This Most Important Election

[August1991]

Quebec nationalism, from 1837 to Mercier and Duplessis, is not new. But Canada has only faced a genuine, organized separatist movement since Levesque left the provincial Liberal party in 1968. In retrospect, it is not surprising at all that it would take 40 years or so to germinate. The declaration of the Confederate States of America took almost 40 years in the making.

But Canada seems to have had a lucky star. This is the kitty that won't drown.

I always thought the bizarre collapse of Clark's government was one indication. Trudeau came back in Feb 1980 (a more critical election than this, IMV) to face the PQ in the May 1980 referendum. Trudeau promised to put his seat on the line. What would have happened if Clark's government had not fallen?

When I saw the early returns in 1995, I thought that Parizeau had finally done it. Lobster and all. Then I watched the Oui numbers drop, the Non numbers rise, and I couldn't believe it. WTF?

Martin's shift to Lapierre, I figured, will certainly change the Canada we know. If Mulroney couldn't get a Meech deal through, Lapierre certainly will. And that's the Holy Grail Martin was seeking.

And anyway, if Martin doesn't win, provincial-rights Harper will make the few small steps to what used to be called "special status". (It exists practically as the CPP/QPP and is now known as "asymmetrical federalism".)

Either way, Canada would finally, for Gawdsakes, change. (I have always thought that what we change to matters less than the way we change. Canada will not change à la libanaise.)

But then, I hadn't considered the way this Martin-Lapierre-débâcle would unroll. Herle and his Anglo gang have ensured that the next Liberal leader will be Stéphane Dion. The Liberals will unite behind him.

Canada will have two bright leaders in Parliament: An Anglophone defending provincial rights and a Francophone defending a federal state.

This kitten will not drown. Canada as we know it will go on and on.

Last point. Anti-Americanism is tiresome in English Canada. It's typically now a Left/NDP approach but it used to be the Tory approach. Imagine for a moment that every single political discussion in English Canada became a discussion seen through a prism of anti/pro America.

Quebec politics for the past 30 years have been that. The prism is Quebec independance. Absolutely every political question is filtered through that prism. There is no longer any intelligent political debate about, for example, the State and what it should do. Quebecers are beyond exhaustion. The federalists best line now is that the souverainistes have not been able to deliver the goods.

I don't know what Quebec separatists, or other Canadians, would do with a PM Harper and an Opposition Leader Dion. Canada's Gladstone and Disraeli.

Canada must have some kind of lucky star. Welcome to the future.

[Stoker]

So are you saying that there are still people in Quebec that want to leave Canada? *Yawns*

[Michael Hardner]

I agree that Harper's view of federalism would do much to give Quebec (and all the provinces) the power it wants, and might help to keep it in Canada.

But as much as people get upset about this kind of thing, I believe that a good economy staves off all of these questions indefinitely.

[Stoker]

I'm all for Harper's idea of giving more power to the Provinces, but as a Anglo Canadian, I don't want this to appear as pandering to Quebec and the rest of Canada gets to join in on the "fun".

I want this to appear as what is best for Canada as a whole, and what is best for the ten provinces, of which Quebec is one.

All for one......one for all I guess

[caesar]

When a federal politicians speaks of giving "More Power" to provincial governments; it means they are willing to allow provinces jurisdiction over certain things so that Provinces pick up the bills for paying for such programs.

Usually programs that are proving to be expensive to pay for; frees up federal money for other purposes. Like Health care; starts with transfer payment to help cover the cost; then the transfer payments start shrinking.

[Bryant]

yawn........................................more dribble.........now Harpers our Saviour...............................I don't think so.....we will be here long after Harpers long gone................