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Vedran

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[b]Parliament Hill, Ottawa[/b] - A spokesman from the Office of the Prime Minister has announced today that the PM, who is currently in Montreal meeting with foreign delegates to discuss the future of North Quebec, has selected her cabinet, who were approved by the President without exception. With the various ministers now advising the PM on such discrete matters as Transportation, National Defence, and Welfare, among others, the executive branch is beginning to take shape. The Ministers were sworn in today at the President's residence at Rideau Hall; PM Laroche, unable to attend, sent along a congratulatory letter to each Minister along with the agenda for the next few days.

 

The appointment of a cabinet is only the latest in several recent steps made to fill government and defence positions throughout the newly created Federation after the election of a President and appointment of chiefs of staff by Parliament earlier in the week. The Minister of most note is Philippe Montgolfier, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who previously served as an ambassador candidate selected by the President to deal with foreign affairs in the interim while the Government was organized. Now, he says, his hopes of being an ambassador have been put on hold for the time being, but he endeavours to honor the Prime Minister's wishes and serve to the best of his ability. His first goals will be to expand the Federation's diplomatic service and establish embassies abroad to represent the interests and citizens of the Federation overseas.

 

National Defence Minister Ollie Wood has stated that his main goals for the ministry, after completing and publishing the review of the Federation Forces begun earlier, are to strip unnecessary, overly expensive development programs - including directed energy weapons such as lasers - and to instead focus on a small, modern, defensively postured military based mainly around naval and air forces. To this end, the Ministry has ordered several CF-18 fighter aircraft to supplement existing forces, as well as the construction of two additional Skjold-class corvettes. Any further spending, he said, will only be authorized after the completion of the review.

 

Wood said in an interview with the Globe and Mail today, "I intend to meet with the chiefs of staff of Federation Forces in a few days to discuss spending and other matters. I expect that the Coast Guard will be receiving additional resources to help patrol the Federation's waters, including the Atlantic Ocean, St. Lawrence Seaway, and Lake Ontario, to aid in the prevention of smuggling of illegal drugs, arms, people, organs, and other contraband from the unorganized former American territories to our south, as well as to aid in counterterrorism and search and rescue duties. This will at least prevent some of these goods from getting to our ports and borders - as the Ports, Borders, Customs, & Excise Agency (PBCEA) isn't under Defence jurisdiction, I cannot speak as to the steps being taken there."

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The Federation Forces Review, a comprehensive audit of the Federation's existing military assets as well as ongoing research and development programs, has at last been completed, and a slimmed-down copy published for perusal by policymakers in Parliament. The Review catalogues the equipment, assets and disposition of the newly organized Federation forces, and represents the first major undertaking of the Ministry of National Defence to assess its forces. A basic summary of the Review has also been released for public consumption, with sensitive technical details omitted.

 

The Review is expected to aid Parliament and National Defence in planning for the future of Federation Forces, as well as to provide a centralized repository of information for use by the government in case of war or disaster so as to be able to direct efforts more effectively.

 

Among other things, the Review establishes the standard equipment of the Federation Forces, including the C7 rifle as primary service rifle across all branches, the Leopard 2 as primary fighting vehicle, and the use of the CF-18 as the primary multirole fighter by the Navy and Air Force - with the Navy also using Sea Harriers. Of most note is a full inventory of major combat ships and bases of the Federation Navy.

 

 

As per the copy Federation News Service received, the Navy consists of:

 

  • 8 Skjold-class corvettes (Storm, Blizzard, Cyclone, Typhoon, Monsoon, Hurricane, Whirlwind, Sirocco)
  • 6 Halifax-class frigates (Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Ville de Quebec, Concord, Bangor)
  • 5 Ticonderoga-class cruisers (Vermont, South Quebec, South Ontario, Maine, Nova Scotia)
  • 5 Iroquiois-class destroyers (Iroquois, Huron, Athabaskan, Algonquin, Mohawk)
  • 2 Kirov-class [nuclear] battlecruisers (Mackenzie King, Jacques Cartier)
  • 3 Victoria-class [diesel] attack subs (Halberd, Lance, Glaive)
  • 2 Resolution-class SSBN (Partizan, Spear)
  • 1 Vanguard-class SSBN (Trident)
  • 3 Mistral-class amphib. assault ships (LHD-1, LHD-2, LHD-3)
  • 1 Invincible-class ASW carrier (Resolute)
  • 1 Kitty Hawk-class fleet carrier (Avenger)

 

Several inferences can be made from the results of the Review. The main thing to note is that the Federation operates three vessels capable of launching ballistic missiles when it possesses no nuclear capability. When asked about this discrepancy, National Defence Ministry spokesmen said that the Ministry has no current plans to pursue a program of nuclear proliferation, and that pending such a development, the boats in question are to be equipped with conventional cruise missiles and ASMs.

 

In addition, FFB Halifax remains the main base of the Navy, and the only one in the Atlantic. Given the risk of a decapitating attack, Ministry officials mentioned plans to build additional bases but were vague as to their location. Apart from this, the only other naval base is FFB Great Lakes in Toronto, which maintains a fast response contingent of two corvettes in Lake Ontario, which are able to be redeployed to Lake Erie if the need arises. When this potential defensive weakness was mentioned, the Ministry spokesman we interviewed reiterated the government's policy of non-militarization of the Great Lakes, and claimed that the defensive cover provided by the Air Force would force any would-be invaders to take unacceptable losses.

 

"It may look like we are presenting an easy target by stationing such a small force in the Lakes," he said, "but make no mistake: the Federation Forces would not leave Ontario defenseless. I think any invading power would find themselves hard-pressed to justify the continued cost of a lengthy ground campaign to the voters back home - especially once the bills and the bodies start piling up. In any case, the government's non-expansionist foreign policy makes such an eventuality highly unlikely."

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After a few slow news days in the Federation, anyone subscribing to a press digest from the North American country would find themselves surprised with a larger bundle than normal. The Globe and Mail was running a rather eye-catching story on the front page today.

