Credits Resource Guide Writers: Jill Colyer and Jennifer Watt Host: Michael Serapio Producer: Mike Prokopec Video Writer: Mike Prokopec Production Assistant: Carolyn McCarthy Supervising Manager: Laraine Bone
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News in Review, September 2012
1. Colorado Shooting Rampage (Length: 18:15) 2. Quebec Students Speak Out (Length: 18:11) 3. Cod Moratorium 20 Years Later (Length: 15:01) 4. Elliot Lake Mall Collapse: A Preventable Tragedy? (Length: 16:07)
CONTENTS
In This Issue ...... 2
Colorado Shooting Rampage ...... 4 SETTING THE STAGE ...... 4 FOUR CORNERS ACTIVITY ...... 4 VIDEO REVIEW ...... 6 LEARNING ACTIVITY: Considering Points of View on Gun Laws ...... 9 MEDIA LITERACY ACTIVITY: Point of View in Websites...... 11 LEARNING ACTIVITY: Examining Primary Sources...... 12 LEARNING ACTIVITY: Analysing Statistics ...... 13 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ...... 13
Quebec Students Speak Out ...... 14 SETTING THE STAGE ...... 14 VIDEO REVIEW ...... 16 LEARNING ACTIVITY: Considering Multiple Perspectives ...... 18
Cod Moratorium 20 Years Later ...... 20 SETTING THE STAGE ...... 20 VIDEO REVIEW ...... 22 LEARNING ACTIVITY: Analyzing Consequences ...... 26
Elliot Lake Mall Collapse: A Preventable Tragedy? ...... 28 SETTING THE STAGE ...... 28 MINDS ON DISCUSSION ...... 28 FOCUS FOR READING ...... 29 LEARNING ACTIVITY: Class Discussion ...... 31 VIDEO REVIEW ...... 32 LEARNING ACTIVITY: Public Inquiries in Canada ...... 34 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ...... 35
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IN THIS ISSUE
Colorado Shooting Rampage (Length: 18:15) As hundreds of moviegoers enjoyed a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie in Aurora, Colorado, James Holmes is alleged to have walked into the theatre and opened fire on the crowd. Twelve people were killed and nearly sixty injured. This News in Review story looks at the aftermath of the horrific incident and the issue of gun violence in the U.S.
News in Review Study Modules Related CBC Videos The Massacre in Norway, September 2011 Lost in the Struggle The Fate of the Long-Gun Registry, Restorative Justice: Capacity for Forgiveness October 2010 A Community Fights Gangs and Guns, November 2008 A Gunman Attacks Students in Montreal, October 2006 The Gun Law: Pro & Con, February 2003 Children in Trouble: Guns in Schools, September 1999
Quebec Students Speak Out (Length: 18:11) For months in early to mid 2012, thousands of Quebec students took to the streets to protest against rising tuition costs. But as the protests continued, so did the number of people taking to the streets...as did the causes they represented. This News in Review story follows the progress of the student movement and the Quebec government’s reaction, including the controversial Bill 78 that sought to limit how the students could protest.
News in Review Study Modules Related CBC Videos The Rise of the Occupy Movement, Bloody Saturday: The Winnipeg General Strike December 2011 Cafeteria Confidential The Uprising in Libya, April 2011 Immovable: The Legend of Maude Barlow Egypt and the Days of Anger, March 2011 Know Your Rights (CBC Audio) The G20 Summit: Talks and Teargas, September 2010 Iran’s Summer of Discontent, September 2009 A Day of Protest: Shutting Down Toronto, December 1996
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Cod Moratorium 20 Years Later (Length: 15:01) July 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of a government-imposed moratorium on Newfoundland’s northern cod fishery. The action, taken by the federal Conservative government of Brian Mulroney, put 40,000 people out of work in Newfoundland, and devastated hundreds of communities that depended on fishing as their primary industry. In this News in Review story, Rex Murphy revisits that dramatic turning point and the loss of a way of life.
News in Review Study Modules Related CBC Videos Coming Home to Newfoundland, April 2008 Legacy: The Will to Survive - Fogo Island, NF Newfoundland: A New Economy, Oceans of Trouble (CBC Audio) February 2001 One Ocean, Four-part series
Elliot Lake Mall Collapse: A Preventable Tragedy? (Length: 16:07) On a quite Saturday in the northern Ontario town of Elliot Lake, a sudden and deadly sound was heard. A portion of the roof at the local mall collapsed. Tons of debris fell onto the floor as stunned shoppers scrambled to get away from the devastation. This News in Review story looks at the tragic outcome of this small-town disaster and the controversy behind it.
News in Review Study Modules Related CBC Videos Japan and the Nuclear Nightmare, April 2011 Investigation of Swissair 111 The Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Living City: A Critical Guide September 2010 Catastrophe in Turkey: Building Faults, October 1999
Exercises marked with this symbol indicate that a worksheet to aid in the exploration of the topic is available online.
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News in Review – September 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide Colorado Shooting Rampage
SETTING THE STAGE
During the midnight premiere of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises at a theatre in Aurora Colorado, a young man dressed in black body armour, a gas mask, with guns strapped around his lap appeared through the emergency exit. He threw a canister of tear gas into the audience and commenced firing his weapons. Twelve people were killed and another 58 were injured. The gunman was apprehended and now awaits trial. His lawyer will argue that he suffers from a mental illness. This mass murder has re-ignited a public debate about gun laws in the United States although President Barack Obama and other political leaders hesitate to propose or amend existing laws.
