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Tiny, rocky island subject of dispute between Canada and United States
FREDERICTON - A tiny island between New Brunswick and Maine is the subject of renewed calls from both sides of the border to settle a territorial dispute once and for all.
Machias Seal Island is a flat, treeless piece of rock located about 19 kilometres south of Grand Manan Island and 16 kilometres west of the Maine coast at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy.
The island is a sanctuary for many kinds of seabirds including the Atlantic Puffin and draws visitors from around the world to observe them in the summer.
There are no permanent human residents on the island, just pairs of lightkeepers who spend 28 days at a time maintaining a lighthouse operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. The original lighthouse was built by the British in 1832, and a lighthouse has been maintained there ever since.
So why would anyone even care which country gets title to Machias Seal Island?
The answer lies in the 720 square kilometres of water around the island in what's called a grey zone. Lobster fishermen from both Canada and the U.S. fish these waters.
"The fishing community on Grand Manan is permitted to fish there on an open-end basis and it's our way of laying our claim to this water that is part of the Machias Seal Island dispute," said MP John Williamson, who represents the riding of New Brunswick-Southwest.
Williamson said the island is considered to be in his riding.
"I think our claim is sound and is legitimate, but at the end of the day it's going to come down to the minister in this country and the administration in Washington to settle it," he said.
"I think it is in the interests of both of our countries to do that."
That feeling is echoed by Stephen Kelly, a professor at the Center for Canadian Studies at Duke University and a retired American diplomat who has served in Canada.
"It just strikes me if we have this opportunity to remove a potential irritant going forward, why don't we take it?" Kelly said in an interview from his office in Durham, N.C.
Kelly put his thoughts in a commentary for The New York Times last month, which he said he was prompted to write after seeing territorial disputes that have erupted between Japan and China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
He said while the situation between Canada and the United States is much different, land disputes are better settled.
"What if some valuable resource is discovered in the grey zone around Machias Seal Island? What if some other contingency that we can't imagine now of strategic importance comes along?" he asked.
"Wouldn't we feel silly that we didn't take the opportunity to resolve this when the stakes were relatively low."
For Ralph Eldridge, a Canadian who has been a lightkeeper on the island for the last 16 years, the question of who owns Machias Seal Island is a "non-issue," something that is never a question from the visitors who travel to the island each summer.
And Eldridge said he doesn't have to produce his passport to go there.
"But neither does someone from the United States or China or Japan or Spain have to when they come to the island," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said ownership of the island and surrounding waters is clear as far as Canada is concerned: they are Canadian.
"Canada's sovereignty over Machias Seal Island and sovereign jurisdiction over the 210 square nautical mile surrounding waters is strongly founded in international law," Barbara Harvey said in a statement.
Machias Seal Island is a flat, treeless piece of rock located about 19 kilometres south of Grand Manan Island and 16 kilometres west of the Maine coast at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy.
The island is a sanctuary for many kinds of seabirds including the Atlantic Puffin and draws visitors from around the world to observe them in the summer.
There are no permanent human residents on the island, just pairs of lightkeepers who spend 28 days at a time maintaining a lighthouse operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. The original lighthouse was built by the British in 1832, and a lighthouse has been maintained there ever since.
So why would anyone even care which country gets title to Machias Seal Island?
The answer lies in the 720 square kilometres of water around the island in what's called a grey zone. Lobster fishermen from both Canada and the U.S. fish these waters.
"The fishing community on Grand Manan is permitted to fish there on an open-end basis and it's our way of laying our claim to this water that is part of the Machias Seal Island dispute," said MP John Williamson, who represents the riding of New Brunswick-Southwest.
Williamson said the island is considered to be in his riding.
"I think our claim is sound and is legitimate, but at the end of the day it's going to come down to the minister in this country and the administration in Washington to settle it," he said.
"I think it is in the interests of both of our countries to do that."
That feeling is echoed by Stephen Kelly, a professor at the Center for Canadian Studies at Duke University and a retired American diplomat who has served in Canada.