 

[b]Live Free or Die - New Hampshire Votes to Secede[/b] - Yesterday, after meeting with United States Secretary of State Taitt in Ottawa, Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire has returned to Concord and called a referendum on secession from the Federation. Today, the results are in. The New Hampshire General Court has, in a joint session of House and Senate, voted 312-112 to secede. The province has voted 71% in favor of seceding from the Federation, with a record estimated 89% voter turnout. This is not surprising given that the binding referendum determined the future of the province.

 

Today, in a televised ceremony at Rideau Hall, President of the Federation William Evans formally accepted the declaration of secession from Governor Wentworth, then gave a brief speech to a small crowd consisting of Wentworth, the New Hampshire delegation to Parliament, and members of the press gathered to watch.

 

"As a democratic nation, we must allow the will of the people to determine which way they shall go, and New Hampshire has, as per our laws, voted to secede from the Federation. We are sad to see them depart, but it is their right as a member of this Federation." Wentworth's last act as governor was to tender his own resignation, shortly after the ceremonial procession of New Hampshire's Parliamentary delegation from the Chamber of Deputies. The seats belonging to New Hampshire's delegation in Parliament have been removed and placed in storage.

 

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[b]Parliament Ratifies Montreal Agreement (FBC)[/b] - Federation Broadcasting Corporation, Ottawa. In what would come to be the last vote by New Hampshire representatives as part of the Federation, Parliament has voted to ratify what is being called the Montreal Agreement: an accord signed between the Federation, France, and Tikal governing the status of South and North Quebec. Quebec, a protectorate of France and Tikal, has been divided up between Federation-governed South Quebec and unincorporated North Quebec.

 

The Agreement provides for the withdrawal of French and Tikal troops from South Quebec by the first of next month, and the more gradual withdrawal of French troops from North Quebec, at which time Federation Forces will take over their responsibility for protectorship of the area. Foreign troops have been given use of the St. Lawrence Seaway to withdraw from South Quebec, which has raised minor protest from pacifist groups supporting the government's general policy of demilitarization of the Seaway and Great Lakes, and opposing Parliament's recent decision to ratify a treaty which allows foreign soldiers use of the Seaway for non-civilian purposes, however limited such access may be.

 

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On Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, construction has reportedly begun on a government facility in Victoria County. AFSA, the Atlantic Federation Space Agency, has released a statement confirming that construction is proceeding on the Garneau Launch Centre, the first such facility built in the Federation. Per its initial specifications, it will be able to launch microsatellites and small satellites up to approximately 250kg in mass, but an upgrade to the facility is already pending, which is expected to enable it to launch more massive telecom, GPS and possibly intelligence satellites. Construction is projected to be finished sometime this month.

 

A spokesperson for AFSA stated that the agency will be open to requests to rent or use the Centre's launch facilities by domestic or foreign government and commercial entities.

 

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Federation Forces have begun moving into North Quebec as per the Montreal Agreement to slowly take over French responsibility in the area. NatDef Minister Wood said that he expects the Federation's commitment to protection will be at full strength at or by the time French forces fully disengage from the region, so as to ensure a smooth transition.

 

Already, several former military bases in the region have been reactivated or reconstructed to accommodate Federation troops. The Air Force has moved into Federation Forces Base Bagotville as its main base in North Quebec, and has rebased a wing of CF-18 fighter-bombers for fast response, patrol, and general protection duties. Subordinate to the commander at FFB Bagotville are two smaller facilities, Federation Forces Station Senneterre and FFS Mont Apica, both former Cold War radar stations, which are being repurposed to serve as early warning sites for an airborne attack upon the protectorate. Federation Navy FleetCom has dispatched the corvette FNS Blizzard to restation to Sept-Iles, although the fleet in Halifax will remain the primary defensive contingent should a major incursion arrive.

 

Civilian administration of the protectorate has moved to Saguenay and begun taking a census of the population of North Quebec, joined by the Federation Army which has taken joint control over FFB Bagotville. The First Independent Light Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the Patricias after their pre-Federation predecessor unit, have begun rebasing to FFB Bagotville and will form the core of the Federation's ground forces in North Quebec.

 

The 1st ILIR has also sent company-sized detachments to Rouyn-Noranda, Labrador City, and Kuujjuaq, Nunavik.

 

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Federation soldier on patrol in Nunavik

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[b]Press Given Tour of Garneau Centre[/b] - Cape Breton Island, NS. Staff members of the Federation Broadcasting Corporation, the Globe and Mail, and several other leading television networks and newspapers have been given access to the construction site of the Marc Garneau Launch Centre in Victoria County, NS. The facility, still under construction, has necessitated the clearing of several acres of forest to accommodate the footprint of the planned site, as well as the hamlet of prefabricated buildings to serve as temporary administrative headquarters until a more permanent livable area can be secured. Most construction workers are commuting by car or helicopter from the nearby Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM).

 

When asked about initial plans for the two-launchpad facility once initial construction and the planned upgrade is complete, AFSA stated that they will first probably send up a Black Bart sounding rocket to take atmospheric measurements, and at the same time send up a small, 50kg test satellite in another rocket. The simultaneous launch, said AFSA, will be to test the facility design and personnel training to check efficiency and address any issues in same before the Centre officially opens for operation.

 

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[b]NatDef Issues FEDPAT Camo[/b] - Minister for National Defence, Ollie Wood, has released a statement announcing the development, release, and limited issue of the Federation Disruptive Pattern, or FEDPAT1 for initial field testing. FEDPAT is a digital camouflage pattern designed to reduce detection by the naked eye or nightvision equipment in a number of environments. Current variants include Temperate Woodland, Winter/Arctic, and Urban palettes, as well two more which are in development, an Arid palette and Oceanic palette. The Oceanic palette is intended to be issued as standard duty uniform for seaborne Naval and Marine personnel, whereas the others are to be used by all branches as BDU depending upon region. NatDef is still uncertain whether they wish to issue FEDPAT as standard uniform across all branches in all circumstances.

 

"It is still in something of an early stage, and we haven't decided what direction we wish to take in terms of adopting this as our regular uniform," Wood said, while showing the FBC's reporter a bolt of fabric dyed in Temperate Woodland FEDPAT.

