What unites Canadians?

[jacee]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/charter-of-rights-and-universal-health-care-unites-canadians-poll-1.1892818

Respondents were asked:

"What keeps Canada united?"

They had 11 options to choose from.

Here they are along with the percentage of first place votes:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (25 per cent)

Universal health care (22 per cent)

Hockey (12 per cent)

A shared history (11 per cent)

Multiculturalism (9 per cent)

Respect for provincial jurisdiction (6 per cent)

Official languages law/bilingualism (4 per cent)

Equalization transfer payments (4 per cent)

National transportation network (3 per cent)

The threat of Americanization (2 per cent)

The monarchy (2 per cent)

Interesting ... Charter of Rights and health care ... I really thought hockey would win!

I suppose sometimes hockey divides us too, depending on who's playing who.

Anybody think there are things missing?

[Boges]

If the Charter keeps us together then how did Canada manage to stay a country the some 115 years before the Charter?

I actually don't see a lot that binds Canadians with people from the East, Quebec, Prairies, West, Ontario.

Edited June 30, 2014 by Boges

[Hydraboss]

Except the "Equalization transfer payments (4 per cent)". That one definitely binds those Canadian provinces that can't pull their own weight.

I'm pretty sure it would account for the single highest percentage response if this poll was re-run in Alberta only.

[Topaz]

Health care 22%, will Harper deal with that before the election? IF it's true that Harper will cut 34 billion out of healthcare then the provinces are going to be in deep debt and people won't have any health care but then private insurances will soar and share holders will get richer.

[jacee]

It is an obvious point to make ... that the things Canadians choose that "unite" us are the things that Harper attacks.

It's just sad to me, this era of the politics of division. I hope it ends soon.

Edited June 30, 2014 by jacee

[Boges]

It is an obvious point to make ... that the things Canadians choose that "unite" us are the things that Harper attacks.

It's just sad to me, this era of the politics of division. I hope it ends soon.

Yet Harper achieved broad support in the last election.

[overthere]

How is Harper attacking helath care?.

He is not Chretien after all.

I don't understand why 'loathing for Toronto' is not on this list of unifying elements.

[-1=e^ipi]

No- Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (25 per cent)

No- Universal health care (22 per cent)

No- Hockey (12 per cent)

No- A shared history (11 per cent)

No- Multiculturalism (9 per cent)

No- Respect for provincial jurisdiction (6 per cent)

No- Official languages law/bilingualism (4 per cent)

No- Equalization transfer payments (4 per cent)

Maybe, but our transport system is very integrated with the US, so no - National transportation network (3 per cent)

No- The threat of Americanization (2 per cent)

No- The monarchy (2 per cent)

There should have been a non-of-the-above option.

[overthere]

Funny that CBC is not mentioned ........

[jacee]

Yet Harper achieved broad support in the last election.

No he didn't. 25% of Canadians is not "broad support".

He targeted specific ridings and ethnic voting blocks to get his fake majority.

.

[Boges]

No he didn't. 25% of Canadians is not "broad support".

He targeted specific ridings and ethnic voting blocks to get his fake majority.

.

You say the same about Mrs. Wynne?

The CPC is the only party with an MP in every region.

[overthere]

No he didn't. 25% of Canadians is not "broad support".

He targeted specific ridings and ethnic voting blocks to get his fake majority.

.

Exactly and precisely what every party does for decades now. Who can forget Chretiens relentless and shameful fellatio performed routinely on the entire ethnic population of the GTA every four years?

Did you find that disturbing?

[Boges]

I love how Conservatives are the party of Old Angry White Men, except when they aren't.

Edited June 30, 2014 by Boges

[jacee]

Exactly and precisely what every party does for decades now. Who can forget Chretiens relentless and shameful fellatio performed routinely on the entire ethnic population of the GTA every four years?

Did you find that disturbing?

I find your language disturbing.

.

[Bonam]

There should have been a non-of-the-above option.

