Leafless

That doesn't sound like a problem at all to me, but rather a reason why nationalism isn't needed any more. I have read that 'nations' as such were only created in the last 400 years or so, and came out of the standardization of language. If so, that would further justify the idea that it's a fake construct. Quebec has a very strong sense of nationalism and patriotism to it's province culture and language seen by many Quebecers as a country. The other provinces in Canada have been around just as long as Quebec. So, what gives with the ROC????

All the criteria to be put on the proposed 'no fly list' pertains 'offences or threats' against civil aviation. This policy effectively leaves out (estimate) 99.9% of all potential terrorist who would want to or would like to cause to destruction and mayhem. The logical question to ask : "What REAL purpose does this ludicrous policy serve?" Answer: This LEFTY policy 'serves no purpose' other than to say" 'Yes, we do have a policy to protect our air passengers against potential terrorist strikes.'

The CBC is reporting that the federal government now estimates that there are 50,000 Canadians in Lebanon. They don't mention whether they are dual citizens. The latest on that although unconfirmed is that there are 5,000 Lebanese that are PERMANENT residents of Lebanon that also hold Canadian citizenship that want also to be evacuated. I agree Canada needs better protection to ensure Canadians are indeed Canadians and are contributing to Canada and support Canadian ideologies. The ONLY countries that support dual citizenship are Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, United States (usually) and the United Kingdom. Countries whose nationals lose citizenship upon voluntary acquisition of another citizenship- Austria, Australia, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. IMO Canada is to SMALL of a country to allow dual citizenship since it is entirely possible we could easily take on the characteristics of another country who has a strong influence on existing Canadian customs, traditions, in other words steal our identity. There is also the factor of the transmission of contagious serious diseases that could be devastating to Canada like what previously seen in Toronto with heavy travel by part time Canadians travelling back and fourth to third world countries. Another controversial factor is Canada being dragged into foreign wars by immigrants from troublesome third world countries who demand Canadian support in favour of their mother country and or rescue operations from their troubled countries. http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/Lo.../BP/bp445-e.htm http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/gener...enship-act.html

Exactly! But Canadians have been Liberal conditioned and many don't know which way is up any more. When a federal government dwells for years and years on language policies, cultural policies, foreign third world immigration and with the Constitution being tinkered with in a cultural sense screws up the political mentality of many Canadians who do not know what standing up for their own cultural rights means anymore. Federal parties have been culturally Liberal hogtied. Outside of a revolution, I simply don't knoe what the answer is.

Not to forget Mulroney was a Quebecer. The heavy emphasis on culture (other than being White and English speaking) was pursued by the Liberals with Trudeau and multiculturalism. The only difference is Mulroney made it official with a policy. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/series/trud...wong_sep30.html http://www.theglobeandmail.com/series/newc.../twentysix.html Stephen Harper is boxed into a cultural corner and probably will follow Paul Martin if he wants his party to stay viable. What other party in Canada will kick culture out the window???

What makes you think your qualified to make such a statement? Do you pay the bills? Ontario is being DUMPED with 43% of all immigration to Canada. Why is there NO democratic process to resolve the immigration issue? Why are Ontario residents burdened with the huge cost of uncontrolled immigration when municiple taxes, housing, electricity are among or the highest in Canada? If taxes are so high because of the high cost of housing, energy and municiple services how is flooding the province with huge numbers of immigrants many who cannot self-sustain themselves going to help the province that does not even have the proper infrastructure to cope with demand and chaotic conditons? And I say Ontario has a constitutional right to work with the federal government on immigration. Don't you think Ontario should do a better job since they are one of the few provinces not to get an agreement in place that suits them? Do you need qualifications to make such a statement. And if you continue to think that it is only the federal government, then vote to remove Stephen Harper nest election. He supports the present numbers. No if you really want to know I don't think we need the number of immigrants the feds say we do. If we need skilled help why are they bringing in third world 'skilled help' with basically no qualifications or qualifications that are not recognized? Why not bring in recognized American or British or European immigrants why third world immigrants and all their problems. If you ask me the whole immigration issue is all part of the Liberals and Trudeau's equality plan and that is if you import enough of all these foreign third world cultures it will hopefully eliminate discrimination and all left wing imagined bigotry and racist sentiments and take the political emphasis off of Quebec and to provide a cheap labour base dragging all Canadians down in the process. Harper and his Conservatives must go along with this initial Liberal plan to remain a viable alternative as a lot of damage as already been done in the way of Liberal preferential political immigrants especially in B.C. and Ontario. It is guaranteed 'not to work' as many immigration related problems have already surfaced along with our so called perpetual unity difficulties will drag Canada down to the level a dysfunctional corrupt little country. Could be were there already and are continually digging ourselves deeper into the hole.