 

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FEDPAT being trialled by Federation Forces

 

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[b]Navy Renames a Ship[/b] Halifax-class frigate, FNS Concord, has been renamed FNS Charlottetown by Navy officials in a formal renaming and rechristening ceremony at FFB Halifax yesterday. The reasoning behind this is that, since the Halifax-class are named after cities in the Federation, the Concord was no longer representative of that naming convention. Concord, New Hampshire, is of course now American soil, and its new namesake of Charlottetown, PEI actually lies within Federation borders.

 

Asked about the recent name change, a Seaman aboard Charlottetown appeared indifferent. "Sure, we'll miss the Conks, but it's not like it's a different ship. After a little repainting and hullwork is done, business will continue as usual, and the Charlottetown will remain a valuable component of the Federation's defence."

 

One interesting thing to note about the Halifax-class is that despite the Federation's officially bilingual status, Charlottetown's sister ship, FNS Ville de Quebec (or VDQ as it's known among its crew) is the only fully bilingual warship in the Federation.

 

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1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CADPAT

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Garneau Centre Opens for Operation In Victoria County, Nova Scotia, the Marc Garneau Launch Centre has finished construction and opened for business. After sending up a sounding rocket and a second rocket carrying a simple radio microsatellite in a simultaneous use of its two launch pads, the Centre has been declared available for operation. Already, a number of Federation corporations and universities have secured timeslots to launch from the Centre, and construction continues to expand launch capability to heavier satellites, which telecom companies are looking forward to.

 

The Director of AFSA has stated that no foreign entities have thus far requested use of the Centre, but that they remain open to all serious nonmilitary requests by foreign organizations.

 

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FEDPAT Trial Complete - Full Issue Begun - The trial of the Federation Disruptive Pattern by Federation Forces has seen good results, according to the Minister for National Defence Ollie Wood, and the pattern is currently being implemented as standard camouflage across all branches. Wood stated that most Federation Forces will remain with their regular uniforms and that FEDPAT is not being adopted as the all-purpose uniform, but that the Navy has already begun implementation of Oceanic FEDPAT among its seaborne forces, including naval and marine units, as an all-purpose uniform.

 

In addition to the countless overcoats, vests, boots, pants, ammo satchels and boonie hats that will be receiving FEDPAT colours, special forces and some light infantry units have requested it for their small arms. NatDef is currently evaluating the request.

 

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St. Jean-Baptiste Day - Catholics across the world will mark June 24 as the feast day of St. John the Baptist, but throughout Quebec - yes, North and South - the day holds an additional special meaning, much like St. Patrick's Day for the Irish. In the French-speaking parts of the Federation, there is a cultural as well as a religious element to the holiday, and for some even a political dimension. It is a day of cultural pride, of parades and fireworks, and in some points throughout history, of political turmoil as well.

 

FBC interviewed the Quebec (city) chief of police today, who assured us that necessary steps were being taken to avoid the rioting that many older Quebeckers would be familiar with, although the morning's parades have thus far been peaceful. The First Independent Light Infantry Regiment, making up the Federation's contribution to regional security in North Quebec, finds itself in a slightly heightened state of alert today. The Patricias, as they are called, have secured their weapons in armories throughout the protectorate and donned police gear in preparation for a long day of work policing the periphery of parades throughout Saguenay, Sept-Iles, and other cities in the North.

 

Celebrations were kicked off with a parade in Quebec City this morning, led by Prime Minister Adele Laroche, herself a Quebecker and the most visible face of the Quebec community in government and foreign affairs.

 

5rcwi0f.jpg

Parades like this one in South Quebec remain largely peaceful, although as the day drags on and night approaches, police remain watchful for unruly youth using the day's festivities as a distraction for vandalism.

Edited by Vedran
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[b]Nuke Defence Takes Off - Literally[/b] - The Ministry of National Defence has announced today the implementation of the Strategic Defence System, a comprehensive effort to reduce or eliminate the Federation's vulnerability to attack by strategic weapons of mass destruction, namely nuclear weapons delivered by ballistic missiles. The initiative started out modestly, from a purchase of increased numbers of land-based Patriot and S-300 launchers to be placed within range of our cities, to the installation of Aegis systems aboard the Federation Navy's five Ticonderoga-class cruisers and the installation of naval-based S-300FM missiles aboard the Navy's two nuclear battlecruisers. The crowning achievement of the program, however, is the Sword of Damocles, a modestly sized constellation of three satellites with technology based upon the Brilliant Pebbles component of the Old United States' SDI and updated to reflect modern advances and limitations.

 

The satellites were launched earlier today from Garneau Launch Centre on Cape Breton, two just before midnight and the third shortly before FBC was approached with this story. SD-3 (left conveniently open as to whether it stands for Sword of Damocles or Strategic Defence) has successfully achieved orbital insertion and initial testing of its systems is ongoing, while SD-1 and -2 have come back all clear. NatDef representatives were proud to say they achieved the program's goals without backtracking on the Minister's statement not to waste precious funding on directed energy weapons.

 

"We looked into many ways to achieve the goals of the program," said a Ministry spokesperson in an interview with FBC, "including lasers and railguns, land as well as space-based. But it just wasn't considered feasible with our current spending goals and level of technology. A space-based laser would simply be prohibitively expensive to maintain, and a railgun system wears out the barrel so quickly it's not even funny. We'd have to establish and maintain a reusable shuttle program just to keep the thing from becoming a worthless hunk of microchips and solar panels with its barrel melted off <expletive> near every time it fired. And truth be told, it wouldn't have been much more successful than Sword of Damocles."

 

When asked what the overall success rate for the SDS would be, Ministry officials declined to comment citing classified information, but independent analysis of publicly available data shows an average 60% splash rate across the board with negligible risk of collateral damage from a miss. All in all, not too shabby for a program that claims to save taxpayer money.

 

The program provides a reliably successful way to defend from a nuclear attack while eliminating the need to resort to the doctrine of mutually assured destruction, as NatDef claims to have no current plans to develop a nuclear program.