Note to Teachers The classroom must promote a safe place for students to discuss sensitive issues such as violence and death. Prepare students for the topics that will be discussed and allow for individual reflective time in addition to small group activities where students can safely process their thoughts and emotions.
FOUR CORNERS ACTIVITY Activity Instructions Teacher Tips • a) Consider the Four Corner Statements below. Before proceeding with this activity, write Stand in the location with the statement you the number of these statements (1-4) and most agree. post them in four different locations in the classroom. b) Discuss with your group why you agree the most with your chosen statement. • Allow students to consider different points c) Choose a spokesperson from each group to of view by asking them to take the role of summarize for the entire class why the group the following people in the four-corners agrees with the statement. activity and see which statement they d) After the summaries, decide if you have would infer these people would most agree changed your mind and would like to join and discuss possible reasons for their with another group. inferences: a police officer; the victim of a violent gun crime; a Conservative member e) As a class, discuss if there are other of parliament from a rural riding; an NDP statements besides these four that you would member of parliament from an urban area be willing to support. etc.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
Four Corner Statements – Which one do you agree with most?
Citizens should be legally permitted to purchase a firearm for personal safety for use only within the confines of their home.
Citizens should be legally permitted to purchase and carry a firearm for personal safety.
It should be illegal for citizens to purchase firearms for personal safety. The only legal gun to own is a licensed hunting rifle.
Citizens should not be allowed to purchase firearms for any reason.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-viewing Questions
Answer the following questions individually, then compare them with a partner. Prepare to debrief as a class.
1. List as many examples of mass murders in the last five years that you can. Note the country that they occurred. Discuss similarities and differences in these events.
1. Canada has much stricter gun laws than the United States. What reasons can you propose for this difference?
2. Why do you think there is widespread media coverage of mass murders (as compared to other type of new stories)?
Viewing Questions
While you watch the CBC News in Review video, answer the questions below.
1. How many people were killed and injured in the shooting?
3. When the gunman first appeared, what did people initially think was happening?
4. How was the gunman captured?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
5. Why did police have to be cautious when entering James Holmes' apartment?
6. What previous mass shooting had occurred in the Denver area of the United States?
7. How did President Barack Obama personalize his response to the shooting?
8. Why did the mayor of New York criticize Barack Obama's and Mitt Romney's response to the shootings?
9. How did the mayor of Aurora characterize the event?
10. List two responses to the shootings by movie theatres around the world.
11. Describe the reaction of one of the wounded victims to the perpetrator.
12. What are two reasons that gun sales increase after a mass murder?
13. What is the predicted number of Americans that will be killed by a gun in the next 4 years?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
Post-Viewing Questions
1. Do you think that additional security measures are needed in public places? Why or why not?
2. Do you think that changes to American gun laws could have prevented this crime?
3. What have you learned about the James Holmes' in the media? Do you think we should pay attention to people like him or should we not give them extensive media attention? Why?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
LEARNING ACTIVITY: Considering Points of View on Gun Laws
Some countries have restrictive gun laws while others have less restrictive gun laws. Perhaps the most fundamental issue surrounding gun laws is the attempt of a government to balance personal freedom and public safety. This balance is the subject of much debate. Historical, cultural, economic, social and political issues come into play and a diversity of opinion exists within each nation regarding its own gun laws.
Canada has more restrictive legislation regarding the sales, ownership and of Confederation, law officials could fine men possession of guns when compared to the United for carrying handguns. In the late 1970s, stricter States. This difference has existed since both gun controls were introduced such as the nations came into existence and continues today. definition of restricted and prohibited weapons. The United States historically guaranteed its In the mid 1990s, significant increases in male, white citizens the "right to keep and bear controls occurred including the restriction of arms" (arms being the term for weapons ownership of numerous firearms typically used including firearms).This right is stated in the in the military. In 2001, the Liberal government Second Amendment to the U.S. Bill of Rights, implemented legislation that asked that all part of the American Constitution, which was firearms, including rifles and shotguns, be adopted on December 15, 1791. registered. If a firearm was not registered, Why would the founding fathers of the United criminal charges would result. Years of vocal States want their citizens to "keep and bear opposition to the bill began especially in rural arms"? Several historical reasons are plausible; communities with hunters and by those who felt to stop a tyrannical government; to fight off that the registration of guns infringes on the foreign enemies; for protection of self, family rights of law-abiding citizens. The law and property; and for enforcement of the law. abolishing the long-gun registry was passed by While these reasons seem reasonable in 1791, the Conservative government in 2012 amid are they still reasonable in the 21st century? opposition from groups who stated that the There are arguments on both sides. registry provided important information to police and that it had increased public safety. In Canada, the historical context is different, as are contemporary attitudes. From the early days
Did you know? Canadian law states you must have a license to own a firearm (to obtain a license you must pass safety training and background security screening).
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
Read the following opinions/arguments regarding gun control in the United States. For each of the statements answer the following questions (you may need to conduct additional research).
1. Who is the speaker? (Who do they work for or represent? What life experience have they had that might influence their views on gun laws? Do you think they are a credible source of information?) 2. Why do you think this person has made this public statement? 3. Do you think they make a convincing argument? Why or why not?
