Canadian Crossing

CFL once again comes to Moncton for 2019 Touchdown Atlantic

How long has it been since the CFL was in Moncton? Your humble narrator attended the last Touchdown Atlantic in 2013.

The 2013 version struggled to sell out with much speculation that the 2013 version would be the last Touchdown Atlantic ever.

A new commissioner (Randy Ambroisie), decent prospective ownership for an Atlantic Schooners franchise, and a strong desire to have a 10-team league does make a difference.

The CFL folks looked at Halifax, Antigonish, NS, and Saint John before coming back to the Université de Moncton campus.

There isn't a real option in Halifax. We did note last month that the Halifax Wanderers soccer team have a "stadium" in the Commons. The Moncton stadium gives the largest potential capacity of the options.

As we noted in 2013, sitting on the "good side" in Moncton shields you from the sun in the late afternoon, gives you the only concessions, and actual restrooms. Sitting on the "bad side" in Moncton brings you back to watching high school football, no concessions, and a long line for porta-potties.

The ticket prices started out ridiculously high. The price I paid for the worst seat in the house (literally) was much higher than I've paid for much better seats in actual CFL stadiums. The prices came down for the 2019 version; those who bought early literally paid the price.

The other "fun" part of that excursion is that you couldn't see the yard markers until the sun went down far enough.

The original starting time for the 2019 Touchdown Atlantic was 7:30 pm ADT. The kickoff has been moved to 1 pm ADT.

Analysis: Could Moncton host a permanent CFL franchise?

CFL hits Moncton, showcasing New Brunswick, but U.S. can only see the game on ESPN3.com (2011)

The 2013 version featured the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and their well-traveled fans against the Montréal Alouettes, who were supposed to have Anthony Calvillo. I remember running into a lot of Tiger-Cats fans in downtown Moncton. There wasn't a lot in downtown Moncton so the black and gold were easier to spot.

The game itself featured CFL uniforms from coast-to-coast. I remember Ottawa Rough Riders jerseys; the RedBlacks didn't start until 2014. That was a fun experience seeing a rainbow of CFL support.

CFL travels have sent me to every league city

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

This region would support an actual team. Rooting for out-of-region teams is nice but doesn't have the same feel. The Montréal Alouettes are a logical draw for their relative proximity but also for the French-speaking people of New Brunswick who would watch the CFL on RDS. The Alouettes are not as good as they were in 2013 but better than they have been in recent times. Toronto, the team sacrificing a home game, is by all definitions the worst CFL team in 2019.

This is the Argos second game of the CFL season against a fellow East opponent. The Alouettes have been a pleasant surprise.

The temptation would be to make this a regional team similar to the Green Bay Packers playing some of their game in Milwaukee. Halifax needs to justify 10 home dates for a stadium.

Shannon Park would be a great site for a new Halifax stadium that could be used for multiple purposes. The imagery of the ferries crossing from Halifax to the skyline being seen on national TV (and even into the United States) is something people in Halifax should look forward to seeing.

The Touchdown Atlantic is a good way to remind Canadians of this part of their country. The Atlantic Schooners would showcase the sports passion of people in the Maritimes. For the first time, the Touchdown Atlantic game will air on U.S. television.

TSN and RDS will show the 2019 Touchdown Atlantic game. ESPNews will carry the TSN feed in the United States.

photos credit: me; CFL

Canadian film review: Finding Don McKellar

I have had a theory that I had the privilege of living in Toronto, I might run into famous Canadian film people doing ordinary things. Toronto is now the fourth-largest city in North America, behind New York City, Mexico City, and Los Angeles. The magnitude of Toronto makes that dream not so likely.

Ben Gordon and Matt Hoffman had a bit of fun to try and find acclaimed Canadian film icon Don McKellar in Finding Don McKellar. Like several films dating back at least to Michael Moore's Roger and Me, the fun is not actually finding McKellar.

Gordon and Hoffman have fun in the process of the 11-minute short film with recreating moments from McKellar's masterpiece Last Night, shot in Toronto, and a list of favourite Toronto places McKellar noted in a 24 Hours article.

Sensitive Skin shows the shadows of dark Canadian humour

They also take off for the Toronto Islands in hopes of finding McKellar based on the fact that Season 2 of Sensitive Skin was filmed on the islands.

'Twitch City' is where my love for Canada started

'Twitch City' on DVD

Canadian film review: Highway 61

'The Grand Seduction' matches up well with Quebecois version

McKellar is a triple threat as writer, director, and actor. The film honours his achievements in all these categories.

As we've noted, I first discovered his talents through Twitch City.