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North Ontario Trust Territory Established - The Prime Minister has announced today the unilateral establishment of a Federation trust territory comprising North Ontario, otherwise known as a protectorate in common parlance. The move was initiated by Parliament, which proposed and passed a law establishing the legal status of Federation trust territories. The bill, signed into law by the PM shortly before her announcement, also made provisions for the inclusion of North Ontario as the inaugural trust territory. Pacifists and skeptics of the government see this as an expansionary move which goes against the PM's election promises, but a spokesman from the PM's office claims that the Federation will draw no monetary benefit from the protectorate, and will only occupy it for as long as it takes for a local government to emerge.

 

Already, a brigade group from the Federation Primary Reserve has begun deployment to the area, and will take up primary positions in Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay, from where it will base operations to patrol the frontiers of North Ontario. To oversee the matters of trust territories, a new cabinet ministry has been created, and the inaugural appointee has met with the approval of both President and Prime Minister; a swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place next week.

 

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(NL1) New Province to be Added? Even though the Federation is still young, one of its integral provinces has already decided to secede, and join the United States. With a joint protectorate over North Quebec, and a newly announced trust territory over North Ontario, many wonder whether a new province will rise to replace New Hampshire in the Federation. An answer is yet to be made apparent, but already Parliament is engaging in deliberations on whether to engage the independent, unorganized territories of Newfoundland and Labrador to join the Federation.

 

A bill is slowly gaining traction in the single house of the Chamber of Deputies which would enable the government to begin the process of drawing Newfoundland and Labrador into the Federation. The SDP, the main backers of the bill, strongly favor a gradual, democratic approach to the issue. If they get their way, then the unorganized territories will have their chance to decide in a referendum, after which a steady establishment of Federation civilian authority will occur to bring the new province in line with the federal government in Ottawa. After that, it will have its own representation in Parliament, along with all the other benefits and responsibilities of being a member of the Federation.

 

Opposition to the bill comes mainly from non-expansionist elements in the SDP itself, along with the Green Party, the third largest party/bloc in Parliament which opposes the oil and fishing sectors that are the backbone of Newfoundland's non-service sectors. However, despite this the bill seems to have a good chance of passing, owing mainly to a good deal of support within the ranks of the Centre-Right Union, the SDP's main competitor in Parliament. CRU support mainly stems from the fact that Newfoundland's oil and fishing industries would be a boon to the Federation's economy, as well as the high per capita income of the region

 

In any case, the bill's progress shows no signs of slowing down, and a vote is scheduled to take place two days from now. Incidentally, Federation soldiers are currently stationed in Labrador City as part of the Federation's contribution to the protection of North Quebec, and an agreement has been struck with local government to allow Federation troops to base in unclaimed territory while they conduct patrols through central North Quebec given that Labrador City is the only town worth mentioning in the region. According to the sponsor of the Newfie Bill, as it's being called, this is not projected to interfere with plans to bring NL into the Federation.

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(NL2) [b]Newfie Bill Passes[/b] - After several days spent debating the benefits and drawbacks to both the Federation and Newfoundland of bringing Newfoundland and Labrador into the Federation, the bill has passed Parliament 132-72, with no abstentions and one vacant seat (Windsor West, SDP). The bill specifies certain measures which must be taken to ensure that a new province is brought into the Federation. The first is that the Federation must have a legitimate civilian presence in the territory which is approved of by the local government. The second is that a specifically worded referendum must be held, and the Yes option to pass by a certain margin, namely two thirds. Then, of course, Parliament and the President must both approve the results and proceed to name a provisional governor, at which point the territory will be considered a full-fledged province and provincial elections for the legislature will take place, after which the provisional governor will be replaced by the premier.

 

Currently, the Federation has no concrete civilian presence in the proposed province, and the only military presence is a company based in Labrador City for the purposes of patrolling North Quebec. However, with the bill passed and signed into law by the PM, an expedition from the various Ministries has been sent along by plane to take residence in St. John's for the purposes of establishing some sort of centralised presence from the federal government, and to organize the referendum to fulfill the second requirement.

 

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[b]Missing MP: President Suspends Relations with Guanwai[/b] - In a shocking turn of events, the Member of Parliament from Windsor West, South Ontario has disappeared along with a provincial legislator from South Quebec. Mr. James Luxembourg of the Social Democratic Party and Mlle Celeste Monet of the Parti Communiste du Quebec have both been declared missing by Federation Mounted Police after leaving to attend an international communist conference in Guanwai. FMP officials declined to comment on an ongoing case, but the Globe and Mail was able to secure an interview with Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Philippe Montgolfier.

 

"I'm very troubled by the possibilities," said Montgolfier. "In my communications with the establishment over in Guanwai, I was first informed that our citizens had never visited, and then informed that while Mr. Luxembourg and Mlle Monet had indeed arrived at the international airport there, they had not checked into their hotels and were nowhere to be found. Furthermore, I was informed by their representative that there was a 'slight' chance the two were executed by their security forces, but was thereafter 'assured' that this was not a likelihood and that they were simply 'lost.' Clearly you can understand my trepidation, but the half-hearted investigation performed by Guanwai security forces into the disappearance of two prominent Federation citizens led me to believe they were being not at all honest about the events that transpired. Of course, I don't really know what transpired, but it was clear from my short communication that we were not being told the truth."

 

"What do you suspect transpired?"

 

"I will decline to speculate...I have my suspicions, but it will do no good to our already damaged relations to publish them. Needless to say, I made a few recommendations to President Evans."

 

The recommendations the Minister spoke of were taken into consideration, and the President made an announcement earlier today specifying new sanctions against Guanwai. A strong travel advisory has been made against Guanwai for Federation citizens, and all Federation and Guanwai citizens present in the opposite nation will be repatriated at the earliest opportunity. Furthermore, no travel, work, or student visas are being taken from Guanwai, effectively cutting off most legal means of travel. A later statement issued specified that asylum requests would still be taken into consideration, but none have been forthcoming thus far.

 

Other measures include a full arms embargo and increased security checks of Guanwai-flagged freighters at Federation ports. Guanwai citizens will still be allowed through the Federation on connecting flights to other nations, but must stay aboard their planes or risk detainment for security checks, a PBCEA spokesman said.