August1991 Concerning your message, " Leafless, would you not press on reply and copy all the previous post." I have no idea what your talking about. After reading your post I've come to the conclusion you are extremely naive concerning the remaining world oil supply, future population growth within the next 20-years and the associated huge demand. I don't understand how you possibly think or assume there is going to be total world order when oil and gas sky rockets to prices only a few will be able to afford. More powerful countries that need oil will TAKE what they can.

Mr. Harper cannot control the world. His statements are not out of line. Israel does have a right to it's existence, a right to preserve it's future existence by defending themselves. Face facts, the Arab world has it in for Israel. I have serious reservations concerning the mentality of anyone vacationing in this part of the world at this time including Israel, for any reason.

What makes you think your qualified to make such a statement? Do you pay the bills? Ontario is being DUMPED with 43% of all immigration to Canada. Why is there NO democratic process to resolve the immigration issue? Why are Ontario residents burdened with the huge cost of uncontrolled immigration when municiple taxes, housing, electricity are among or the highest in Canada? If taxes are so high because of the high cost of housing, energy and municiple services how is flooding the province with huge numbers of immigrants many who cannot self-sustain themselves going to help the province that does not even have the proper infrastructure to cope with demand and chaotic conditons? Ontario has 38% of the total population, and it has 43% of immigration. So the sky is falling from that extra 5%, its a freaking flood of humanity! Well I guess we should all cry a freaking river for poor Ontario. Why don't you folks do something about the problem, or is it possibly not a problem for a majority of citizens? Are your taxes high because of the high cost of housing, energy and municiple services? In Alberta we have to pay for all that stuff ourselves! Are you suggesting that these things are free to citizens in Ontario and the taxpaying citizen has to pick up the tab for it? Maybe if the government didn't give away all of your taxdollars in social programs you would have sufficient infrastructure! Somebody has to pay for infrastructure initially (which nobody did in Ontario's case) and get paid back or you have BIG problems that create an additonal burden to SOCIAL PROGRAMS. Iam am not aware of any major federal infrastructure or major projects to look after or accommodate federal immigration in Ontario. But anyway here is a link to show who gets what in the way of immigration and it looks like in this case Ontario really got shafted with family class and so called protected persons in 2004. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/annual-re...5/section3.html Check out the numbers.

What makes you think your qualified to make such a statement? Do you pay the bills? Ontario is being DUMPED with 43% of all immigration to Canada. Why is there NO democratic process to resolve the immigration issue? Why are Ontario residents burdened with the huge cost of uncontrolled immigration when municiple taxes, housing, electricity are among or the highest in Canada? If taxes are so high because of the high cost of housing, energy and municiple services how is flooding the province with huge numbers of immigrants many who cannot self-sustain themselves going to help the province that does not even have the proper infrastructure to cope with demand and chaotic conditons?

Canada was founded by the British who won the war 'on the 'Plains of Abraham" and populated by existing White Canadians and immigrants from Europe from various European countries belonging to Jeudo-Christian religions. Recent immigrants and refugees Do Not add nothing NEW to this ESTABLISHED country outside of SOME generating taxes from a multitude of small family owned buisnesses but SOME are playing havoc in our major cities by destabilizing the Canadian quality of life in the way of crime, being unemployable, other straining welfare and police resources and housing, creating slums, and incompatibility with many of their religious beliefs and values in comparison to ours. The federal government in the case of Ontario and immigrants and refugees are contributing in a decline in the quality of life for existing Ontarians many who want NO PART with this large infux of uncontrolled immigration in which Ontario never signed any immigration deal with the federal government. You wrote: "If you ever travelled you would realize how populous the rest of the world is compared to Canada, and by that I mean all of Europe." I don't know if your bragging or complaining with a statement like that and who says Canada wants or would even consider congestion similar to over crowded old Europe. China can be best described as a country climbing and evolving out of the 'rock age' to a modern industrialized successful country. Unfortunately we in Canada might or could be described as as modern industrialized country evolving back into the 'rock age'.

