From: power@random.ucs.mun.ca (Brian Power)
Subject: Apples and Oranges
Reply-To: power@random.ucs.mun.ca
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 16:19:36 GMT

>
>>Canada just does not know what it is ready to give to Quebec.
>>CSQ has to decide in a one for one basis, not one against 10.
>>...
>>Why is that "united" Canada unable to find something that Quebec will accept?
>
Denis, I think you have finally enunciated the basic difficulty in all 
past discussions regarding Quebec and it's position within Canada.

The Quebecois view Canada as the creation of two founding communities, 
French and English. Quebec represents the French and the rest of Canada
represents the English. The Quebecois see a LOT of historical injustices,
an eroding culture, and geographical limitations on their mobility
within Canada. Therefor, since they hold a large majority within Quebec,
they enact legislation and develop Quebec wide policies to ensure that their 
culture does not erode further and that their economy can sustain it's culture.
Moreover, they demand the legislative authority to ensure that the Canadian
legislation cannot be used either as a basis to block their efforts or as
a tool to directly erode their culture. What this boils down to is French
Canadian is the same as Quebecois and Quebec equals The Rest Of Canada.

*** Putting on Flame Retardant Suite ***

TROC views Canada as the creation of two (possibly three) founding communities,
English speaking dependents of many European cultures (NOT the same as the
English conquerers - the original English speaking provinces were primarily 
Scottish and Irish) and French. Recently, the 'native' peoples have been 
added as the third group.

TROC believes that a lot of effort has been expended to rectify historical 
injustices toward the French Canadian community, i.e. official bilingualism and 
French Emerson schools. They ARE aware that both of these programs need
improvement and that 'other' initiatives are needed but they look to them as
proof of a 20 year commitment to right old wrongs! They believe that
French Canadian culture exceeds the boundaries of Quebec with significant
population in Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick and the ambition of TROC
is to provide cultural security to ALL Canadians, including French Canadians. 
(At the same time nobody but a few rednecks will claim that the Quebecois do 
not constitute a 'distinct society'.) 

TROC doesn't understand the Quebecois stance with respect to 
culture. For example, the very strong Scottish community in Nova Scotia has 
given up Gaelic as their primary language and now maintain it as a 'third' 
language. They don't feel culturally barren so why do the Quebecois feel so 
strongly?

TROC sees the Quebecois policies as placing geographical limitations on their 
mobility within Quebec - for the same reasons that the Quebecois feel
restricted in the rest of the country.

TROC sees the Quebec demands as a power grab; as an attempt to entrench the
the concept that Quebec is equal to TROC. To TROC, Quebec is a province, 
equal to each other province. 

*** Taking off flame retardant suite ***

Looked at from this perspective, this country is in trouble - we are not
even discussing the same issues! 

If you look at the Quebecois demands from their perspective, they are being
reasonable. They are asking for the MINIMUM requirements to implement their
agenda. If you look at TROC offers from their perspective, they are being
reasonable. They are offering the MAXIMUM they can while retaining what is
required to implement their agenda. But we have two incompatible agendas.

In many ways I think Canada is doomed! In order to find a solution acceptable
to both groups someone (probably both) must change their basic view of Canada -
and I don't think this will happen! Maybe if one group moved first the other
would respond but both groups feel they have gone as far as possible. In the
current situation, even if the coming Quebec referendum chooses Canada the
issue will not be resolved. Only the development of a single unified view
of Canada will resolve this issue. Lack of a resolution will result in the
eventual breakup of Canada - if not this year, then next, if not next year,
then in five years, if not ......

--
Brian Power			e-mail:	power@random.ucs.mun.ca
Memorial University	
St. John's, Newfoundland
Newsgroups: can.general,can.politics,soc.culture.canada