Police Called in After Telecommunications Cables Cut in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia

OSAC ^ | June 9, 2004 | Canadian Press

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RCMP were called in early Wednesday after major telecomunications cables were severed, disrupting long distance, internet and cable service to parts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

A spokesperson for strike-bound Aliant, the Atlantic telephone company which provides service in the province, said it was no accident. "We have confirmed this was deliberate damage, clearly intended to harm the network," said Brenda Reid. "This was a reckless act that compromises public safety which is extremely alarming for us." Reid said crews were hoping to restore service within hours.

"Fortunately the damage, although it was bad, it wasn't worse, and we were able to get some repairs done overnight."

The hardest hit area, on the Avalon peninsula around St. John's, is home to roughly half the province's population.

About 5,000 customers were without service along Nova Scotia's eastern shore.

Reid said the vandalism affected emergency services.

"Anyone who had to dial long distance to reach fire, police or ambulance, that sort of thing. It affected 911 for a short period of time so it was extremely serious and alarming."

She said in both provinces both primary fibre-optic and backup cables had been cut.

About 4,000 Aliant workers went on strike April 23 to back demands for better wages and benefits.

The telephone operators, repair personnel and customer service representatives have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2001.

About 1,800 managers are filling in.

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the Atlantic telephone company

1. What the heck does that mean?

2. If committed by someone or a subgroup in the labor union, would and should this crime be treated as "terrorism"?

[cripplecreek]

Thats odd. Today there was an alert on my weatherbug about a "civil emergency" in Alger county in the upper peninsula here in Michigan. When i read the alert it said that a fiber optic communications cable had been severed and that emergency services would be out of contact.

Alger country is mostly deepwoods wilderness along the lake Superior shoreline.

[Viking2002]

Typical union thuggery.

[SamAdams76]

This vandalism thing with phone systems is out of control. About a month ago, some punk severed a bunch of wireless lines in the New England area. It took nearly half a day before everybody was able to use their cellphones again.

[Paul_B]

A local union chapter, working for a better Canada.

[-YYZ-]

I think by Atlantic they mean the Atlantic provinces. I believe Aliant is a conglomeration of the old MT&T, NBTel and Nfld. Tel., covering NS, PEI, NB, and NFLD.

[coydog]

And their service has gone downhill ever since. When high-speed internet finally came to our village just outside Fredericton, it was not Aliant, but Rogers that was taking the initiative to get the lines in. A few days after we signed on with Rogers, people from Aliant finally did come around - too late, kiddies. You're a day late and a dollar short.

And the sabotage could be either union deviltry or perhaps 'some other group' using the strike to mask their 'rehearsal' activities, who knows?

COYDOG

[cripplecreek]

"And the sabotage could be either union deviltry or perhaps 'some other group' using the strike to mask their 'rehearsal' activities, who knows?"


Its sad that it comes to mind isn't it? Of course if Canada wasn't so willing to allow terrorists to wander freely where ever they choose it wouldn't really come to mind.

[txhurl]

Might-need-this-later bump.

[cripplecreek]

Ive been digging for news but it's mostly national and state forest as well as the national lakeshore. Plus there are only 3 or 4 small towns in the entire county (and Alger is a large county) Evidently none of those towns have online newspapers.

[coydog]

That sure as @#!! wasn't my decision. It's so latte-drinking Toronto brats can feel virtuously multicultural as they open the floodgates for all the world's criminal dregs while prospective immigrants of higher quality go begging.

Our gun laws might be stricter, but that just means more people dealing out of their car trunks and 'oiling the roses'. I loathe my government.

COYDOG

[cripplecreek]

I allways stand up for our Canadian neighbors. I realize that you have a serious "liberal" situation up there. You guys got a lot of flyover country for your left coasts to oppress.

Good luck.

[ThreePuttinDude]

We need to keep an eye on this type of terrorism.
Action like this in the north, could be more dangerous
than the invasion taking place in the south.

[buccaneer81]

Ever drink at the Hilltop in Fredericton?

[steve86]

It took nearly half a day before everybody was able to use their cellphones again.

I went 45 years without using a cellphone.

[coydog]

Why yes, been there quite a few times. And the Lunar Rogue too!

COYDOG

[buccaneer81]

Although I've been in Ohio for twelve years. I still have many vivid memories of NB nightlife.

FYI: I graduated from Woodstock High in 1981 and Mount A in 1985.

Last time at the Hilltop was after an April Wine concert at the Aitken Centre in 1983.

[Katya]

I'm hoping the lefties finally lose their stranglehold on Canada as well. My favorite destination is still Nova Scotia, and one day I hope to live there at least part of the year. I vacationed in PEI one summer and became friendly with a local realtor there. He sort of took the attitude that the provincial governments pay little mind to Ottawa, and at least on PEI all politics was genuinely local.
I'm thinking about going to New foundland this summer, so if you have any tips on good seaside destinations freep mail me.

[Old Professer]

It's a Canuck thing.