I was referring to over a hundred years ago when the West was flooded by immigrants, partly as a mechanism to discourage American manifest destiny. As far as B.C. gies, a lot of that 1990s immigration was a result of two things, the turnover of Hong Kong and of internal strife in India. B.C. was anxious to encourage wealthy Hong Kong residents to settle in the city. There has been adjustment issues for the Chinese but mostly, it has increased the prosperity of British Columbia. Moreover, as the Hong Kong situation indicated China's willingness to leave businesses alone, many Hong Kongers returned to Hong Kong armed with a Canadian citizenship. They go back and forth rotuinely which is good for trade. There has been a much harder adjustment in regard to Indian immigration. A lack of understanding of the religious undercurrent led to the greatest terrorist attack in Canadian history. Still, the prosperity for B.C. has been tremendous. Overall though, B.C. has done quite a bit to faciliate immigrants adjusting and prospering in the province. It has been called the most liveable city in Canada and one of the most liveable in the world. Quite an achievement. It seems our previous Liberal federal government always had a desire to encourage third world immigration. Foreign immigration is not entirely responsiable for B.C's wealth but it's housing industry IMO has done very well but has sold out Canadian interest to incompatiable foreign immigration with federal blessings. B.C is also a favourite retirement home for wealthy Ontarians who were previously federal civil servants. But B.C. immigrants have provided a vast array of boutiques for B.C.'s population to conduct buisness. It appears B.C. signed on to federal -provincial immigration territorial agreements in 1998, but I don't see any signed agreement (yet) between the feds and Ontario like you claim there is, one Ontario can turn to for federal assistance. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/annual-re...5/section2.html

A government represents the country and in our case it's the federal government. The government should lead in a way that creates in each and every one of us a common national identity that relates to the creation of this country and it's traditions and one that we should be proud of from the main distinguishing factor which is freedom and democracy which was given to us in the form of the BNA Act. This country has never recognized this factor fully and preferred to dwell on factors that cause and PROMOTE disunity. The failure of the federal government to correct this in the early stages resulted IMO a series of major constitutional errors that has resulted in a dysfunctional federal government as well as produced a severe lack of loyality and nationalism to the country of Canada, which will be hard if not impossible to reverse. Canada IS NOT a democracy! Sure we have periodic elections during which we get to pick our new dictators for the next few years. Most are dishonest and they tell us exactly what we want to hear to get elected, and then basically ignore us until it is time to go to the polls again to seek another term in office. Our federal government is dysfunctional in that being Canadian as someone I read once wrote means having no morals or values at all. What other country in the world would change the vary character of the country and it's institutions to appease certain ethnic or other special interest groups. One thing I refer to is allowing people to change the traditional dress of the RCMP to include the wearing of a turban instead of the traditional uniform. I'm sure that if we went to live in India and wanted to join their institutions they would not be quite as accommodating. THings like this have really taken something that says Canadian and made it into something un-Canadian. The pandering to Quebec has made Canadian's feel as if our federal government exists only for Quebec. Many of us feel like the federal government believes that Canada starts at the Ontario/Manitoba border, and ends at the Quebec/New Brunswick border. Those of us who live outside that exclusive part of the country feel like we are really not part of Canada at all. Canada Day to me is just a day off work, and it represents nothing patriotic to me. There is No country that is virtually democratic in all areas concerning goverence. To detirmine how democratic we really are is simply to compare ourselves with other countries. But I agree with everthing you said in your post but this has nothing to do with the BNA ACT itself and our inheritence of this great country but unfortunately it does have a lot to do with corrupt politics. But we only have OURSELVES to blame for tolerating this type of goverence.

What is the province doing about facilitating immigration? The west have lived with mass immigation and for a lot longer than Toronto. You must be making reference to B.C. and what have they done about it or did they have no choice? Or was it simply a Federa Liberal decission to promote and flood the province with Chinese and Asians rather than Brits., Americans or Europeans? Or was it initially a provincial decission to desire this type of foreign immigration?

