Labrador History - 4

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On December 6, 2001, the provincial name was finally officially changed from "Newfoundland" to "Newfoundland and Labrador". In 2005, it was changed to "Newfoundland Labrador". Labradoreans, while happy with the name change, still felt frustration because it had taken over 50 years to be officially recognized as part of this Canadian province. The main objection at the national level was Quebec who was concerned their approval of this constitutional amendment could be interpreted that they recognized the 1927 ruling by the British Privy Council that confirmed the present boundaries of Labrador. When Quebec was assured they could continue their dispute about the border, the amendment passed.

When people speak of Labrador they are speaking of the continental portion of the province and when people use the term Newfoundland, they speak of the island of Newfoundland. Most native Newfoundlanders see the island both culturally and economically broken into two parts. You have the Avalon Peninsula with the capital of St. John's being looked at as receiving the bulk of the financial gains while the rest of the province is handed crumbs. If you speak to native Labradoreans the scenario is taken one step further: the Avalon Peninsula, the rest of the island of Newfoundland and if there's anything left Labradoreans may get a small handout of mostly stale and moldy crumbs. Thus Labrador West with 2% of the population of Newfoundland Labrador contributes a larger percentage to the gross provincial product then any of the other forty-seven electoral districts. Although the province of Newfoundland has no trouble remembering where Labrador West is located at tax collection time, amnesia sets in shortly thereafter and certainly before it comes time for budgeting provincial funds for this same area.

The Labrador West tax base that contributes so lavishly to Newfoundland's economy, did not exist 45 years ago. People settling this area had to leave their place of birth and in some cases even their country of birth to support their families. Many of the Newfoundlanders who settled in Labrador West have mixed feelings concerning the political climate between Newfoundland and Labrador. However, their offspring see themselves as Labradoreans with no emotional ties to Newfoundland. Labradoreans see themselves as distinct from residents on the island of Newfoundland and proudly defend this perception. Because of the remoteness and lack of family ties, the people banded together to form a cohesive, unified community. With no immediate family nearby, the people next door or down the street became the children's honorary aunts, uncles or grandparents. Rather strange, when you consider a child born in Labrador City may end up with an honorary German aunt of the same generation as the child's parents.