Apparently Marie Johnston, formerly Marie Routhier, has received a lot of feedback for standing by her province and Premier Danny Johnston. FreeDominion.ca just posted the following form letter she is sending back that better explains why she took a principled stand.
Here's some excerpts:
"The thing that some have trouble understanding about my actions, and those of our premier, is that this isn’t about declaring war on, or a hate for Canada. If anything, it’s about wanting to BELONG to Canada, and to stop being treated like an unwanted step child. We don’t want to be a welfare province. We don’t WANT Alberta and Ontario to provide a free ride for us. We merely want to be given the tools - and opportunity - to dig ourselves out of the financial mess that we have been placed in.
"I’m reminded of a saying that I try to live by. “Loyalty above all else, except honour”. Yes, I am a Canadian.. but I’m a Newfoundlander first, and the treatment that this province is receiving is FAR from honourable.
"I'd also like to point out that, if lowering the flag is Un-Canadian, we have an Un-Canadian Prime Minister. I find it convenient, and somewhat entertaining, that he is quick to insult Danny over the flag issue, but has it led him to fly the Canadian Flag on his ships?"
Um, can you explain the last paragraph to this dumb American?
uhhh.... Pete, the premier of Newfoundland is Danny Williams. Not Johnston.
As for the ships comment.... PM Martin, until a few years ago, owned a Cdn. steamship line, but the ships flew under another country's flag... some tax haven.
Sorry Cin, that was a freudian slip (Daniel Johnston being the former Quebec premier). Gordon, as Cin explained, Paul Martin (who is complaining about the Newfs removing the flag) removed the flag from his ships so as not to pay Canadian taxes.