What on earth are you talking about? Get your facts straight. I never said "My little prairie city." Think you got the wrong person. Sorry about the name error. There is a lot of 'J's' floating around. It is Jerry J.fortin who is the (praire dweller).

How long will it take people to abolish minimum wages? Should be abolished, it's a leading cause of unemloyment in many areas of Canada. You choose the price you work for, this isn't some economic depression time, it's your choice. Price controls don't work there either. I think some minimal minimum wage, say $2 per hour, should be established, simply to prevent slavery. Otherwise I agree. Naturally your post is well intended but I believe is completely off the mark. In fact for demand to be appropiately controlled at this time oil prices should be at about $182.00-barrel and gas at $7.00 per U.S. gallon. What I am talking about is the phenomenon known as global "Peak Oil". This is a very informative article and is contrary to what Canadian oil commodity experts who must be really kidding themselves if they think oil prices have peaked and our oil supply is plentiful. http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/ That phenomena has been recited, in varying versions, since the early 1920's. It hasn't happened yet and I doubt it ever will. Oil has historically fluctuated between "real", i.e. current dollar prices of $97 (back in 1980) and about $12 (1970-2, 1986, 1998-9). It may fluctuate closer to the $35 figure, on average, than the $20s in which it spent most of the late 1980's through early 2000's. Higher, but not the end of the world. Obviously you did not READ the article. Prices is only part of it. The important part is DEMAND caused by a massive increase in POPULATION. The current bankink system basically covering most aspects of society depends on 'CHEAP OIL'. Oil simply will not be there at ANY PRICE. Socities crumble when the SUPPLY for fossil fuels CEASES. TO DATE THERE IS NO VIABLE ALTRNATIVE to oil and gas that will appropiatey and resonably supply the masses.

You're fine with yours but saying we need more and more immigration knowing those immigrants are coming to live with me not you. Here's the deal. We'll bring in a hundred immigrants from Somalia specifically to live with you and your little town. You'll have to feed and clothe and house them, btw. After a year of living with them you come back here and tell us we should continue to bring in more immigrants. Deal? So you want to force people to live where you want them to live? Great idea! Lets take that a few steps further, since the government can now tell people where to live, those that employ you are able to do the same thing. You could very well find yourself in Somalia because some corporation can use the labour pool there at about 10 cents an hour. With all due respect, I am not in favor of the nanny welfare state. The government handing out tax dollars doesn't really promote the individual incentive to accomplish anything for personal benefit. The entire question about immigration does require a rethink, that much I will agree with you on. But having the government tell people where to live is a no-no. jdobbin (a praire dweller) original post quotes "My little praire city? I live about 3kms from a town with about ten houses and no business's in it. I choose to live away from the city life. You chosse to live in it. You can complain about yours if you like but I am fine with mine!" So jdobbin thinks he's smart enough to escape the pitfalls of Canada's rotten immigration system while actually supporting it, forgets it is the big cities that keep rural Canada alive. In other words if 'big cities go down then rural Canada goes down'. Your part of the the problem of the decay of Canada whether you think so or not. And J.fortin (a praire dweller) must be spaced out if he says he is living in Alberta who is facing current major labour shortages makes this amazing statement: "The entire question about immigration does require a rethink, that much I will agree with you on. But having the government tell people where to live is a no-no." And to think Mr. Harper ( a former praire dweller) is running the country, hopefully he doesn't think along the lines of these two.

Leafless, how do you propose we control where immigrants live? Do you want us to have a police state with internal passbooks and registration at the local authorities?In simple terms, we cannot dicate where an immigrant will live and potential immigrants can promise to immigrate to Flin Flon and then change their minds. Give me a break! What Canada is doing is not what you would call normal immigration. Canada is conducting MASS IMMIGRATION a lot of it from third world countries and countries where degrees are not recognized on the same level as Canadian qualifications. It definitely should be federal responsibility to screen and allocate these unqualified immigrants and send them on their way to where the jobs are, in a compulsory manner. I consider it deplorable to bring unqualified immigrants into Canada, some who can't even speak English, some uncivilized by our standards and set them off any where they desire or let them choose where it's culturally acceptable or where climatic conditons are more favourable.