Americans can find McKellar's talents as a voice actor in Window Horses and in Mina Shum's Meditation Park as well as The Grand Seduction, all on Netflix.

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Gordon and Hoffman use Finding Don McKellar to draw attention to Canadian film as well as Canadian television. Extending this to a full-length film might be more than enough time to go through McKellar's career but could be a good way to draw attention to the wonderful world of Canadian film.

Canadian film review: Women Who Act

Though this film takes a different path from Women Who Act, both do a fine job with giving insight into Canadian film.

Finding Don McKellar would be a good opening short film before you watch Last Night. You could pair this film with Your Mother and I, a short film from Anna Maguire featuring McKellar and Julia Sarah Stone.

video credit: YouTube/Ben Gordon
photo credit: Finding Don McKellar film

Come From Away a chance to learn about Canadian kindness on 9/11

Come From Away tells the story of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador and how the town responded to an influx of sudden visitors after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Planes were flying to and from Europe and Asia from Canada and the United States. With U.S. airspace restricted, the planes had to land somewhere. That somewhere was Canada.

Operation Yellow Ribbon process had 256 planes in Canada in 17 different airports. Gander took in 38 airplanes while Halifax had 40 planes. Other transatlantic flights ended up in St. John's, Moncton, CFB Goose Bay (Labrador), and Stephenville, NL.

Vancouver and Winnipeg handled the majority of flights coming from the other direction. Edmonton and Calgary airports helped out as well.

Transport Canada didn't want flights coming into Toronto, Ottawa, and Montréal. Despite this announcement, some planes did land at Pearson International Airport in Toronto and Montréal–Mirabel International Airport and Dorval (now Pierre Trudeau) International Airport in Montréal.

The Broadway musical Come From Away touring the United States takes us through the anxieties of those traveling and wondering where they were as well as the dilemmas of those in Gander about how to accommodate the influx of travelers.

They landed with little news about what had happened and had to stay on the planes for awhile. Once they exited the planes, the passengers and crew had a lot of disorienting confusion and concern. They were also greeted with warmth, love, and lots of food.

The townspeople were settling into an ordinary day when called upon to help those trapped by events in the United States.

The show is filled with ordinary details such as a school bus strike temporarily lifted to help get large amount of people to destinations. At one point, a woman is happy to be there but still wants to go home.

A gay couple try to hide their relationship because they aren't sure about whether these people will understand. Turns out gay people are everywhere, even in Newfoundland.

They see a moose at one point. We hear Newfoundland lingo. Cod tongues were mentioned. There is even a song about the screech ceremony, which might have seemed unusual even if the passengers had been to other parts of Canada.

The warmth, friendliness, and generosity of the people of Gander and Newfoundland is apparent, obvious, and loved. The lasting friendships of those people in the play and in real life are awe-inspiring.

There are Canadian references such as Tim Hortons (which got a big laugh at the show I attended in Chicago) and Shoppers (Drug Mart). Even if you didn't know what Shoppers was, you soon figured it out.

The deterioration of the U.S.-Canada relationship ties back to September 11, 2001

There might be a concern about seeing or laughing at a musical that has to do with 9/11. The show has little to do with the actual attacks but more about the people temporarily in a foreign land and their triumphs and struggles. The show might trigger such moments if you are more sensitive about what happened that fateful day. Your feelings are more than valid. We do not judge.

The Chicago audience had a chance to learn more about what happened during a Q&A session, featuring Lt. General Rick Findley from North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD); James Earl Jones II, a Chicago native who is in the show; and Beverley Bass, the first female American Airlines pilot who features prominently in the musical.

Even for those who landed in Canada but closer to the United States, Findley reminded the audience that the Canada-U.S. border was closed for awhile. The musical makes a note about showing how long it would take just to get to the U.S. border from Gander.

Jones told the story of taking an initiative to visit Gander. The touring company only had a single official week off in the year. Jones took that opportunity to go to Gander.

His plane didn't arrive until 3:15 am yet Jones were greeted upon his arrival in Gander. Jones said Gander has a Wal-Mart, mom/pop shoppes, and an open door policy. He said they took him everywhere and he was immersed in the community. Jones mentioned the Bread Box and noted the "mug shot" there is having your picture in front of a wall of mugs.

Jones got an offer to chase icebergs where a woman was driving a random stranger (Jones) for several hours to see icebergs. He said the people there never wanted a thank you or money for their help for Operation Yellow Ribbon.

He told the audience that Gander is now up to 12,000, up from 9,000 in 2001.