"It just strikes me if we have this opportunity to remove a potential irritant going forward, why don't we take it?" Kelly said in an interview from his office in Durham, N.C.
Kelly put his thoughts in a commentary for The New York Times last month, which he said he was prompted to write after seeing territorial disputes that have erupted between Japan and China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
He said while the situation between Canada and the United States is much different, land disputes are better settled.
"What if some valuable resource is discovered in the grey zone around Machias Seal Island? What if some other contingency that we can't imagine now of strategic importance comes along?" he asked.
"Wouldn't we feel silly that we didn't take the opportunity to resolve this when the stakes were relatively low."
For Ralph Eldridge, a Canadian who has been a lightkeeper on the island for the last 16 years, the question of who owns Machias Seal Island is a "non-issue," something that is never a question from the visitors who travel to the island each summer.
And Eldridge said he doesn't have to produce his passport to go there.
"But neither does someone from the United States or China or Japan or Spain have to when they come to the island," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said ownership of the island and surrounding waters is clear as far as Canada is concerned: they are Canadian.
"Canada's sovereignty over Machias Seal Island and sovereign jurisdiction over the 210 square nautical mile surrounding waters is strongly founded in international law," Barbara Harvey said in a statement.
Having come to FL from Iowa, I can certainly understand "grumpy", at this point in the winter. It wasn't unusual for us to have sub-zero temps for days on end, with one blizzard following another; if we were lucky we could get out to groceries in between. The snow used to drift so high in front of our house that the dog and cats would climb the bank and walk around on the roof. Yep, I understand that "grumpy" all too well......I even find myself getting a bit grumpy when our temps dip too low to be out in a short sleeved shirt......... But even when we dip down to the freezing mark, we know we we aren't going to have to shovel it.
There are actually a lot of fun things to do here in FL - a $20 picture with a lizard isn't something I've ever felt the need to try......lol Totally agree that you can keep Miami. One of my passions is antiques and thrift stores, along with flea markets and yard sales.........We have tons of all of those; not to mention the Rainbow River to tube down, forests to hike through, amusement parks about an hour away, etc.
It's a chilly 52 right now, headed for a high of 77.
There are actually a lot of fun things to do here in FL - a $20 picture with a lizard isn't something I've ever felt the need to try......lol Totally agree that you can keep Miami. One of my passions is antiques and thrift stores, along with flea markets and yard sales.........We have tons of all of those; not to mention the Rainbow River to tube down, forests to hike through, amusement parks about an hour away, etc.
It's a chilly 52 right now, headed for a high of 77.
If you do make it down to New Orleans in October let me know. I would like to ride down and meet ya'll.
SOLD! At this point I will take a Hurricane...we had Christmas today (I'm about to post to tell all of you about it) and I can tell you that a Hurricane is looking good.
I've been to Key West (in Florida I've been to Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa and Key West) and I must say I was a bit disappointed. I paid $20.00 to have my picture taken with a lizard (yep, I really did that), visited Earnest Hemingway's House (that was kinda neat) and was totally bummed that I couldn't actually see Cuba from the point. I did very much like the open air pubs, but then again I was 25 when I went there. Miami you can all keep - that was a bit scary in all honesty. Ft. Lauderdale was really really fun and Tampa was ok. I'm going back there sometime in the next two years actually as my parents go there for several weeks every year and we are going to meet them.
50 miles from the beach works for me. My city (actually my whole Province) is landlocked, unless you count the rivers and I wouldn't dip in those in the warm months let alone right now. We are at our low of about 8 hours a day of sunlight a day, and it's really really really cold. It's minus 23 celcius (about -10 F), but with the wind chill is -32 (-26F) So 50 miles from the beach and it being sunny totally and completely works for me! You all can have that little Island with nothing on it. I WANT WARM WEATHER! I'm getting grumpy and am sure I am Vitamin D deficiency something. Sooooooo....who wants to visit? lol
I've been to Key West (in Florida I've been to Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa and Key West) and I must say I was a bit disappointed. I paid $20.00 to have my picture taken with a lizard (yep, I really did that), visited Earnest Hemingway's House (that was kinda neat) and was totally bummed that I couldn't actually see Cuba from the point. I did very much like the open air pubs, but then again I was 25 when I went there. Miami you can all keep - that was a bit scary in all honesty. Ft. Lauderdale was really really fun and Tampa was ok. I'm going back there sometime in the next two years actually as my parents go there for several weeks every year and we are going to meet them.