Viewpoints on Gun Laws
The president's view is that we can take We should not brush aside discussions of “ steps to keep guns out of the hands of “ gun policy as too politically difficult to people who should not have them under expect meaningful change, or 'the price of existing law. „ our freedoms.' Instead, we should reflect on Whitehouse Statement on behalf of President why the U.S. has a murder rate that is nearly Obama following the Aurora Shootings seven times higher than the average murder rate in other high-income countries and a nearly 20 times higher murder rate with Our challenge is not the laws, our challenge guns. . . . studies I have conducted indicate “ is people who, obviously, are distracted that stricter regulations of gun sales, from reality and do unthinkable, whether by retail dealers or by private unimaginable, inexplicable things. „ sellers, are associated with fewer guns Mitt Romney, diverted to criminals. Moreover, national Republican Presidential Candidate, Reuters, surveys show that a large majority of July 23, 2012 citizens favor these reforms to our gun laws, including most gun owners. „
Daniel W. Webster, professor, Centre for Gun The entire country should be carrying. Policy and Research, John Hopkins School of “ The whole population packing. All of us Public Health, quoted in "Without a Gun, How armed and dangerous. And then we'd have Many Lives Would Have Been Saved?" nothing to worry about. Who in their right Huffington Post Canada, August 24, 2012 mind is going to pull out a gun and start shooting when they know everyone else can return fire? You'd have to be a real nut- This has nothing to do with second amend- job. If we ever want this nation to be truly “ ment rights. This (assault rifle) is meant safe from gun violence we need to get for police and military...this is designed to everyone a gun, to terrify the most violent kill as many people as possible in the „ amongst us. We need to all be on an shortest amount of time. equal hunting field. „ Carolyn McCarthy, Democratic Congresswoman, Gavin Shulman, writer, CBC News in Review, September 2012 "Gung Ho! The Case for More Guns in America," The Huffington Post Comedy Canada Blog, August 28, 2012
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
It's against the law to murder people. It's against the law to shoot people point blank. It's against the “ law to throw tear gas canisters into crowded movie theatres. He broke all those laws. Would another law have stopped him? There's no reason to believe that would be the case. „ Tom Palmer, Cato Institute, CBC News in Review, September 2012
Americans are no more prone to mental illness or violence than any other people in the world. “ What they do have is more guns: roughly, 90 for every 100 people. And regions and states with higher rates of gun ownership have significantly higher rates of homicide than states with lower rates of gun ownership. The trite insistence that "guns don't kill people, people kill people" simply avoids the reality that people can kill people much more easily with guns than anything else that's accessible. Americans understand this. That's why a plurality supports greater gun control, and a majority thinks the sale of firearms should be more tightly regulated. „ Gary Younge, reporter, The Guardian, "America needs to talk about gun control in the wake of the Colorado shootings," July 20, 2012
MEDIA LITERACY ACTIVITY: Point of View in Websites
Compare the website of the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Answer the following questions for each site – www.nra.org and www.bradycampaign.org
1. What is the purpose of the website?
2. What images are used to engage the viewer/reader?
3. How do you think this website is funded?
4. Do you think the information provided is credible?
5. How does this website add to your understanding of gun laws in the United States?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
LEARNING ACTIVITY: Examining Primary Sources
Compare the gun laws of Colorado (excerpt provided below from the Colorado State Patrol website) with your own province/territory gun laws. The RCMP also provides information on gun ownership and licensing in Canada. What similarities do you note? What are the major differences?
Be prepared to discuss who has the "better" gun laws, Colorado or your province/territory gun based on 3-4 important criteria that you develop (i.e. public safety; right of citizens to protect themselves; cost of enforcement; effectiveness in reducing crime rates).
Colorado Firearm Laws (from www.colorado.gov)
What are Colorado's laws concerning firearms?
Colorado allows a person to carry a firearm in a vehicle, loaded or unloaded, if its use is for lawful protection of such person or another's person or property. Colorado law also allows a person to possess a handgun in a dwelling, place of business, or automobile. However, you cannot carry the weapon concealed on or about your person while transporting it into your home, business, hotel room, etc. Local jurisdictions may not enact laws that restrict a person's ability to travel with a weapon.
How do I obtain a Concealed Weapon Permit?
A permit to carry a concealed weapon may be obtained through the Sheriff of the county in which you live. You must meet certain requirements to qualify for the permit. Consult your local Sheriff's Department for more information obtaining a permit. The permit and a valid photo identification must be carried with the handgun at all times. A permit is not required and a handgun is not considered concealed when a person is in a private automobile or other private transportation.
Am I required to register my weapon in the State of Colorado?
The State of Colorado prohibits gun registration.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COLORADO SHOOTING RAMPAGE
LEARNING ACTIVITY: Analysing Statistics
From www.guardian.co.uk/data: After examining these statistics regarding gun ownership and gun homicide rates in different The US has the highest gun ownership rate countries: in the world — an average of 88 per 100 people. It is ranked first in the world for gun 1. What statistics did you find most surprising ownership. and why?
The US does not have the worst firearm murder rate — Honduras, El Salvador and Jamaica have the world's worst firearm murder rates. The US is number 28, with a rate of 2.97 per 100,000 people. 2. What statistics might a supporter of restrictive gun laws cite? Puerto Rico tops the world's table for firearms murders as a percentage of all homicides — 94.8%. It's followed by Sierra Leone in Africa and Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. 3. What statistics might a supporter of less Canada has the 13th highest gun ownership restrictive gun laws cite? rate in the world-an average of 30.8 per 100 people.
The US average total of all civilian firearms is 270,000,0000. Canada has 950,000.
Canada's homicide by firearm rate per 100, 000 people is 0.51%. The United States is 2.97%.