Come From Away wins a single Tony award for best direction

Come From Away earns 7 Tony nominations

Come From Away hits Broadway, shows how Canada helped out after 9/11

CanadianCrossing.com Newfoundland and Labrador coverage

Beverley Bass arrived late with a delayed flight the night of the discussion. Bass said her plane was the 36th of 38 planes to land on September 11. Her September 11 day started in Paris and was scheduled to end in Dallas.

The passengers on her flight were forced to remain on the aircraft with limited news. Bass said the passengers and crew didn't leave the airplane until 7:30 am on September 12. They stayed in Gander for 5 days.

When they did leave the airplane, they went through a tiny terminal. Bass remembered the tables full of food that the people of Gander had cooked up the previous night. They handed everyone a plastic bag full of food.

I asked Jones how much he knew about the story before doing the play: "Nothing." He didn't know Gander existed and had never been to Canada. Jones didn't even know about the Tom Brokaw Operation Yellow Ribbon video (above) that NBC News ran during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Jones said the story blew my mind and "you will be compelled to find out about Gander once you've heard the story."

Location might be a factor in seeing this musical as opposed to where you see Hamilton. Jones said the Toronto Come From Away shows felt like a party. He was reminded in the Q&A that a lot of Newfoundland people live in Toronto (not just Q's Tom Power).

If you don't get a chance to see the musical, you can find out more about the experience through a documentary You Are Here. Jones mentioned the documentary in his presentation and noted that the documentary is already available in Canada.

There are screenings in 800 theatres across the United States on September 11.

Come From Away is based on a true story, a story that Americans should know about how Canada responded at America's lowest modern moment.

map credit: Google
photos credit: me
video credit: NBC News

Canadian film review: Take This Waltz

I see a lot of Canadian films. I've written a lot about Take This Waltz, but haven't given the film a full review.

Take This Waltz came on the heels of Away From Her from Sarah Polley. She earned an Oscar nomination for her adapted screenplay based on the Alice Munro short story The Bear Who Came Down a Mountain. Polley wrote and directed Take This Waltz.

Lou (Seth Rogen) is a cookbook author making a lot of chicken. Margot (Michelle Williams) is his wife, a part-time tourism writer. Margo has a chance meeting with Daniel (Luke Kirby) while on assignment in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island.

Margo and Daniel think they know each other but can't place where and how. They find out when taking a cab back home that they live on the same street on the west side of Toronto.

Relaxed nudity would make Canadian films stand out

Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman proved they could do drama in 'Take This Waltz'

2013 TIFF Canadian film preview

Polley wrote an incredible seduction scene just with words that would rival most Hollywood seductions. "I want to know what you would do to me," Margo asks Daniel, even though that would never happen.

Take This Waltz has a realistic portrayal of the ramifications of what happens when a relationship is torn apart. Polley uses the imagery of water in such a beautiful fashion. Nearby Lake Ontario is only part of the woven imagery.

We did profile this earlier but worth repeating: Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman showed in this film that they could take on serious roles on the big screen. When they later went on to do other serious roles, neither got the credit for their performances in Take This Waltz.

Toronto is a co-star in the film. The city has a lot of filmmaking but few capture the city like this film: Lake Ontario, Kensington Market, College Street with the Royal Theatre (showing Mon Once Antoine), the Scrambler ride at Centreville Amusement Park on Centre Island and the Toronto ferry, Peter Mansbridge on The National, and Trinity Bellwoods Park.

The cast is peppered with noteworthy Canadian actors such as Jennifer Podemski and Graham Abbey. The title Take This Waltz comes from the Leonard Cohen song.

'Take This Waltz' showcases a real Toronto neighborhood

'Take This Waltz' now available on Xfinity On Demand

This fall's Canadian film crop: will they come to the United States?

Canadian film preview 2011: hopefully coming to a U.S. theatre near you

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Outside of Alias Grace, Sarah Polley has done very little lately. That is a statement without judgment. See her wonderful filmmaking approach. This film is also one of the best Canadian films I've seen in the last decade. We are not about superlatives. You don't even have to tell your friends the film is Canadian. Let them enjoy the film without having to reflect.

video credit: YouTube/StudiocanalUK
photo credit: Take This Waltz film

Book review: The Art of Diplomacy

Kelly Knight Craft may not be the U.S. Ambassador to Canada for much longer, but she should read The Art of Diplomacy from Bruce and Vicki Heyman. Craft might learn what an ambassador does or even to find out there are cool places in Canada.

Bruce Heyman was the U.S. Ambassador to Canada under President Barack Obama from 2014-2017. With Craft's hundreds of reported absences, Heyman has served as a de facto ambassador in numerous TV appearances.