 

All in all, the events have been rather jarring for the families of the two. Family members and friends have said they fear the worst, but declined further comment. Luxembourg leaves two children and a wife in Windsor who intend to start a letter-writing campaign to the Guanwai government to pressure them to announce what really happened. Monet's brother in Montreal claims to have his doubts that Guanwai would detain or execute a fellow socialist, but concedes that he does not really know what could have been on their mind.

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(NL3) [b]Referendum Passes in Newfoundland and Labrador[/b] - A referendum prepared for during the previous week has been held in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the following question: [i]Do you favor Newfoundland and Labrador joining the Federation of the Atlantic as an integral province with all the rights and responsibilities thereof?[/i] with two options, Yes and No. Local nationalists and libertarians led the No Campaign, but by the end, the result was 70% in favor. With the support of the local population, the government task force tasked with setting up a provincial government has begun their work, and the Prime Minister has appointed a provisional governor, who will aid in forming the provincial government until such a time as a premier is elected. Federation flags are not yet flying over the territory, however, as it has yet to be voted in as a province, which is projected to happen sometime this month. In the meantime, the Federation Forces have restationed an appropriate number of forces to the region in preparation for future sovereignty patrols and other commonplace duties. The frigate Montreal has set sail from Halifax today to take over naval operations in St. John's, and the Army and Air Force have deployed a light infantry regiment and two CF-18 squadrons, respectively.

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(NL4) [b]Federation Forces Secure the NL Frontier[/b] - Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, the Federation Forces have completed their redeployment to their new stations, and have scheduled regular exercises to get a feel for the countryside and cities, as any part of the prospective province could easily prove valuable battlespace in the future. Federation Forces Base St. John's has been established in Newfoundland, serving as the headquarters for the infantry regiment stationed there, as well as the naval contingent consisting of FNS Montreal, and the fighter squadrons from the Air Force. Civilian authority will take more time in reaching NL, including the more mundane Ministry services, as well as security services from the PBCEA, FMP, and Coast Guard. Parliament has yet to set a date for the vote to formally decide the inclusion of NL into the Federation.

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[b]Fly Me to the Moon[/b] - After the first Federation citizen reached space earlier this month on the Druk Yul-led expedition to the Earth-orbiting space station Druk Station 1, nobody expected another spacefaring achievement to come in such quick succession, but it has regardless. Squadron Leader Melissa Mays of the Federation Air Force, previously stationed with the CF-18 patrol wing in Saguenay, North Quebec, has become the second Federation citizen in space, and the first to walk on the moon. Mays serves as the telemetry and navigation specialist on Druk Base 1, a three-man moon base that launched at the Druk Yul Air Show and made groundfall three days later.

 

After a somewhat shaky yet safe landing, the base's mission on the moon began, and after planting the Druk Yul flag, the three crewmembers posed for a photo opportunity with the flag, base, and lunar landscape. The full story is available at the Druk Yul space agency.

 

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(NL5) [b]Civilian Government Established in NL[/b] - Federation civilian institutions, including the various ministries and other organizations have taken the necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition of Newfoundland and Labrador to the Federation and establish necessary government services such as healthcare, education, transport, and law. External security has already been put in place by Federation Forces at FFB St. John's, and remains on heightened alert while the still technically lawless future province remains independent. After some delay, Parliament has set a date for the formal vote on the status of Newfoundland and Labrador, to take place tomorrow, 2014-07-22. Seeing as Parliament passed the so-called Newfie Bill initiating the process which tomorrow's vote will nearly finalize, the vote is expected to pass with a similar margin. The PM has stated her intent to vote in favor in her capacity as a Member of Parliament, and approve the vote should it pass - in her capacity as Prime Minister.

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(NL6) [b]Parliament Vote on NL Passes[/b] - The measure to formalise the entry of Newfoundland and Labrador as the eighth province of the Federation has passed, and with the federal government already well-established in the region, all that remains for the territory to become a full member of the Federation is for the provincial government to be voted in - with the Prime Minister's approval of the vote, this is proceeding quickly, and elections for provincial legislature as well as the premier have begun in earnest.

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(NL7) [b]Newfoundland and Labrador Made 8th Province[/b] - With the provincial elections in NL concluded, the Premier has visited Parliament Hill for Newfoundland and Labrador to be formally welcomed by the Prime Minister as the eighth province of the Federation. Already, government agencies have been set up in the province and military units are on station to maintain defensive control of the area. Newfoundland and Labrador adds a healthy petroleum sector to the Federation economy, and a provincial census has determined tax burdens and the size of the parliamentary delegation, which is 7 seats. Most of these have been filled by members of the Centre-Right Union, the current opposition party.

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[b]AFSA to Build Second Launch Centre[/b] - after Newfoundland and Labrador was formally brought into the Federation earlier this month, the Atlantic Federation Space Agency has announced plans to build its second launch centre to date, and plans are already undergoing to place it in Newfoundland. It will be nearly identical to the Garneau Centre in Newfoundland, with two launch pads capable of simultaneous use.

 

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[b]Oil Spill Averted off Newfoundland[/b] - Authorities received a report today of a major failure on the Hibernia oil platform several hundred kilometers off Newfoundland. Hibernia, one of the largest oil platforms in the world, has recently been placed under Federation jurisdiction; after a routine check of the platform's systems, one worker discovered an imminent catastrophic failure which could have resulted in the loss of the station's storage tanks and a major oil spill in the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Fortunately, the systems were shut off in time, and repair crews have been working around the clock to rectify the problem. In response to the incident, the Minister for Trade & Commerce has ordered an investigation into the offshore drilling infrastructure in the new province to ascertain the extent of carelessness and potential damage to both the environment and the GDP.

 

He was quoted as saying, "It is only to be expected that the companies of Newfoundland, previously independent and with no government regulation, would shirk their duty to keep a properly maintained oil operation. This is not only incredibly risky to the local ecosystem, but to the state of the economy as well. We cannot be seen as a federation too indisposed or uninterested in the safe operation of our industries, and thus I have called for an investigation into local conditions. The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador has given me his full support. In the meantime, operations at Hibernia will be temporarily suspended until a panel of industry experts has demonstrated to the Ministry's satisfaction that such an incident will not happen again."