50 miles from the beach works for me. My city (actually my whole Province) is landlocked, unless you count the rivers and I wouldn't dip in those in the warm months let alone right now. We are at our low of about 8 hours a day of sunlight a day, and it's really really really cold. It's minus 23 celcius (about -10 F), but with the wind chill is -32 (-26F) So 50 miles from the beach and it being sunny totally and completely works for me! You all can have that little Island with nothing on it. I WANT WARM WEATHER! I'm getting grumpy and am sure I am Vitamin D deficiency something. Sooooooo....who wants to visit? lol
Well, it really isn't mine to give, but I can offer you the southern tip of FL, or maybe the Keys, but you have to be ready to make a quick getaway when the hurricanes come. Hurricane season is May 2 - Nov 1 (or maybe they extended it to Dec 1?). I, personally, don't have beachfront property (my county is landlocked), but we're < 50 miles to the beach on either coast; that way you get to take a pick...... get tired of the Gulf, try out the Atlantic Ocean. There's something to be said for choices........... lol
A canuck is a Canadian...just a nickname for us. Kind of like Yankees for Americans.
Brice...really? My fellow canucks aren't known as tippers? I didn't know that...we need to step it up!!!!
Brice...really? My fellow canucks aren't known as tippers? I didn't know that...we need to step it up!!!!
What's a canuck?
Bar business joke....
You know the difference between a canoe and a Canuck?
A canoe will tip....
I'm here all week folks.
You know the difference between a canoe and a Canuck?
A canoe will tip....
I'm here all week folks.
I like California...and we don't need all of it, just a nice patch to call our own. It must be beach front though!! I'm also open to Hawaii....or Florida...or some of the other Southern States that I have not yet had the pleasure to visit (although it looks like I am spending Halloween 2013 in New Orleans!!! so excited!!). You know this whole dispute thing is something made up by us sneaky Canadians to get some warm areas included in our country right? Hehe...we are quite devious that way, especially in the winter time. It's freaking cold out!! I have my husbands whole family staying here, so 3 young boys trapped in the house cause it's too cold to go outside. WE NEED A BEACH!
Haha!!! You just do not quit...
"So if you have alligators you don't have crocs? "
There are a few Fresh Water Crocs but they are rare. I think Florida has more than we do but I think they are rare there to. They are small and the Alligators probably kill them.
I wonder if Adgal will take S.F. for a trade?
There are a few Fresh Water Crocs but they are rare. I think Florida has more than we do but I think they are rare there to. They are small and the Alligators probably kill them.
I wonder if Adgal will take S.F. for a trade?
That is just in S.F. California is a lot more than one city.
So if you have alligators you don't have crocs?
So if you have alligators you don't have crocs?
No thanks; I have no desire to go any place where it is legal for Ugly People to walk around Naked. I’m a “Firm” Believer (Pun Intended); if you got it, flaunt it. If you don’t, keep it covered up. And it’s Alligators not Crocodiles.
Grrrrrr.
You have an open invitation to leave crocodile land and visit our lovely planet, biker guy.
You have an open invitation to leave crocodile land and visit our lovely planet, biker guy.
That's even better. We're willing to trade an entire Planet for “flat, treeless piece of rock”
LOL, sorry maybe sweet swampland but not Caleeefornia. Uh uh, we are our own planet and you are welcome to dual citizenship anytime-both of you! LOL!
“Still....I'd trade you for a nice stretch of beach with palm trees.....see how diplomatic I can be? Lol”
The Deal is on the Table. I think California for a “flat, treeless piece of rock” is a fair trade.
The Deal is on the Table. I think California for a “flat, treeless piece of rock” is a fair trade.
ROFL!!!!
Thanks you. I love starting my day with laughter!