The Art of Diplomacy makes clear that Bruce and Vicki Heyman were both ambassadors, staying away from the co-ambassador concept. The chapters alternate between the voices of Bruce and Vicki. This is important to remember: otherwise, you might think Bruce got on the back of a Vespa scooter with Sophie Gregoire Trudeau at the helm.

The book is described as a "love letter to Canada, our neighbor and best friend." The couple, when approached for a ambassadorship, wanted to put Canada for each of the top 3 choices. This is a surprise since at the time, all we knew about Bruce Heyman was Goldman Sachs.

Turns out Vicki's great-grandparents on her father's side came from Belarus to Canada. Bruce's work also took him to Canada.

Even if they knew a bit about Canada, Bruce's strategy was to ask several U.S. departments to "tell me what you know about Canada." They had a lot of downtime to prepare since the process took a year from nomination to confirmation. U.S. ambassadors have to go to Charm School in the Virginia suburbs of the U.S. capital.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada has a new book on The Art of Diplomacy

Kelly Knight Craft may leave U.S. Ambassador to Canada post for promotion

Bruce Heyman confirmed (finally) as U.S. Ambassador to Canada

Bruce and Vicki try to get off to a good start by bringing Timbits and coffees to the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. Bruce talks about the 2-mile (3.3-km) walk from their residence near 24 Sussex Drive to the U.S. Embassy. I've walked that route when I was in Ottawa. His story brought back a nice memory of that walk in the Canadian capital.

There were certainly mistakes and other oddities: all part of the story. They describe how the Harper Government froze them out over not approving the Keystone XL pipeline.

They took advantage of being frozen out by the Harper Government to travel in Canada. They went to the 7 consulates in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montréal, Quebec City, and Halifax. Their first trip through Canada went to 7 provinces and 15 cities in 21 days. They talk of adventures in the Yukon; Tuktoyaktuk (700 miles north of Yellowknife); Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation (3-hour plane ride north of Thunder Bay); and Kenauk, Quebec.

They talk about meeting and talking with Ken Taylor, the Canadian ambassador to Iran who rescued the Americans during the hostage crisis. They sought out friendship with then Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. Bruce spoke of the protocol to first dine with the prime minister and spouse but they had been frozen out by the Harpers. 

The Harpers finally invite the Heymans only after the 2015 election cycle started. The couples ended up bonding over hot sauces. Gardens, bees, art, and hot sauces serve as ways to tell the story about their adventures in Canada.

2019 Canada Day notebook: More delays with edibles

New U.S. ambassador to Canada debuts his blog

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

We were impressed when David Jacobson started a blog about Canada as President Barack Obama's first U.S. Ambassador to Canada. The Heymans stepped that up with their interaction with Canada.

We have been critical of U.S. Ambassadors not having much of a connection with Canada. Turns out Bruce and Vicki Heyman made up for that lack of Canadian connection. Bruce Heyman has also been an asset for the relationship between the countries in the last few years when American voices were invisible or incendiary.

As for The Art of Diplomacy, the book gives an insight into the world of being an ambassador, ups and downs. The pace of the book is very conversational with a very easy read. The book then becomes a resource to remind ourselves of happier times in the U.S.-Canada relationship.

Disclosure: I met Bruce and Vicki Heyman at a Canadian Thanksgiving event two years ago. I did meet them briefly at a book signing. I'm not sure either of them would remember meeting me.

photo credit: The Art of Diplomacy book

2019 Canada Day notebook: More delays with edibles

Editor's note: We take a moment before the Canada Day celebration to reflect on recent Canadian stories. Canada Day is July 1 on Monday, so we run this today. Have a safe and wonderful long weekend.

The impact of edibles can change marijuana tourism in Canada. Unfortunately for marijuana tourists, that impact is reduced and delayed.

The original idea was that October 17, forever known as marijuana legalisation day, would be the target date for edibles. Existing federally regulated processors can apply to Health Canada on July 15. The October 17 deadline marks 60 days before edibles can be sold in Canada. So Christmas sales, yes, but supplies will be limited.

Each individual package will be limited to a maximum of 10 mg of THC. My expert friends find the 10 mg standard to be a joke. If you are not an expert, 2.5 mg is a good starting point. The types of edibles will be scrutinized by Health Canada. So no to gummy bears if they are appealing to children. Cannabis extracts and topicals (ointments, oils, makeup) will also be available in mid-December.

Edibles will not have alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, or caffeine with exceptions for low amounts of naturally occurring caffeine, such as chocolate.