Source: To see the full data chart of statistics, search www.guardian.co.uk/data, "Gun Homicides and Ownership Listed by Country," DataBlog, The UK Guardian, July 22, 2012.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Ask a local police officer and/or a responsible gun owner and/or a victim of crime advocate to talk about gun control laws in your province/territory.
Write to your federal or provincial MP regarding your viewpoints on gun control laws in Canada or your province/territory.
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News in Review – September 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide Quebec Students Speak Out
SETTING THE STAGE
In February of 2012 thousands of students in Quebec took to the streets to protest a proposed hike in tuition fees introduced by the Liberal government of Jean Charest. The protesting students effectively shut down colleges and universities by boycotting classes and preventing other students from attending. The protesting students also committed acts of vandalism and snarled traffic. A number of restaurants and bars in downtown Montreal had to close their doors, or limit the hours they were open, because of violent clashes between protestors and police.
Did You Know? Students have a long history of protest in Quebec. The protest that occurred in the spring of 2012 was the ninth general strike in the history of Quebec’s student movement since 1968. This long history of student activism has kept tuition fees in that province low.
The proposed tuition hike would have seen Students, on the other hand, argued that post- tuition fees increase by 75 per cent over the next secondary education is a democratic right and five years. The government later changed this to must be accessible to all. They feared that an 80 per cent increase over 7 years. The total increased tuition fees would prevent many amount of the increase would be about $1,625 or students from low-income families from $325 per year. Current tuition rates in Quebec obtaining a college or university education. are approximately $2,500 a year – less than half of what students in Ontario, British Columbia, Certainly, students across the country feel that and most other Canadian provinces pay. they pay too much tuition. So why did the protests occur only in Quebec? A poll published The provincial Liberal government, under the in The Globe and Mail on May 7, 2012 indicated leadership of Jean Charest, argued that the that over 60 per cent of students across Canada increases were necessary because tuition fees would support a strike against tuition increases. only actually cover 13 per cent of the total But they also reported that they lacked operating costs of colleges and universities. The confidence in the idea that it is possible to fight provincial government, they argued, was paying tuition increases and changes to education. an ever-increasing percentage of tax revenue to keep post-secondary institutions afloat. Quebec differs from the other provinces and Charest’s government argued that this situation territories in that they have a long history of was simply not sustainable. labour activism, including student activism.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — QUEBEC STUDENTS SPEAK OUT
Student protests against tuition hikes reflect a in the protests. The legislation and arrests also larger belief within the province that education served to turn the protests into a fight for civil is a public service that plays an important social liberties, just as much as they were marches role, and should not be a product for sale in a against increased tuition fees. capitalist economy. The legislation also turned the public against The Situation Escalates Charest’s government. When the student protests initially began in February they did not have a The protests continued throughout the spring and great deal of public support. About two-thirds of as the numbers of protestors kept increasing, and the population supported an increase in tuition skirmishes between students and the police fees, and the hard line he initially took against escalated, Premier Charest finally took action. In the students — refusing to capitulate to their May 2012, provincial and city governments demands — boosted his popularity in the passed laws to crackdown on the protests. The province. But the legislation to crack down on legislation approved fines of up to $125,000 for the protests, in contrast, was only supported by student groups that break the law, prohibited about fifty per cent of the population. demonstrations within fifty metres of universities, banned protestors from wearing Despite the legislation, the protests continued, masks, and required organizers of and thousands of students ended up losing an demonstrations with more than fifty people to entire semester of courses. This made many inform police that a demonstration would be students furious, as well as their parents, who in held, and the route of the demonstration. many cases had paid the tuition for a semester Officials could reject the protest route if they felt that was lost. When summer break hit, the in posed a threat to public-safety. students vowed that the protests would begin again in September. Five days after the legislation was passed police arrested 518 protestors. Premier Charest decided to call an election for September 4, 2012, in large part because of this The arrests inflamed the striking students and issue. His party was defeated, and a minority fuelled their anger at the government. The Parti Quebecois was elected. The new premier, student movement surged and organizers were Pauline Marois, will no doubt have to come up able to get upwards of 300,000 students involved with a new solution for this problem.
To Consider
1. How might you feel if you lost a semester of education because of student protest?
2. What other ways might students have shared their anger over proposed tuition increases?
3. Do you think those other options would have had as much impact? Explain.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — QUEBEC STUDENTS SPEAK OUT
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-Viewing Activity
Organize yourself into small groups and respond to the following questions and activities. Make sure you provide reasons for your responses, and be prepared to share your responses with the rest of the class.
1. Is access to post-secondary education something that should be a right for every citizen of Canada? That is, should there be enough college and university spaces to accommodate any citizen in Canada who wants to attend?
2. Should post-secondary education be free? That would mean that the costs of tuition would be covered exclusively by taxes paid by citizens.
3. Should tuition fees be relatively similar in each province and territory in the country? That is, should students living in British Columbia pay the same amount to go to college or university as a student in Nova Scotia or Quebec?
4. Should protestors be able to demonstrate in the streets with their faces covered by masks or another type of disguise?
Viewing Questions
Record your responses to these questions as you view the video.
