The Choice

We now move ahead sixty years to March 31,2009, Rob, Joe and Johnny, all retired now and collecting their Canada Pension have gathered at Rob’s house to talk about what they still call, “the fight for confederation” and to watch the CBC Special being put together for the occasion. They reminisce about the years since that day in 1949 and of the many changes it had brought. Joe had spent his entire working life in Ontario having moved to Toronto at the age of 18. He had returned home to Newfoundland, (yes it would always be home), upon retirement six years ago. Rob too had gone to Ontario but later returned to his home province to work with the Iron Ore Company in Labrador City. He also had returned to the island and the small community where he had grown up. Johnny alone of the three, had remained on the island, and in the years before the fishing moratorium had made a good living from the sea. Seven years earlier, he had sold his fishing licence and built a summer home at Larry’s Pond, and returned to the Tickle in the Fall. The three men fell silent as the CBC program began, once again they heard the voice of Peter Cashin as he argued for a return to Responsible Government and nationhood. They listened as he talked of the pride which Newfoundlanders had in their heritage as Britain oldest colony and of those who had died for King and country in both world wars. They listened too as Joseph R (Joey) Smallwood reminded Major Cashin of the dark days of Responsible government and all that Canada had to offer in terms of family allowance and old age security. When the program had ended, they spoke again of the bitterness which in some cases took decades to erase and of those who had gone to their grave refusing to accept the results of the referendum or to be called anything but Newfoundlanders. Sixty years later there were few who felt the decision had been wrong and fewer still who were not proud Canadians. Johnny spoke of his grandson working in the oil fields of Alberta and a granddaughter who worked as a nurse in BC. Newfoundland with it’s unique lifestyle would always be home, but their loyalty to Canada would never be in doubt