Newsgroups: can.general,can.politics
Subject: Re: Apples and Oranges
From: emd@ham.almanac.bc.ca
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 20:47:45 PDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Mid Island Ham Network

power@random.ucs.mun.ca (Brian Power) writes:

> >
> >>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 accep
> >
> 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 cultur
> 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 communitie
> 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 a
> 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


Brian, I find I largely agree with your analysis. What is your impression 
of what will occur to the Maritimes and Newfoundland/Labrador if Quebec 
successfully secedes?


emd@ham.almanac.bc.ca (Robert Smits Ladysmith BC)