1. Why did thousands of Quebec students take to the streets in early 2012?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — QUEBEC STUDENTS SPEAK OUT
2. Why are tuition fees so much lower in Quebec than in other parts of the country?
3. What specific locations were targeted by protestors?
4. Record some of the provisions of Bill 78, passed by the Charest government in May 2012.
5. Why did this legislation result in an escalation of the protests?
6. Why did Charest say that he had to pass Bill 78?
7. What happened to the size of the protests over the summer?
Post-Viewing Activity
Once you have watched the video, re-visit your responses to the Pre-Viewing questions. Modify your responses based on the new information you learned in the video.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — QUEBEC STUDENTS SPEAK OUT
LEARNING ACTIVITY: Considering Multiple Perspectives
When we are trying to make sense of any current event, or historical problem, it is important to make sure you read a variety of perspectives on the issue. Think, for example, what would happen to your own opinion about the student protests if you only read or heard comments from people who agreed with the protests. You would likely be more inclined to decide to support the position of the students, than if you read and heard comments from a variety of perspectives.
Furthermore, if you only read or heard opinions that supported one side of an issue, you might not even be aware that there were other, competing perspectives on the issue.
Your Task
Read the selection of quotes that appear below. Reflect on those comments, and then prepare your own written response to the question:
Do you support the actions of Quebec students who are against the proposed tuition hike for university?
In your response, make sure you comment on: the proposed tuition hike itself the demonstrations the anti-protest legislation introduced by the government
Viewpoints on Quebec’s Student Protests
It is beyond debate that a university degree There will likely be more protests, as “ provides substantial economic benefits to “ students have every reason to be angry at the holder. The average after-tax income tuition increases, the declining quality of boost enjoyed by a university graduate is education and grim job prospects upon on the order of $15,000. Per year. Society graduation. Governments and employers at large may benefit from a well-educated are clear-cutting good jobs, slashing social workforce, but these gains are programs and attacking migrant rights in disproportionately weighted toward the name of austerity, leaving post- students themselves. It’s only proper that„ secondary graduates facing debt and students pay their fair share. precariousness after an impersonal and „ Editorial, Maclean’s, May 21, 2012 often unsatisfactory education. Xavier Lafrance and Alan Sears, Briarpatch, July-August 2012
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — QUEBEC STUDENTS SPEAK OUT
Canadians are often preoccupied with our public health care and apathetic about our publicly funded “ schools. But our universities might just be in as rough shape as our hospitals. ‘The trends are for classes to get larger, for courses to become less available, and for more and more teaching to be done by sessional and itinerant teachers,’ said Harvey Weingarten, president of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, in a speech last year. Students are less satisfied and less engaged than their American peers, says Weingarten. They are also graduating with more than $25 000 of debt, on average, into a job market that offers little chance of paying it off. Meanwhile, the Conference Board of Canada found this country placed eighth out of 16 peer nations for the production of scientific articles, one key contribution universities make to the economy by driving research and development. „ James Cowan, Canadian Business, June 14, 2012
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News in Review – September 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide Cod Moratorium 20 Years Later
SETTING THE STAGE
July 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of a government-imposed moratorium on Newfoundland’s northern cod fishery. The action, taken by the federal Conservative government of Brian Mulroney, put 40,000 people out of work in Newfoundland, and devastated hundreds of communities that depended on fishing as their primary industry.
VOCABULARY – Moratorium A suspension of activity. The moratorium on the cod fishery meant that no man or woman could fish for cod off the coast of Newfoundland.
The cod fishery was close to 500 years old. It People in Newfoundland were devastated, and had been around as long as anyone could angry. They blamed the Canadian government remember. In fact, it was hundreds of years older for not managing the cod fishery properly. They than Confederation itself. But at the time of the blamed other nations for fishing in Canadian moratorium, the cod population had crashed waters. They blamed technology: new fishing after decades of overfishing, mismanagement, vessels that were outfitted with the equivalent of and changing environmental conditions. huge vacuums that sucked up tonnes of fish off The fish were simply gone. Wiped out. the ocean floor.And the onset of factory large and powerful factory freezer trawlers that could That meant people couldn’t fish anymore. remain at sea for months at a time and were Fishermen who had done nothing else other than floating fish plants – workers could process and fish all their lives were out of work. People who freeze hundreds of tonnes of fish onboard. built boats, and ropes, and other equipment necessary for fishing were out of work. People And although the 20th anniversary of the cod who worked in fish processing plants were out moratorium marks a sad chapter in of work. Soon after, people who sold real estate Newfoundland’s history, it is also a time to and cars were out of work. No one had any reflect on a number of positive changes that have money to spend. occurred over the past twenty years. In fact, as the fishing industry in Newfoundland collapsed, And the closing of the cod fishery saw the start the oil industry in the West exploded. Many of an outmigration that has seen 75,000 people young Newfoundlanders left the island for jobs leave the island in the last twenty years. on the oil fields. These jobs, that rotated three works in the oil fields with three weeks vacation,
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COD MORATORIUM 20 YEARS LATER saw new money flood into Newfoundland. Oil ecologically we’re seeing a major shift back to a workers were able to buy houses and cars and system that will eventually become dominated drive the economic engine of Newfoundland. by capelin (a staple of the cod diet) and cod . . . I think we are seeing the beginnings of a recovery And now, the huge oil industry in now” (Cod recovery off Newfoundland finally Newfoundland and Labrador itself has turned the evident 20 years after moratorium, Canadian island into a “have” province for the first time. Press, June 30, 2012). Young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians don’t have to migrate to Alberta for jobs in the oil Although the moratorium was only supposed to industry, they can find well paid employment at last two years, it has been in place for twenty home. years, in part because colder than usual ocean temperatures interfered with fish spawning. But VOCABULARY – in recent years, ocean temperatures off the coast of Labrador were up to 2 degrees (Celsius) “Have” and “Have Not” Provinces higher than normal. The federal government in Canada makes equalization payments to less-wealthy However, the federal Fisheries Department and many environmentalists are taking a cautious Canadian provinces. These provinces are approach and reminding people that these are called “have not” provinces, while provinces preliminary findings. Don Power, the head of that have strong economies and do not ground fish research for the federal government need equalization payments are called in St. John’s said that the northern cod stock “have” provinces. remains ninety per cent below levels measured in the 1980s. And adult cod are much smaller than they were in 1992, measuring only about And now there are signs that the cod stocks off sixty per cent of their previous size. the coast of Newfoundland are finally starting to rebound. George Rose, director of the Centre for So while people are encouraged at the signs of a Fisheries Ecosystems Research at Memorial recovery, it remains to be seen if the fishery will University in St. John’s, said recent research ever return to the size it was for hundreds of indicates the cod are living longer and getting years. And the recovery will be too late for a bigger, thanks mainly to warmer water generation of fishermen who lost their temperatures.“In particular, this year we’re livelihoods, and the communities that were left seeing evidence that a lot of the real negative devastated. signs in the cod stocks that have been with us for 20 years are turning around. Biologically,
To Consider
1. Try to imagine the feelings of fishermen and their families when they were told that they could no longer fish. Record five emotions they may have experienced.
