that good stuff to eat and you're just begging for an invasion!
And Newfoundlanders with slingshots? I'd be more afraid of Newfoundlanders with bottles of "Screetch" converted to Molotov cocktails! That stuff's dangerous!
Very good Firelock.. there are not many Americans who have a clue what Laura Secord Chocolate (and ice cream) is.
Not only that but it fits into this discussion. She was a heroine of the War of 1812, walking very ill equipped through dangerous woods 30 miles from Niagara on The Lake to Stoney Creek ( Hamilton) to warn troops of the staging American invasion. Remarkable.
There is a monument to her near the General Brock statue that faces the USA reminding all to be nice!, sword drawn.
Very high quality chocolates and ice cream... kind of thing for anniversaries and special occasions as classy gifts.
From Lt. FitzGibbon's account (the British officer to whom she reported):I do hereby Certify that on the 22d. day of June 1813, Mrs. Secord, Wife of James Secord, Esqr. then of St. David's, came to me at the Beaver Dam after Sun Set, having come from her house at St. David's by a circuitous route a distance of twelve miles, and informed me that her Husband had learnt from an American officer the preceding night that a Detachment from the American Army then in Fort George would be sent out on the following morning (the 23d.) for the purpose of Surprising and capturing a Detachment of the 49th Regt. then at Beaver Dam under my Command.
Well thanks Charlie ... I was going by memory...I know she was intercepted by Iroquois warriors in the woods and was fortunate in that they were on the British/Canadian side of things.
The Native folk lead by Tecumseh were the real only losers of that war, having been promised their own territory in the Ohio valley area by the British. The invasion was stopped and we gave back Michigan to the US
The US expected to cede territory in Maine but the British didn't want it.
You guys burned down Toronto ( York) and we burned down the White House and other things in Washington.
The battle of New Orleans was a disaster for the Brits, doubly so since the Treaty of Ghent had already been signed ending the war but the news arrived too late.
Absolutely nothing was accomplished and the Natives fought for nothing.
You are welcome. Some good current historians on the Warof 1812:
John Grodzinski (a Canadian)
D.R. Hickey (a personal friend of mine)
Don Graves (Hickey's friend and another Canadian)
JCA Stagg
Alan Taylor
Quoting Firelock--"So relax, Americans are only likely to invade Canada for three things ending in the letter "N."
Huntin', fishin', and relaxin'."
Yes, my wife and I enjoyed relaxing in the former railroad hotels in Victoria, Vancouver, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, and Halifax. It took us three trips, and we also relaxed on VIA in between the hotels. My last trip, four years ago this fall, gave me a relaxing trip from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert (I was unable to get a cabin southbound). We enjoyed the food on board (though the meals in the Renaissance diners were not as good as those on board the Budd diners).
Johnny
Deggesty-- You had an experiance that few can match.. what they used to call 'a well rounded man'.
So many Canadians know about their fenced in protected resorts in Mexico and cruise ships and nothing about their own country. Suspect the same in the USA.
charlie hebdo You are welcome. Some good current historians on the Warof 1812: John Grodzinski (a Canadian) D.R. Hickey (a personal friend of mine) Don Graves (Hickey's friend and another Canadian) JCA Stagg Alan Taylor
I've got Donald R. Hickey's book "Don't Give Up The Ship! Myths of The War of 1812."
Well written and a great, enjoyable read. Next time you see Professor Hickey please pass along my complements!
By the way all, did you know Laura Secord was American? It's true. Her family migrated to Canada after the American Revolution to take advantage of opportunities to purchase land, (Makes me wonder why considering her family supported the Revolution, but no matter. Maybe Shay's Rebellion had something to do with it, they were from Massachusetts.) found a home in Canada and made a good life there.
I'm tempted to call her a traitor, but hey, she was a Canadian citizen by that time, and like I said, I love her chocolate. Brave girl.
The Battle of New Orleans was a disaster for the Brits all right. British General Packenham didn't learn a thing from Bunker Hill. Even poorly-trained militia could give a good account of themselves if they had good strong fortifications to fight from, and Andrew Jackson made sure they had them.
And apparantly Packenham didn't learn a thing from the Duke of Wellington either, on who's staff he served. Wellington's style was let the enemy know you're there, take a good strong defensive position, and let them come to you. And Jackson just might have done it if provoked enough, he hated the British and wanted to kick their butts clear into the Gulf of Mexico. But that's just speculation on my part.
Poor man. Lost 2000 of the British Army's best, and his own life as well.
She and her hubby were United Empire Loyalists and certified as such.
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