What's Tempting: Marijuana edibles (BalanceofFood.com)

Your Guide to Canada's Edible Pot Rules (Front Burner CBC Radio)

As someone who went to California over the winter and legally bought edibles, the Trudeau Government is going way overboard in every element. Safety should be a factor and children shouldn't ingest any sort of marijuana product. Education is important but structuring that is difficult when people don't know what the product will look like.

Anna Maria Tremonti to leave The Current this week

The Trudeau Government approved the Trans Mountain pipeline. I learned from The Current series on CBC Radio One that the Trans Mountain pipeline will run parallel to the current pipeline but somehow triple the capacity. The primary issue will be tanker traffic in Burnaby and the difficulty to get the oil to the West Coast. The tankers would have to sail through Vancouver Harbour under the Lions Gate Bridge into the Burrard Inlet.

The argument is that the Liberals aren't pleasing anyone with the decision (lots of pipelines vs. no pipelines). So Jason Kenney and the UCP in Alberta are upset about oil not getting to the West Coast but the current Trans Mountain pipeline gets to Burnaby, the same place the expansion will also end.

Andrew Scheer released the Conservative Party take on climate change. The carbon tax is a conservative idea that isn't that effective in fighting climate change. The conservatives have been fighting the carbon tax, even though households will get reimbursed for most of that money. Scheer's ideas are fine but will have far-less of an effect than even the carbon tax.

I also don't get why they have to send raw bitumen through the pipelines instead of refining the oil in Alberta (more jobs). British Columbia has expressed that concern from an environmental standpoint since bitumen spills are more costly to the environment than regular oil spills.

I really want to understand all of these rationales. I don't know if Canadians know the answers and so the news doesn't talk about it or I am the only one who is curious on either side of the border.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada has a new book on The Art of Diplomacy

Kelly Knight Craft may leave U.S. Ambassador to Canada post for promotion

We thought that Kelly Knight Craft seemed extra invisible in her limited time as U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Craft is the nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Under questioning in front of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we learned that Craft was gone from her post more than 300 days over 19 months. We also learned that Craft posted social media messages from outside of Canada at times where there was no record of travel. Craft was absent 45 of 54 days between March 21 and May 13; some of her absences involved visits back home to Kentucky.

Craft cited visits to Montréal and Washington, where she said she was part of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer's negotiating team. Montréal trips aren't a concern; Washington trips can be justified. Her presence on the trade negotiating team, if that is true, should be alarming to Canada and the concept of being an ambassador. The ambassador role should be a go-between with the two countries. Her presence on the trade negotiating team is the equivalent of the butcher having a thumb on the scale.

Craft told the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee that she received approval for her travel. That means little, especially if those trips were to go back to Kentucky.

The U.S. Ambassador to Canada is supposed to be about Canada. Craft couldn't even pretend otherwise. Her arrogance should be grounds not to get a promotion but the problem for Canada is that she might have to return to Lexington, er, Ottawa to continue to do a poor job in her current position.

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

Bill 21 is law in Quebec though the law is being challenged. The bill would ban religious symbols from public servants, defined to include teachers, lawyers, and police officers, while at work. You might remember the previous Liberal government pushed a less severe version of the bill.

Quebec Premier François Legault’s CAQ government along with the Parti Quebecois voted in favour while the Liberals and Quebec solidaire were opposed. The primary target is Muslim women for the hijab or niqab but also affects Sikh men and Orthodox Jewish men. A provision was made for teachers as long as they remain in their position at their school.

The tug-of-war is about secularism vs. targeting religious minorities. The idea of a "secularism police" is remnant of the "language police" of previous times in La Belle Province.

Whatever you might think about these religious symbols, we think that governments requiring them is reprehensible. Having a government say you can't wear something also feels reprehensible.

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

Air Canada tells us the Tiffani Adams story is true, though you would have a hard time believing the story. We definitely advocate for traveling to and within Canada. Just be aware of your surroundings, whether you are the passenger or the carrier.

Canadian sports notebook: Record number of Canadians in the 2019 NBA draft

We normally put several sports stories in the Canada Day notebook. We had too many stories in the sports notebook so we gave them a separate notebook on Wednesday.

photo credit: me
video credit: CBC News

Oakland, Green Bay to play NFL preseason game in Winnipeg

We finally have a confirmation of a NFL preseason game in Winnipeg on August 22 at 7 pm CDT with the Oakland Raiders as the home team against the Green Bay Packers. 

The Raiders are in the process of moving from Oakland to Las Vegas. There was a conflict with the Oakland A's over the Week 3 NFL preseason game.