Indeed, none of the listed items are compelling options to pick...

[jacee]

You say the same about Mrs. Wynne?.

Quite likely.

First past the post wasn't designed for computer statistical modelling.

Targeted campaigns don't result in 'broad support' among Canadians.

So we have pockets of people and politics of division.

That's just sad.

.

[Keepitsimple]

Health care 22%, will Harper deal with that before the election? IF it's true that Harper will cut 34 billion out of healthcare then the provinces are going to be in deep debt and people won't have any health care but then private insurances will soar and share holders will get richer.

Sorry Topaz - the responsibility for delivering healthcare rests with the provinces. The Federal contribution - which amounts to 20% or so, is now guaranteed to rise by anywhere from 3 to 6% every year. If people want better Healthcare, take it to their province - if its money, the province can raise taxes. If its poor delivery, let the province fix it.......and look at better ways to deliver services.

[Moonlight Graham]

"What keeps Canada united?"

Being Canadian. As vague as that sounds.

Being Canadian means being a part of and enjoying our unique blend of values, traditions, history etc. that makes being a Canadian great. This includes many if not all of the things on the list of choices in the OP.

Regionally/provincially, Canadians are very different, but despite this we unite together under a federation that respects these differences legally (re: federalism) and we enjoy certain values, traditions, history etc. that unite us as one entity containing many different parts.

[-1=e^ipi]

Being Canadian means being a part of and enjoying our unique blend of values, traditions, history etc. that makes being a Canadian great. This includes many if not all of the things on the list of choices in the OP.

Regionally/provincially, Canadians are very different, but despite this we unite together under a federation that respects these differences legally (re: federalism) and we enjoy certain values, traditions, history etc. that unite us as one entity containing many different parts.

This is nonsense. Nothing unites us (excluding things that would unite us with the majority of the rest of the developed world, such as freedom of speech) other than geographic location.

Canadian nationalism is a lie.

[Moonlight Graham]

This is nonsense. Nothing unites us (excluding things that would unite us with the majority of the rest of the developed world, such as freedom of speech) other than geographic location.

Canadian nationalism is a lie.

You need to do some traveling to some of these other developed countries.

[jacee]

This is nonsense. Nothing unites us (excluding things that would unite us with the majority of the rest of the developed world, such as freedom of speech) other than geographic location.

Canadian nationalism is a lie.

Hey! Did you get your new health card yet?

That's #2 at uniting Canadians eh?

.

[Bob Macadoo]

Hey! Did you get your new health card yet?

That's #2 at uniting Canadians eh?

.

That makes us Federalists, it doesn't unite us....big difference. You can see it in posts here.....the sneers for Toronto, the disdain for Montreal, the ambivalence for Vancouver, the disappointment with Calgary, etc. We are a loose collective blended together only to use each region for their strategic advantage.

[Bonam]

I don't think anything "unites Canadians" besides convenience and inertia.

[-1=e^ipi]

Hey! Did you get your new health card yet?

That's #2 at uniting Canadians eh?

Not yet. But I look forward to free access to long wait times.

Are you still deluded by Canadian Nationalism?

[monty16]

That makes us Federalists, it doesn't unite us....big difference. You can see it in posts here.....the sneers for Toronto, the disdain for Montreal, the ambivalence for Vancouver, the disappointment with Calgary, etc. We are a loose collective blended together only to use each region for their strategic advantage.

Like as if that's a bad thing Bob? Have a look at the gong show to our south where each state finds ways to screw the others. No real standards for the country but poverty and starvation wages in the south which can't be addressed by the feds because each state thinks it has the right to make it's own laws and set it's own standards.

What's really important to Canada and Canadians is that we try to make our fellow citizens aware of what Harper wants to do with our health care system.

Before it's too late. Because if he's given a majority we'll be in the same mess US is in. Conservatism's agenda has never been a mystery, ask the creeps at the Fraser Institute. Harper's friends!