Top 5 of ‘05
Five of the best events of 2005
Melissa Hiebert, Staff
5) US Border open to Canadian Beef
Leaving many Canadian farmers happy, the U.S. declared that their border was once again open to Canadian beef. The trade was originally shut down in 2003 over fears of Mad Cow disease. Canadian farmers lost an estimated $7 billion. A panel of three judges ruled in favour of an appeal that was originally dismissed by a Montana judge, and declared Canadian beef safe from spreading mad cow disease and not a health risk. Many Canadian farmers were delighted and relieved by the ruling.
4) Canada says no to Missile Defense
Prime Minister Paul Martin announced in February that Canada would not take part in the U.S. proposal to implement a ballistic missile defense program. The ballistic missile program is composed of an early warning radar system, a command centre and missile interceptors (or kill vehicles), and an infrared satellite in space. The satellite detects incoming missiles, and the radars gather more information on the missile and transmit it back to the command centre. Interceptor vehicles are then employed: rockets are launched to collide with the missile and destroy it. Previous test runs of the system had failed, and Paul Martin stated that Canada’s funds would be going to other things rather than the BMD project. This marks the second time in recent years that Canada has refused to support U.S. military plans, since Jean Chretien’s refusal to support the Iraq war.
3) Hockey’s back
After a long disagreement between the NHL player’s association and the NHL, the lockout finally ended on July 22 of this year. The entire 88th season of the NHL was cancelled, but finally ,after 310 days, the labour dispute was resolved. Salary caps were implemented in order to ensure that teams have an equal change at contracting players so that teams cannot simply ‘buy the cup.’ The most any one team can spend on players’ salaries is $39 million U.S. Hockey fans all over Canada and the U.S. rejoiced. Who knows, maybe the top 5 of 06 will include the return of the Jets.
2) Same-sex marriage legalized in Canada
On July 20, 2005, same-sex marriage was legalized across Canada through the Civil Marriage Act. Same sex marriage had been legal in eight provinces and one territory prior to the Act being passed. Same-sex marriages were first allowed in light of court rulings that deemed the ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. Bill C-38 was first introduced in the beginning of February, and the bill was passed in the House of Commons during their summer session. It then went on to the Senate, where it won the vote by a wide margin, 43-12. Although not without its lingering controversy, this is viewed by most as a great success in human rights.
1) We’re still here!
Well, another year has passed and we still haven’t managed to run completely out of resources, blow ourselves up or otherwise wipe out our entire population. Good job everyone! Things are looking up. Maybe discovering peace and understanding will show up on next year’s top 5 . . . right alongside the return of the Jets (and flying pigs).