The game at IG Field (formerly Investors Group Field) in Winnipeg will be the first NFL game in the province of Manitoba, and only the second game ever in western Canada. Outside the Buffalo Bills series in Toronto, the last NFL preseason game in Canada was on August 15, 1998 when the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks played at BC Place in Vancouver.

Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 am CDT. Prices range from $75-$340 Canadian. If you are going to the game, the sightlines are rather good there. Even the end zone seats are pretty nice.

NFL exhibition games in Canada used to be more common. Previous NFL exhibition games in Canada have primarily focused on Eastern Canada in Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, and Hamilton.

American fans of a different kind of football will be familiar with what was then called Investors Group Field when the 2015 U.S. Women's World Cup soccer team played in Winnipeg. The stadium got some NHL focus with the 2016 Heritage Classic. IG Field also hosted the 2015 Grey Cup.

See you soon, Canada. 🇨🇦

We’re heading north of the border for the first time ever, hosting the Packers in Winnipeg this preseason.

Release » https://t.co/mSRqNCFJTH
Learn more » https://t.co/tJgQbKrUPb@NFLCanada | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/a6aVF1CoUz

— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) June 5, 2019

The Week 11 CFL schedule was a determining factor. Winnipeg is in Edmonton on Friday that week. The Blue Bombers did not want the NFL game to be on the same night as the CFL game.

Oakland's first choice was Mosaic Stadium in Regina, home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Roughriders, hosting Ottawa on Saturday night, felt the field conversion would cut too close. The Raiders then looked east to Winnipeg.

Touchdown Atlantic is Sunday so the CFL didn't ideally want a game in Canada opposite the game in Moncton.

The Valour FC Canadian Premier League soccer match for August 22 at IG Field will have to be rescheduled.

After seeing Winnipeg on TV, you should go see for yourself

Winnipeg the true winner of the 2016 Heritage Classic

The Heritage Classic shines NHL spotlight on Winnipeg

CFL in the Prairies is where the league shines

2015 Women's World Cup notebook: Canada on the world stage

Aaron Rodgers may be the biggest name to play in the game, but the loudest cheers might be for Luke Willson, actual Canadian NFL player. Willson played mostly with Seattle but played for his nearby hometown team Detroit last year. Willson is from LaSalle near Windsor in Ontario. The Oakland Raiders signed Willson in March.

CanadianCrossing.com NFL coverage

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

The game will be carried by the Oakland and Green Bay local networks. U.S. fans should get a tape-delayed version of the game via the NFL Network. TSN and RDS will have the game live in Canada.

photo credit: me
Twitter capture: @Raiders

Canada is a safer place for abortion though access should be improved

The United States has been under attack with severe anti-abortion state bills designed to practically eliminate legal abortion in those states.

You might come to the conclusion that abortion rights are in way better shape in Canada than the United States.

Having covered American and Canadian politics, there is a yes-and-no answer that is worth having a column to explain and contrast policies in the side-by-side neighbours.

Roe vs. Wade gave the United States the edge in that federal abortion rights have existed since 1973. Canada doesn't get that federal standard until 1988 in what is known as the Morgentaler ruling. The Supreme Court of Canada said the then-abortion law violated women's Section 7 Charter rights to "life, liberty and security of person" and that the law "clearly interferes with a woman’s physical and bodily integrity."

The Conservative Party in Canada, whether in power with Stephen Harper or as the opposition party under Andrew Scheer, has been in the record as not wanting to reopen the abortion debate. There are backbenchers who feel otherwise but they haven't convinced their leadership to change that stance.

Prince Edward Island eases abortion restrictions (2015)

Abortion definitely an issue in New Brunswick election (2014)

In Canada and the United States, the battle is being fought on the state/provincial level. Provinces control health care though they receive money from the federal government for health care.

Prince Edward Island was in a land of its own until 2016. The province had refused to provide that form of health care on its land. The province would reimburse medical costs but not travel costs to places such as Halifax (NS) or Moncton (NB). The province sets medical abortions at 9 weeks and surgical abortions to 12 weeks, 6 days. Those requirements apply to abortions in the province.

Up until February 5, 2018, Nova Scotia required a physician referral to schedule an abortion. That was particular onerous for younger women who might not be able to find a physician that would support an abortion.

In 2014, New Brunswick required a woman to have written certification from 2 doctors that the procedure was medically necessary and the abortion must be done by an obstetrician/gynecologist in approved hospitals (only in Moncton and Bathurst). Currently, the province will only fund abortions at hospitals, not clinics.

Ontario funds abortions at some clinics, but not all of them.

Travel is a consideration for a lot of remote areas in Canada. Even in not so remote areas, travel is a concern. In the entire province of Alberta, there are lone clinics in each of the two largest cities: Edmonton and Calgary.