 

Since the announcement, oil companies based in Newfoundland have seen a steady decrease in share prices. What this portends for the future of the Federation's oil industry is yet to be seen. Environmental groups have sparked a discussion of renewable energy sources, and one company which produces nuclear reactors for the Navy has looked west to the wealth of uranium to be found in unclaimed Saskatchewan. Unfortunately for them, the Federation takes no active interest in matters that far west, and is unlikely to make it a province in the foreseeable future. And since there is no local government to negotiate with, the rickety oil platforms off Newfoundland will have to serve for the time being.

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[b]Launch Centre Nearing Completion in Newfoundland[/b] - With crews at work round the clock to finish construction in time to meet the timetable, the Hadfield Launch Centre in Newfoundland is almost complete. Given that it is less remote than its counterpart on Cape Breton - being not far out from St. John's - crews as well as future workers will be able to deal with a more tolerable commute, and no support facilities need to be built for the duration of construction. The upgrades made to the Garneau Centre shortly after its construction will be coming stock with this one, and larger craft will be able to launch from there. Already, a number of corporations interested in launching commercial satellites have applied for use of the launchpads.

 

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[b]Bombardier to Design Reusable Spaceplane[/b] - Given the current state of technology in the world, it seems like it will be many years before viable commercial flights can be made to Earth orbit or farther, but this has not deterred Bombardier Aerospace. Bombardier, the Federation's largest producer of civilian aircraft, is well under way in designing a new spaceplane, completely reusable and with commercial use in mind. While the only developments on other celestial bodies at this point are scientific research stations and bases and no major colonies seem forthcoming as prospective destinations, Bombardier has used the appeal of sightseeing flights to the moon to fuel interest in its new project, the Orion spaceplane. It is expected to hold up to twenty passengers for relatively short-duration flights such as a few orbits around the Earth, or between five and ten for a longer duration like a multi-day round trip to the moon and back. To Bombardier's credit, they don't seem too eager to build up hype and caution that due to the unavoidable costs of fuel and other necessities, ticket prices may be "out of this world," i.e. out of the reach of the average citizen.

 

The Orion is intended to use rockets in the Ariane 5 family to bring it to low earth orbit, and from there use a chemical rocket engine of its own to take it either to another orbital inclination or to leave orbit entirely, such as for a quick trip to the moon. Due to design limitations, however, it has neither the fuel capacity to go much farther than the moon, or to land on the moon and take off again, as once the Ariane is detached, only enough fuel for maneuvers will be available - not for a second takeoff. Nevertheless, Bombardier envisions that the Orion will be quite useful for reusable, low-cost personnel transfer between Earth and orbiting space stations, or between stations.

 

For example, the Orion could take off from Earth with replacement crew for either of the two internationally crewed stations, then ferry the old crew back to Earth, whereupon another craft could take them down to the moon or to Mars, thereby saving its own fuel stores as well as the reserves aboard the stations. One of the major investors for the project is Atlantic Airlines, the Federation's flag carrier and largest airline, which intends to order at least one Orion when they enter production.

 

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[b]Investigation into Oil Platforms Continues[/b] - With the malfunction on Hibernia earlier this week, the Ministry of Trade & Commerce has shut down drilling operations throughout the Hibernia oil field while it assesses the degree of carelessness engaged in by the companies in joint ownership of the platforms. This has hurt the stock prices of said companies deeply, and lobbying on Parliament Hill has reached a new high as interested parties look for a favorable outcome, or at least the resumption of limited activity in the region. Ministry officials are preparing a report which is expected to make recommendations as to the future of the situation, and many citizens are calling for steep fines.

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[b]Orion Details Released[/b] - Bombardier has released some more details about its project to design a commercially viable spaceplane. Versatility will be one of the main appeals to the Orion, especially in the way it's launched and used. In addition to the Ariane 5 compatibility, a variant (Orion B) will be offered with jet engines installed for atmospheric use as well as a more flexible landing after reentry. The attachable/detachable main rocket engine on the Orion B will also give buyers the option to use it in a strictly atmospheric capacity, although its passenger capacity and expected high per-unit cost makes it not very competitive in that aspect.

 

There are many who expect such an endeavour to fail, especially since Bombardier has taken part in spacecraft design before, but Bombardier has tempered doubts by not becoming too ambitious and knowing their limitations as well as those of their potential customers and those of current technology. However, they do have great hopes for the Orion, both in what it will accomplish and what accomplishments it may inspire in other companies. When asked how far along the Orion is to launch, so to speak, the Bombardier spokesperson indicated that his company had already filed a patent with the Intellectual Property Office for the Orion A, and that it was still working out some kinks in the Orion B, mainly the way it would handle in the atmosphere. Bombardier has bought several days of cumulative use on an AFSA supercomputer for simulations over the course of the Orion's design.

 

At least two Orion A prototypes are currently under construction at the company's main plant in Montreal.

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Hadfield Launch Centre Inaugurated - The Chris Hadfield Launch Centre in Newfoundland was completed earlier this week, followed by a simultaneous test launch of two sounding rockets to test the launch facilities. This was followed by emergency clearing and firefighting drills, amongst other operational tests. The launch centre will be the second such facility constructed by AFSA for the Federation.

 

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Bombardier Orion Test Flight Successful - First Orders Received

 

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Orion A-001 launching from Garneau

 

Today at the Garneau Launch Centre in Victoria County, Nova Scotia, Bombardier tested their Orion reusable spaceplane, type A. The A-001, crewed by a specially trained commercial crew consisting of a pilot and copilot from Atlantic Airlines, launched with the assistance of an Ariane 5 rocket and entered orbit at 7:24 local time. After a few orbits spent doing system checks and making sure the supercomputer simulations performed by Bombardier were correct, A-001 adjusted its orbit to rendezvous with the AFSA module of Druk Station 1 in Earth orbit. After docking, several more system checks were performed, and A-001 undocked before proceeding to deorbit and land at Montreal-Trudeau Airport with retro-thruster, air-brake and parachute assistance.

