In the photo accompanying The Telegram’s July 16th front-page story on COVID-19 matters, Premier Dwight Ball is shown with a deeply furrowed brow — and well it might be.
For there are signs that the ill -onceived, increasingly problematic, “Atlantic bubble” is about to blow up all over our faces.
This “Atlantic” policy was born of lobbying by a small group of special interests without due regard to the general common interest in maintaining a COVID-free province.
This priceless asset, coupled with a sustained and focused “Stay Home” vacation drive, should not have been sacrificed for illusionary “COVID-free” tourists dollars from the Maritimes.
At the same time this Atlantic Bubble policy is being pursued, another provincial policy discriminates against a large group of people who have invested heavily in money and friendship in acquiring, maintaining and nurturing personal residences in the province — often in outports that all too many have written off as not viable.
These people, most of whom live outside the Maritime provinces, have every means of self-isolating for 14 days in their second homes once they arrive in this province — without risk to the public — second homes which I am sure they miss very much — not to mention their friends and/or family members with whom they associate annually.
We often tout our hospitality but our actions in this matter betray that reputation.
We should withdraw from the Atlantic bubble and let these honorary Newfoundlanders in.
Cabot Martin
St. John’s