The anti-abortion crowd in Canada might be quieter but they do exist.

Politically, the difference is that the U.S. law is federal. Those who want to overturn Roe vs. Wade know that large U.S. cities (and their states) will still have abortion access. They want to have the right as individual states to install draconian laws against abortion.

The proposed laws are often drafted to make having an abortion across a state line a significant problem, especially if the female hasn't reached the age of majority.

In Canada, the law is still federal but provinces have a wide range of control from access, limits on number of weeks, and covering costs.

The United States prohibits federal Medicaid funding of abortions thanks to the Hyde Amendment. Canada will generally pay for abortions, an advantage thanks to the single-payer health care system.

Those who have financial means and/or live in large cities won't have to worry about abortions. Those without financial means and/or in rural areas will struggle more.

The abortion pill was supposed to be a benefactor for girls and women where access was limited. Access to the abortion pill is often lacking in the areas where it is most in need.

Canada has a major advantage over the United States: stability of the Supreme Court. Conservatives know that the Supreme Court of Canada will never overturn the 1988 ruling. The appointments of several Supreme Court justices in the United States under controversial circumstances tips the court in a direction where political, not legal, rulings are likely or possible.

Women's rights are better protected in Canada under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The United States is a state short of approving the Equal Rights Amendment.

We saw under the Harper Government that even though Harper appointed the vast majority of justices that the Court ruled unanimously against the Harper Government on key decisions. That lack of bias doesn't exist on the United States Supreme Court.

CanadianCrossing.com health care coverage

Ireland legalised abortions in a referendum about a year ago. The government later made the procedure free for Irish women. Those women and girls in Northern Ireland have it more like Alabama's new law; those able to travel to England can get an abortion. Poland has one of the most extreme takes on abortion in Europe.

Here is to hoping abortion, birth control, contraception, and women's health care become medical issues, not political footballs.

video and photo credit: Full Frontal with Samantha Bee/TBS

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada has a new book on The Art of Diplomacy

Bruce and Vicki Heyman are no longer connected to the role of U.S. Ambassador to Canada where Bruce served from 2014-2017. Given how visible the Heymans have been and how invisible Kelly Knight Craft has been, you might have wondered otherwise.

Bruce Heyman has made a number of appearances on U.S. TV talking trade, tariffs, and the relationship between the U.S. and Canada over the last couple of years.

Now Bruce and Vicki Heyman have a book The Art of Diplomacy. The two of them served in separate ways to improve relations between the countries.;

They describe how they were iced out by the Harper Government even before Heyman had presented his credentials. The neutral stance on the Keystone XL pipeline by the Obama Administration brought on cancelled meetings and being called in on a holiday weekend. Heyman pointed out that his initial meeting with then Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was the first and only meeting despite Heyman's desire for more conversation.

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Heyman was asked about the revised NAFTA deal (USMCA/CUSMA) on CTV's Question Period. The former ambassador said the deal in its current form is dead.

"They messed up the clock. Second, they did not collaborate or communicate with unions, nor did they work with the Democrats. So now they find themselves in a position where the Democrats, and the unions in the United States have a different perspective," Heyman said.

The ongoing tariffs are an issue for the Canadians in Parliament over approving the agreement. Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. House have a host of concerns, mostly labour and environmental.

Heyman said Congressional Republicans have been pushing the White House to drop the tariffs.

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The Heymans tell a story about the uncertainty for them after the 2016 election. Bruce was willing to stay if offered for a smooth transition; Vicki wanted no part of that. "I just felt I had to share the values of the person that I worked for and I worked with," Vicki Heyman said on CTV.

They asked Vice President Joe Biden in December 2016 when Biden visited Canada. Biden said they should stay if asked, but he was clear they wouldn't be asked to stay.

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As part of the promotion for the book, the Heymans sat down with Ian Austen of The New York Times. They weighed in on the good and bad about Canada.

What particularly surprised you about Canada?

Bruce Heyman: The world could use Canada’s balance and perspective, the empathy, the pause, the perspective on gender and the Indigenous inclusion.

You all look internally and say: wow we’re not good enough on this and we should be better on that. And I say from external perspective if we could just take some of this sauce and spread it around the world it would be a really good thing.

But Canadians aren’t perfect. What needs improving?

Vicki Heyman: Gosh, I’m pretty high on Canadians right now. In our experience, we didn’t find a lot wrong.

Bruce Heyman: It’s just much more balanced, not perfect. Nothing’s perfect, we’re all human beings.