It's in this very website's information: http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/gener...-provinces.html Once again, has Ontario asked the federal government to assist in ensuring Toronto is not swamped? Please provide links. The ONLY commitment on the part of the federal government PERTAINING to provinces is: " A commitment, on the part of the federal government, to work with the provinces to help INTEGRATE immigrants into Canadian society". For starters the feds are not applying equal treatment for all provinces as Quebec receives more money per immigrant than any other province in Canada and of course Ontario does not get to choose it's immigrants. This has got nothing to do with allowing large numbers of immigrants to settle where ever they wish, besides provinces hands are tied by being hampered with federal immigrant legislation: " Ensuring the Act is applied in a way that is consistent with the principles outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including the principles of equality, freedom from discrimination, and the equality of French and English as Canada’s two official languages; Respecting Canada’s multicultural character; Supporting the development of minority language communities in Canada ; Ensuring the Act is applied in a way that meets Canada’s international obligations;"

There are federal controls. Provinces can work with the federal government to get the immigrants they want. Has Ontario been doing that? What federal controls are you making reference to? Have you got a link? It is the federal government that is totally neglegent in allowing large numbers of immigrants into the country totally disconcerning themselves from the fact 43% of all of Canada's immigrants settle in Toronto. http://www.damianpenny.com/archived/006927.html

Naturally your post is well intended but I believe is completely off the mark. In fact for demand to be appropiately controlled at this time oil prices should be at about $182.00-barrel and gas at $7.00 per U.S. gallon. What I am talking about is the phenomenon known as global "Peak Oil". This is a very informative article and is contrary to what Canadian oil commodity experts who must be really kidding themselves if they think oil prices have peaked and our oil supply is plentiful. http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

You don't seem to understand that it is NOT Toronto having problems adjusting to it's huge increase of immigrants but rather the federal government is at fault for allowing huge numbers of immigrants choosing Toronto as the place to live. There are no federal controls. Immigrants will naturally want to live where most of their cultural buddies choose to live.

Dollars to donuts most Canadian and foreign capital will also leave Quebec long before any deal on separation is ironed out. Mass unemployment and poverty and total collapse in real estate could reign in Quebec. I wouldn't depend on the oil sands either as the winning factor to sustain Alberta's economy because if any compulsory controls are implemented on air pollution could put an immediate stop to the oil extraction buisness. Natural gas by design when burned (method used presently for fuel in the extraction process) produces 2-molecules of water vapour for every sngle molecule of natural gas. e.g. 100 cu.ft. of natural gas produces 200 cu.ft. of water vapour. Also Alberta's economy is dangerously forging ahead to quickly. All you potential separatist are in dream land.

So Harper is really a Liberal? I was making reference to the to the previous long term administration regarding the federal Liberals. But it's interesting you raised the question of Mr. Harper really being a Liberal. I guess we'll just have to wait and see to verify that one. It could be the Conservatives fiqure they might be boxed in politically and choose to fight 'fire with fire' approach, if you know what I mean.

Why do we owe Canada anything? Are our taxes not enough? I don't see how waving a flag off the front of my garage betters anyone's life. Seems like a wasteful exercise to me. I agree that you should leave your ancestory at the door, so to speak. But nationalism is just so foolish in of itself. Let's just leave that at the door too. It's foolish to believe that one place is better because of it's name. I just don't see the point. I didn't choose to be born here, why must I be grateful to Canada? Maybe to God for allowing me to be born into such a prosperous area, but Canada did nothing out of it's way for me. You sound confused about your own country. It's evident you never had to FIGHT or SACRIFICE to get what you got and take everthing pretty much for granted. What we owe our thanks and loyality to a large degree is to the Queen of Canada and England for literally giving us our BNA Act that formed the basis for the existence of our free and democratic country. And we can thank our close friends and allies the U.S.A. for giving and allowing Canada to prosper being trading partners and providing a large element of security simply by the presence and close proximity of the U.S. Patritotism also is to insure our quality of life is kept alive with an extreme desire to make certain our children are left with at least as much freedom and prosperity that we enjoy to-day. So start waving your Canadian flag and be loyal and patriotic to a country most of the rest of the world would jump on to live here. Taxes don't buy you freedom and democracy.