 

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A-001 after undocking from Druk Station 1. Taken by DS1 resident and Federation citizen Dr. Mansfield, used with permission.

 

After the successful launch and landing, Bombardier's stock on the Montreal Exchange has shot up, and orders have already been received from a number of Federation-based airlines, including the main investor in the program, Atlantic Airlines, which has ordered one Orion A and two B's. Atlantic Airlines has already started taking reservations for Earth orbit sightseeing flights. With a price tag of $1.25 million for an Earth orbit ticket, Atlantic Airlines expects to easily recoup the Orion's own hefty price tag - $125M for the A variant, $150M for the B. Certainly more than any atmospheric jet its size, but Bombardier claims the cost is justified by the cost of safety features used in production.

 

Bombardier is also looking for foreign buyers for the Orion.

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[b]Hibernia Platform Declared "Safe" - Operation Resumes[/b] - Drilling operations at the Hibernia oil field off Newfoundland, primarily centered on the Hibernia oil platform, have resumed today following a thorough investigation by the Ministry of Trade & Commerce. The investigation discovered many faults in addition to the one that was nearly responsible for a spillage event, and after Ministry-supervised repair operations and onsite policy changes (mainly regarding maintenance and safety parameters) operation was authorized to continue and the case for negligence referred to a court in Newfoundland and Labrador. Given the close ties of the local population to the petroleum industry, however, those expecting a lenient ruling have considered suing the companies holding joint ownership of the Hibernia operation, including several shareholders. Despite potential legal action, the successful resolution of the problems immediately underlying the malfunction has caused a surge in shareholder confidence and stock prices as the Federation finally has a healthy oil sector.

 

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[b]Legislators Declared Dead[/b] - After two Federation legislators - one a Member of Parliament - went missing at a socialist conference in Guanwai this July, the Federation Mounted Police has declared them to be legally dead. With the suspension of diplomatic relations with the country they visited - and the dissolution of said country not long thereafter - the trail of evidence, what little there was, has gone cold, and FMP officials announced today that there was little enough chance of recovering the persons or bodies of James Luxembourg or South Ontario and Celeste Monet of South Quebec that they can be presumed dead for all intents and purposes. The families, despite holding memorials some time ago, remain distraught but reassured that the FMP did everything it could to discover their fates.

 

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[b]First Commercial Spaceflight by a Federation Company[/b] - After the successful test flight of the Bombardier Orion spaceplane earlier this month, several units had been ordered by Federation airlines, most notably Atlantic Airlines, who has recently taken delivery of two brand-new Orion A's - A-003 and A-004 while the first two units remain in Bombardier ownership as prototypes and test beds. A-003, christened the Cosmic Clipper, had the honour of being the first to fly commercially and with non-crew personnel aboard. The Clipper took off from Garneau Launch Centre in Nova Scotia at 11AM local time, bearing many prominent Federation citizens aboard, including several board members of companies prominently traded on the Montreal Exchange, as well as the respective daughter and son of the President and Prime Minister of the Federation - Julia Evans and Henri Laroche. The CEO of Atlantic Airlines was also a passenger; in total, 20 passengers had taken Atlantic's offer to come see the stars up close, filling the Clipper to capacity.

 

During the vertical takeoff (aided by Ariane 5 rocket) passengers and crew remained firmly strapped in to their seats, and given headphones to make the high-decibel rocket noise more bearable, although the Orion comes standard with good soundproofing. Between separation of the first stage and orbital insertion, the headphones and internal speakers joined forces to treat the passengers to the Blue Danube waltz. Once securely in orbit, the passengers were allowed to wander the cabin three or four at a time and catch the view from out of the windows while the others were able to look out their windows or view the external camera feed through the viewscreens installed in the back of the seats. All in all, the Clipper spent six hours in orbit before returning to Earth the same way the test flight had - to Montreal-Trudeau airport. While meals were served (mainly rehydrated space food) the hostess gave a description of the terrain they were passing over - North America at the time - and passengers watched along on their viewscreens or out the windows.

 

Ms. Evans describes the latter experience as bizarrely familiar yet breathtaking. "It felt like a normal plane flight, a dinner and a show, and a trip on a tour bus all at the same time, yet without the least bit of routine boredom of having been there, done that. It was an entirely new experience for everybody on board; except, I'd guess, the pilots. I'm told they operated the test flight done by Bombardier, and we were in good hands the whole time. Same precautions as a jet, really: wear your seatbelts during takeoff and landing, no smoking, don't wander around the cabin too much...definitely worth it." When asked if there were any simple differences from a plane flight - apart from the obvious - the passengers all mentioned the space toilet and weight restrictions as unusual. There was also the restrictions on loose objects during maneuvers. Pens were floated, and pictures taken. Henri Laroche in particular is an amateur photographer, and posted many of the results to his blog, including what he terms "space selfies."

 

Bombardier is looking for 5-10 passengers for a flight around the moon sometime soon, although restrictions, requirements, and ticket price have all gone up considerably. Earth-orbital sightseeing flights like the one undertaken by the Clipper today are scheduled bimonthly.

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  • 1 month later...

[b]Tensions Rising Across Federation - Dissolution Act Fails[/b]

 

Over the last month, secessionist and independence movements throughout the Federation grew traction as the federal government has been blamed for a number of situations. Some claim that the government in Ottawa has exerted too much control over the member provinces, and some say that it has not exerted enough, such as in the case of the Hibernia oil platform, where a local court has passed a measly one million dollar fine for a near disaster and oil spill.

 

Joining forces, voices in Parliament called for an act of dissolution, led by a prominent Quebec sovereigntist MP along with more independent-minded MP's from the Maritimes. The measure was defeated 85-127 yesterday, leading to an increase in radicalism among many separatist groups throughout the Federation. The Act would have called for the full dissolution of the Federation and its federal government, with the respective provinces returning to nominal independence. The Maritimes had already formed a plan to unify in such an eventuality, but those hopes have been crushed and the Federation remains.