Thanks you. I love starting my day with laughter!
Divert Your Course
This is the actual conversation of a U.S. Naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations, 10-10-95.
Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the Captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Canadians: No, I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier US LINCOLN, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied with three Destroyers, three Cruisers and numerous support vessels. I DEMAND that you change your course 15 degrees north, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
This is the actual conversation of a U.S. Naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations, 10-10-95.
Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the Captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Canadians: No, I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier US LINCOLN, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied with three Destroyers, three Cruisers and numerous support vessels. I DEMAND that you change your course 15 degrees north, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
Oh dear, I've gotten started...more Canadian humour (and these are true questions asked of us during the Olympics...lol)
From Canadian Jokes to Canadian Sarcasm
AsVancouver was hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, here are some silly questions that were asked by people from all over the world. Believe it or not, these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Web site. Obviously the answers are not to be taken seriously, but the questions were indeed asked and are now another addition to the collection of Canadian jokes!
Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.
Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.
Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto. Can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only 4,000 miles, take lots of water.
Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.
Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (England)
A: What, did your last slave die?
Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North… oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.
Q: Which direction is North in Canada? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada? (England)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-ma-ny, which is... oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany)
A: No, WE don't stink.
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA)
A: Only at Thanksgiving.
Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.
Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA)
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.
There you have it, pure sarcasm as part of these Canadian jokes.
From Canadian Jokes to Canadian Sarcasm
AsVancouver was hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, here are some silly questions that were asked by people from all over the world. Believe it or not, these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Web site. Obviously the answers are not to be taken seriously, but the questions were indeed asked and are now another addition to the collection of Canadian jokes!
Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.
Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.
Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto. Can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only 4,000 miles, take lots of water.
Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.
Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (England)
A: What, did your last slave die?
Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North… oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.
Q: Which direction is North in Canada? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada? (England)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-ma-ny, which is... oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany)
A: No, WE don't stink.
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA)
A: Only at Thanksgiving.
Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.
Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA)
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.
There you have it, pure sarcasm as part of these Canadian jokes.
You may be living in Canada if:
Your local Dairy Queen (ice cream shop) is closed from September through May
Someone in a Home Depot offers you assistance... and they don't work there
You've worn shorts and a parka at the same time
You've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number
“Vacation” means going anywhere south of Muncie for the weekend
You measure distance in hours
You know several people who have hit a deer more than once
You have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again
You can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching
You install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked
You carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them
You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit
The speed limit on the highway is 80 km and you're going 90 and everybody is passing you
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction
You have more miles on your snow blower than your car
You find 2 degrees "a little" chilly
If you actually understand these Canadian jokes, you definitely live in Canada! :)
Now, R Glass, do you folks REALLY want to mess with us? Especially in winter? Do you really think you would have a chance? Hmmmm........
Your local Dairy Queen (ice cream shop) is closed from September through May
Someone in a Home Depot offers you assistance... and they don't work there
You've worn shorts and a parka at the same time
You've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number
“Vacation” means going anywhere south of Muncie for the weekend
You measure distance in hours
You know several people who have hit a deer more than once
You have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again
You can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching
You install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked
You carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them
You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit
The speed limit on the highway is 80 km and you're going 90 and everybody is passing you
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction
You have more miles on your snow blower than your car
You find 2 degrees "a little" chilly
If you actually understand these Canadian jokes, you definitely live in Canada! :)
Now, R Glass, do you folks REALLY want to mess with us? Especially in winter? Do you really think you would have a chance? Hmmmm........
Ohh...dems fighting words. We Canucks are peace loving folks and can put up with a lot....but HANDS OFF OUR LOBSTERS!!!!
Still....I'd trade you for a nice stretch of beach with palm trees.....see how diplomatic I can be? lol
Still....I'd trade you for a nice stretch of beach with palm trees.....see how diplomatic I can be? lol
Oh oh.
*Now* we will see Adgal's warrior woman emerge...
Watch out, I hear rumblings up North...
*Now* we will see Adgal's warrior woman emerge...
Watch out, I hear rumblings up North...
Youre Going Down. LOL
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