2. We often study turning points in history to better prevent similar events from happening again. What lessons can be learned from the disappearance of cod stocks and the choice to impose a moratorium?
News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 21
SEPTEMBER 2012 — COD MORATORIUM 20 YEARS LATER
VIDEO REVIEW
Did You Know? July 2,1992 — the day of the cod moratorium — marked the single biggest layoff in Canadian labour history. As many as 30,000 people were immediately out of work.
Pre-Viewing Activity
Organize yourself into small groups and respond to the following questions and activities. Be prepared to share your responses with the rest of the class.
1. a) What is the key economic industry in your community? (e.g., farming, tourism, mining, oil)
b) How many people do you think that industry, or those industries, employ? (Or it may be easier to think about the percentage of adults employed in those industries.)
c) How would your community be affected if that industry were to close? Would there be other industries that could absorb those workers? Would the workers have transferrable skills that could be used elsewhere?
2. Do you know anyone who has lost his or her job? What impact did that have on the person and their family?
3. What are some of the unique challenges that face older workers who lose their jobs?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COD MORATORIUM 20 YEARS LATER
Viewing Questions
Note to Teacher Before you play the video, it would be helpful if you discuss with students the meaning of the terms “emotional impact,” “financial impact,” “social impact,” and “cultural impact”. These terms are found in Question 7 below.
1. Why was the cod fishing industry in Newfoundland shut down in 1992?
2. a) How long was the moratorium supposed to last?
b) How long has it lasted?
c) Why are these numbers so different?
3. As you watch the video you will hear a number of criticisms about how the government is responsible for the disappearance of the cod, or how they should have done things differently. As you watch, record point-form notes about these criticisms.
4. What government position did John Crosbie hold in 1992? Do you think it helped or hurt the government that he was from a fishing family from Newfoundland?
5. a) How many Newfoundlanders lost their jobs when the Cod fishery was shut down in 1992?
b) What is the equivalent job loss overnight in Ontario?
6. In 1992, how much money did someone who was unemployed receive per month?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COD MORATORIUM 20 YEARS LATER
7. Explain the impacts of the cod moratorium:
Emotional impact –
Financial impact –
Social impact –
Cultural impact –
8. Outline the specific series of reactions experienced by Bill Broderick and his family after the cod fishery was closed.
9. Why did artist Ed Roche decide to paint about the disappearance of the fishing industry in Newfoundland?
10. What did Paul Tucker develop to recognize the 20th anniversary of the cod moratorium?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COD MORATORIUM 20 YEARS LATER
Post-Viewing Activities
1. In this News in Review story you saw that in most outport communities in Newfoundland there were piles of fishing boats and equipment simply left to rot because there wasn’t any cod to be caught.
If a crisis hit one of the key industries in your community, what would be piled up and left to rot? What would be symbolic of the end of a key industry in your community?
2. Visit the CBC website to view Paul Tucker’s comic book commemorating the cod moratorium at CBC.CA/NL. Produce your own creative work to commemorate the 20th anniversary. You will need to explain the images you chose to include in your piece.
News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 25
SEPTEMBER 2012 — COD MORATORIUM 20 YEARS LATER
LEARNING ACTIVITY: Analyzing Consequences
Complex problems are not easily solved. And they have a host of consequences. Some of these consequences are intended (or intentional), and some are unintended (or unintentional).
Cell Phones Consider the issue of cell phones. In an effort to definitely not safe, as drivers don’t need any reduce accidents that resulted from people additional distractions while on the road. talking on their cell phones when driving, many However, once the cell phone ban was in place, provincial governments imposed cell phone drivers started to secretly text while driving. bans. The intended consequence was that there This meant they were looking down into their would be fewer accidents. However, the laps while driving, rather than having their eyes legislation had an unintended consequence — it on the road. This is even more dangerous. increased the frequency of texting while driving. So although the intended consequence of the cell Previous to the legislation, people might have phone ban was to make the roads safer, the answered their cell phone and had a short unintended consequence is that the ban has conversation while watching the road. This was likely made the roads less safe because it has forced people to text while driving.
Cod Fishing Moratorium The cod fishing moratorium can also be analyzed for its consequences. There are a whole host of intended as well as unintended consequences that resulted from the imposition of the moratorium.