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As for current Ambassador Kelly Knight Craft, she was officially nominated last week to be the next U.S.  Ambassador to the United Nations. The job has been vacant since Nikki Haley left late last year. The role was a Cabinet post under Haley but will not be in the Cabinet under her successor.

Craft's “both sides” of the science answer on climate change in a CBC interview in 2017 will almost certainly come up in the hearings. The UN position should require a more elaborate approval process. 

As for whether or not Craft gets approved, the odds of me knowing are about as high as the 65-1 odds Country House had in winning the Kentucky Derby held in Craft's home state.

photo credit: CTV News Channel

The Simpsons and others should learn Newfoundland before cracking jokes

Here's the full context of last night's Simpsons episode making fun of Newfoundlanders, does it change anything that they were pointing out that Canadians don't always treat Newfoundlanders well? (Video from CityTV) pic.twitter.com/4uljG1rXVl

— Peter Cowan (@PeterCBC) April 29, 2019

Newfoundland is celebrating 70 years of being a part of Canada. The territory officially joined Canada at midnight on April 1, 1949.

For most of that time, Canada hasn't treated Newfoundlanders well. They were different and not just because The Rock was 30 minutes ahead of the Atlantic Time Zone.

Reducing the people of Newfoundland to "Newfie" is simplistic, especially since their Maritime neighbours don't suffer a similar fate. If the insinuation is more rural as opposed to the "big" city of St. John's, most of Canada could be identified by that word.

South Park used that word in It's Christmas in Canada (Season 7, episode 15) in 2003 and implied that people from Newfoundland were into sodomy. There might have been some controversy but the Internet is broader in scope 16 years later.

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Someone on the Twitter account for CNN's Parts Unknown hosted by Anthony Bourdain used that term on the Newfoundland episode of the travel series: "Embrace the Newfies as they are." There was a lot of people upset at the use of the term.

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“Where the wind blows cold and there’s ice and snow, some days go on forever. But I’m warm and fed in a Newfoundlander’s bed, I’ll be an islander forever. I’ll be an islander forever.”

Those are the lines that the Newfoundland version of Ralph Wiggum sings in The Simpsons episode D'oh Canada that aired earlier this week on Fox and Citytv.

A few media outlets attributed the song to The Islander by Bruce Moss, but the lyrics in the show don't match up with the 1982 song. Moss said in an interview that The Simpsons offered him $20,000 U.S. to licence the song but he refused.  

"I'm not sorry I didn't license it. And after what I've been told about this episode, I'm really happy I didn't." Moss told The St. John's Morning Show.

Several Google searches didn't net a result for the origin of the song in the episode. Tom Power of Q likely knows the answer. The song lyrics rang true and was more a part of Newfoundland than the lame jokes.

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Humour can be fun when there is some truth behind the joke. The show could have joked about cod shortages or the time zone difference of being a half-hour ahead or taught the world what "b'y" means. The joke could have been about screech or rum or everyone has a pet moose. The focus could have been on the province having the worst literacy rate in Canada.

The problem with the "clubbing baby seals" joke is that there is no truth. The act has been illegal for more than 30 years. Most hunting involves adult animals for a simple reason: you get more benefit from a larger animal, especially in an indigenous culture where the whole animal is used (buffalo, seal).

When I was in Newfoundland, I heard quite a few people share with me variations on what happens in the seal hunt. I've seen a seal hunt in films and on television. Anthony Bourdain covered the seal hunt and how the whole seal is used in a visit to Quebec.

The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon along with Canadian icon Pamela Anderson visited St. John's in 2013. Simon, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, offered $1 million to Canadian sealers to give up the seal hunt.

Newfoundland native Mark Critch (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) crashed the photo-op with his much smaller $1 million check that he offered to Pamela Anderson to stop acting.

There is nothing wrong with being anti-hunting as a general concept but the seal hunt has been a target based on the incorrect perception of "clubbing baby seals." That perception has cost the native people in that region from being denied the right to sell goods made from seals outside of Canada.

Sunday night's joke looks like a legacy to Sam Simon.

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If you are looking to take away an impression of Newfoundland other than lame jokes from The Simpsons, Come From Away is a remarkable legacy. Gander and many other communities suddenly hosted people on airplanes that landed in eastern Canada on September 11, 2001.  

The generosity was amazing to the travelers but typical of how Newfoundlanders are. I saw similar hospitality to me during my visit there in 2015.

You could also watch Republic of Doyle with Allan Hawco to see Newfoundland. The CBC show is available in the U.S. on Netflix.

We will also talk about Newfoundland and Labrador as the province gets ready for its election in 2 weeks on May 16.

Twitter capture: @PeterCBC
photos credit: me