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[b]Defence Spending Bill Passed[/b] - Parliament today passed a defence spending bill that would grant increased funding to the Ministry of National Defence, which has already reviewed its current forces and assessed which need to be upgraded or increased in number. As the land components of Federation Forces remain in good working order, NatDef has focused its spending on the air and naval components. With the new orders placed by NatDef, the Air Force will see a greater amount of general purpose refueling and transport planes, as well as the training programs required to staff them. The Navy has seen the largest upgrade, with NatDef seeking to bolster our slightly undersized navy with nine new Skjold-class corvettes, two Halifax-class frigates, and one Iroquious-class destroyer. This adds a modest amount of ocean-going vessels, as well as doubling the complement of agile, deadly corvettes. It also uses up most of the new defence bill, with some of the funds reserved for the ground forces, if and when their expenditure becomes necessary.

 

Despite protests from the more conservative in Parliament appealing to fiscal responsibility, the Prime Minister was optimistic about signing the bill, as it will put the Federation in a better position to deal with threats, especially in the current volatile times.

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[b]Bombardier Unveils New Designs[/b] - At an aerospace convention in Toronto earlier this week, Bombardier Aerospace has announced several new designs. Encouraged by its success with the Orion spaceplane, and flush with significant buy-in from investors in anticipation of its first moon flight, Bombardier has unveiled plans for a supersonic private jet as well as several new entries to its existing lineup of business jets. The Peregrine will be the company's first entry into the supersonic market, currently dominated by foreign companies, but Bombardier has high hopes for the new design.

 

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[b]Parliament Approves Trade Concessions to France[/b] - Shortly after the President met with a French official some time ago, a bill was proposed by the governing party to lower tariffs and other impediments to trade with France, as part of a program led by the Foreign Ministry to get on better terms with the nation. After significant debate in Parliament, it passed with a narrow margin. Other efforts made as part of the program include a cultural exchange to proceed, ideally, soon after the conclusion of the war in Europe. Visa restrictions have also been loosened for French citizens, with stays of up to 60 days in a 180-day period requiring no visa - according to the Foreign Ministry, France seems willing to reciprocate these measures. This comes as good news to many, particularly residents of South Quebec, which have been seeking improved relations with the homeland for some time.

 

In related news, Ottawa has affirmed the Federation's neutrality in the European conflict, as well as its intention to use the fifth and thirteenth Hague Conventions to guide its actions in maintaining and protecting that neutrality.

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[b]North Quebec Under Federation Control[/b] - With the collapse of Tikal, the Federation has taken over protecting North Quebec from the previous joint effort arranged by the Montreal Agreement. Authority in the protectorate remains nominally under the control of the military, but ever since the dissolution of Tikal, steps have been taken to convert the protectorate into a Federation trust territory under the authority of the Minister for Trust Territories. Despite this, the Federation Forces continue to maintain their armed presence and suzerainty patrols established shortly after ratification of the Montreal Agreement. To this end, the Federation Forces have established the Federation Rangers, a volunteer paramilitary force to help make sovereignty patrols throughout the hinterlands of the Federation, as well as provide needed guide and first response services in these regions. Ranger units are also being set up in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Federation's newest province.

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[b]North Quebec a Trust Territory[/b] - With the smooth transition of protection of North Quebec from a joint endeavour to Federation authority, Parliament has voted to take North Quebec as a trust territory, becoming the second such entity authorized by the Federation. The first trust territory, North Ontario, voted to join the Plains Federation and as a result the Minister for Trust Territories has been without a mandate for some time.

 

Since no initiative has been taken to bring North Quebec into the Federation, Ottawa has assumed nominal control and defence responsibility of the people of North Quebec, while they retain autonomy and the right to self-determination, as is the right of all peoples. Until a locally supported call for a change in that situation as happened in North Ontario occurs, it will remain such.

 

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[b]Proposal Calls for Greater Autonomy; Elections on Horizon[/b]

 

A bill making its way around Parliament is calling for increased autonomy and responsibility to be granted to the member provinces of the Federation. The effort to support the bill is led by its proposer, the member from Halifax. The MP is one of the SDP seatholders that disagrees with the party line of keeping a strong federal government, and instead favours a loosened alliance of semi-independent states to which the federal government is answerable. This has created divisions in the governing SDP, as the Prime Minister - representing the federal government - has been fighting to neutralise key sections of the bill. This is an unfortunate circumstance for the SDP, as it thins their advantage in the next elections, with the newly registered Liberal Party slated to join the lineup this December, having finally gotten enough support to run at the federal level.

 

Ministers are also having to take sides, with most joining the Prime Minister. For the first time, the SDP will have to vote against its own members if it wishes to side with the PM. Centre-Right Bloc, led by the Conservatives as official opposition, has yet to take a stand on the issue, and neither have the Greens. This leaves the field wide open for the Liberals to put forth a candidate for the presidential election, which will be taking place concurrently with the parliamentary one. According to polls, the SDP maintains a strong lead when it comes to Parliament, but the Liberals might still make a strong showing. Either way, as the election season nears, there are more and more insults and snide remarks being traded across the floor at question time.

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[b]Watered-Down Autonomy Bill Passed[/b] - After days of heated debate and unpleasantness, Parliament has finally passed a weakened version of the bill regarding the greater autonomy of the Federation's member provinces. PM Laroche's tenacity in fighting the key points of the bill paid off, and her federal government has retained its authority, while "loosening the leash" on the member provinces, in the words of the bill's proposer. The provinces have been granted limited latitude in conducting foreign relations with province-level entities in foreign countries and unclaimed areas as well as between one another, mainly in the areas of travel and commerce. The Maritimes, whose MP's were the strongest supporters of the bill, have responded positively to this new freedom, and the provinces of Maine and Vermont look forward to improved relations with the rest of New England, particularly the former province of New Hampshire.

 

Despite these advances, the PM's supporters in Parliament managed to prevent the declawing of the federal government, and it remains the ultimate authority in matters of state and international affairs. However, the question remains if the team of Evans and Laroche can stay successful. If the SDP loses its lead in Parliament, Evans faces the possibility of cohabitation with a PM and cabinet of a different party. Similarly, if Evans loses to a fresh face, Laroche will face resistance at every turn.

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