Read the “Setting the Stage” section of this guide, or watch the video a second time, and complete the Multiple Consequences diagram that on the following page.
When you have finished completing the diagram, answer the two analysis questions at the bottom of the worksheet and be prepared to discuss your responses.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — COD MORATORIUM 20 YEARS LATER
CAUSE and CONSEQUENCE Worksheet: MULTIPLE CONSEQUENCE WEB
Instructions: Record the event you are analyzing in the centre triangle. Then identify and record all of the consequences generated by the event.
Analysis Use one colour to shade each box that is an intended (or planned) consequence. With another colour, shade those boxes that you believe are unintended (or unplanned) consequences.
1. Based on the information you have learned, do you believe that the intentional consequences had a greater or lesser impact than the unintentional consequences? Why? 2. Which of these do you believe were, or will be, the most long-lasting consequences?
News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 27
News in Review – September 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide Elliot Lake Mall Collapse: A Preventable Tragedy?
SETTING THE STAGE
Two people were killed and 22 other people were Note to Teachers injured when the roof of the Algo Centre Mall in The classroom must promote a safe place Elliot Lake collapsed on June 23, 2012. The speed for students to discuss sensitive issues such and efficiency of emergency response to the as disaster and death. Prepare students for collapse has been criticized, and the mall's safety the topics that will be discussed and allow for individual reflective time in addition to and structural integrity will be questioned in a small group activities where students can public inquiry. safely process their thoughts and emotions.
MINDS ON DISCUSSION
1. Imagine that you just received a text message from your friend saying that a nearby mall/community centre had collapsed. How would you respond?
2. Have you ever been concerned about the structural safety of a building? To whom would you report your concerns?
3. Do you think that the government should be responsible for creating laws regarding the safety of buildings? Why or why not?
4. What problems do you anticipate a rescue crew may have in attempting to find survivors and bodies in a collapsed building?
5. Hypothesize probable causes of the roof collapse of a mall.
6. Locate Elliot Lake on a map of Canada. Determine three distinguishing attributes of this community
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — ELLIOT LAKE MALL COLLAPSE: A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY?
FOCUS FOR READING
As you read the background information below on the Algo Centre Mall collapse, record your answers to the following questions:
1. Who was involved in the rescue attempt and what technologies were used?
2. Why did some community members respond in anger when the official rescue team called off the search?
3. How did Premier McGuinty get involved in the events?
4. What three legal actions resulted from this tragedy?
A Community in Shock determine if there were survivors. A Heavy Life in the community of Elliot Lake in northern Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) team from Ontario came to a shocked standstill on a Toronto was sent on a seven-hour trek to the Saturday afternoon when news that part of the community since at least one person was known mall's roof, which also served as a parking lot, to be trapped in the rubble. came crashing through two floors. The number Workers at the mall said that they heard a big of people who were in the mall at the time of the noise and felt the ground started shaking collapse was difficult to calculate since both immediately before the collapse and one witness shoppers and employees had to be accounted for. saw a few cars fall through the roof near the Friends, family and community members rushed centre's escalators. Many workers ran to a back to the scene to gather news and to witness a entrance to escape. Rescue crews announced on tangle of twisted metal and concrete. The local Sunday that it would take up to 12 hours to fire department and paramedics were the first stabilize the building in order to proceed with a teams to arrive to begin rescue operations. The rescue. A person buried in the rubble responded OPP initially determined that 22 people were to shouts of rescuers by tapping at first, but injured but none of those were seriously hurt. A stopped after a few responses. A rescue dog canine team and thermal sensors were used to
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — ELLIOT LAKE MALL COLLAPSE: A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY? verified that a live person was underneath the own. It had been determined that Lucie Aylwin, rubble. Nine people remained unaccounted for. 37, an employee of a lottery kiosk in the mall, was trapped in the rubble and likely had been the A Disaster in Waiting person making the tapping noises heard days Despite the communities shock at the tragedy, earlier. Her fiancé, Gary Gendron, was many people did not seem surprised at the distraught, announcing to supporters and disaster. The mall's roof had leaked for years. reporters gathered, that officials had wrongfully Customers and employees shared stories of giving up looking for her. buckets and tarps being used to collect rain Two hours later, the search was resumed. water that routinely fell through the ceilings. Premier Dalton McGuinty had intervened to One structural engineer who was asked to work urge officials to continue the effort. On on the design of the Algo Centre Mall back in Tuesday night a giant Priestly Crane was 1979 was recently quoted in the Toronto Star as brought in from Toronto to rip through the saying it was a "stupid" idea to put the parking exterior wall and grab the escalator that rescuers lot on the roof since parked cars could introduce had feared would fall on them. By Wednesday moisture and road salt to the proposed morning the HUSAR team was back inside the unprotected steel-and concrete design that did building to find two victims. The week-long not included waterproofing. rescue effort ended when the bodies of Lucie Aylwin, who had managed to survive for so Rescue Mission Starts and Stalls long, and Doloris Perizzolo, 74 were recovered. After a 48-hour around-the-clock search, Bill Aylwin had taken on the part-time job to save Neadles, the commander of the HUSAR unit, money for her up-coming wedding. Perizzolo, a announced early Monday that the building was mother of two daughters, reportedly worked at a too structurally unsound to continue rescue hospital until she retired, and her husband died efforts. Residents gathered in front of the Algo last year. She had been purchasing a lottery Centre Mall listened in silence and sobbed as ticket from Lucie when the collapse happened. Neadles stated that the case was being referred to the Ministry of Labour who would likely Residents are seeking answers to why the order a demolition of the building remains along tragedy occurred and why the rescue mission with careful extraction of the deceased. Many seemed disorganized and that the heavy residents reacted with anger, and claimed that equipment required was not brought in sooner. they had the expertise from working in uranium Three legal actions are pending. A public inquiry mines to begin their own rescue attempt. A was launched on July 20th, a criminal heavy police presence deterred their efforts to investigation by the OPP and a $30 million class storm the site and continue the search on their action lawsuit.
Did you Know? The 200,000 square-foot, two-level mall was a major community centre and employer in the town. It included a hotel and grocery store.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — ELLIOT LAKE MALL COLLAPSE: A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY?
LEARNING ACTIVITY: Class Discussion
Consider the following questions individually and then debrief in small groups. Be prepared to join in a class discussion.
1. Do you think professional rescue teams must risk their lives, regardless of circumstances, to save victims who are alive? Why or why not?
2. Do you think professional rescue teams should risk their lives to retrieve bodies? Why or why not?
3. When, if ever, do you think it is appropriate to "call off" a rescue mission?
4. Consider the impact on a small community if their only mall/community centre was destroyed? List the possible economic and social impacts.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — ELLIOT LAKE MALL COLLAPSE: A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY?
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-viewing Questions
1. If you were a CBC reporter, who would you want to interview to gain information on this event? Why?
2. For each person you interviewed, what two important questions would you ask?
Viewing Questions
As you watch the CBC News in Review video, record answers to the following questions:
1. At the public meeting, why were people in the town angry at town officials?
2. What did one former worker claim was the problem with the mall's structure?
3. How is the proposed cause of the roof collapse similar to issues in Toronto's Gardiner Expressway?
4. How did rescuers know that someone was alive in the ruins?
5. What technology was used in the rescue operation?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — ELLIOT LAKE MALL COLLAPSE: A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY?
6. Why was the rescue mission called off?
7. What was the outcome of the rescue?
8. What support did Premier McGuinty offer the community?
9. Why did the OPP launch a criminal investigation?
10. What additional legal action was taken by the victim's families?
Post-Viewing Questions
1. Return to your answers to the pre-viewing questions. Did the news reporters interview the people you had predicted? Discuss possible reasons for the omissions and additions to your list.
2. Did the report poise the questions that you deemed important? What additional questions remain for a future investigation?
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — ELLIOT LAKE MALL COLLAPSE: A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY?
LEARNING ACTIVITY: Public Inquiries in Canada
Minds-on Activity
Consider this sample of both federal and provincial public inquiries in Canadian history: Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1991; Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, 2000; Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada, 1995; The Ipperwash Inquiry (Ontario, 2003); Access to Health Services (Alberta, 2012); Missing Women Commission of Inquiry (British Columbia, 2010).
1. From this list of previous Canadian public inquiries, what do you infer is the purpose of a public inquiry?
2. Why do you think a public inquiry was announced by the Ontario government regarding the Elliot Lake mall collapse?
What Public Inquiries Do evidence. Inquiries treat false answers by You may have heard of public inquiries before witnesses as perjury and can make findings of in political news reports. The federal misconduct. Witnesses can be represented by a government and provincial governments may lawyer. call a public inquiry for a number of importance There are two major types of public inquiries; reasons and purposes. A public inquiry can policy reviews and factual inquiries. Policy examine a complex social issue or a specific reviews review major complex social, economic tragic event in order to determine government and political issues and provide advice to the wrongdoing and to make recommendations for government. A factual inquiry involves a changes to federal and provincial laws. The specific event that has raised widespread public federal or provincial governments are not bound concern. The factual inquiry's purpose is to to accept recommendations. Public inquiries determine what happened and why. An inquiry allow the media and the general public to attend also provides recommendations to the its proceedings and to provide evidence and government on how similar events can be testimony. Final reports are public record (you prevented in the future. can read them on-line). Supporters of public inquiries believe that Public inquiries are not courts of law. A public inquiries provide valuable information for public inquiry does not make a legal finding of guilt or awareness and debate in addition to providing liability and no one is legally obliged to follow important policy recommendations to the its recommendations. However, if an inquiry government that may led to social and political were to uncover evidence criminal activities, this reform. However, there are critics of public evidence would be turned over to the appropriate inquiries who state that they are too expensive agency for further investigation and possibly and time consuming and that the government is criminal charges. Even though public inquiries too closely involved with the proceedings to are not courts of law, they can compel witnesses make the proceedings and final to appear, testify under oath and produce recommendations truly independent.
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SEPTEMBER 2012 — ELLIOT LAKE MALL COLLAPSE: A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY?
Consolidate Your Learning
1. The Algo Centre Mall roof collapse public inquiry will be which type-policy review or factual inquiry?
2. Why do you think Premier Dalton McGuinty has created a public inquiry into this tragedy?
3. Who do you think will be called to testify at this inquiry and why?
4. What recommendations can you predict might be made by the inquiry?
5. What are the arguments in favour of and against public inquiries?
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
1. What other political, social, economic issue do you think your provincial government should commence a new public inquiry? Why?
2. Invite a structural engineer to talk to your class about some of the key elements that make a structural design safe.
3. Invite your school caretaker to talk to your class about safety procedures and laws that make your school building healthy and safe.
4. Write a letter or email of condolence and support to the people of Elliot Lake.
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