From: dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton)
Subject: Why vote NO?
Reply-To: dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Distribution: can
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 20:46:19 GMT

As the title says, why vote NO?  Does this agreement make our lives better
or worse?  I can understand the people complaining because there is no legal
text, though I read a copy of the Charter of Rights last night and quite 
frankly without legal training most of it sounded just as vague as the accord
does, but I cannot understand why the accord is bad.  How does it make our
lives worse?  As I see it :

  1. Even if the senate isn't that useful at least it is elected.
  2. Quebec is hardly getting more power from a Distinct Society clause
     when right now they totally ignore the constitution.
  3. Who can say that native self government is bad, especially when it is
     limited by the Charter and a "no new land claim" promise.
  4. Ok, Quebec having 25% HoC seats cast in stone isn't great, but I'm sure
     if they ever drop much past 25% everyone will scream for a new accord anyway.
  5. The transfer of powers is fairly minimal and shouldn't destroy national
     programs in any significant way.

Please ask yourself :

  1. Will Ontario and Quebec ever accept a pure EEE senate?  NOT!
  2. Will Quebec ever accept an accord without 'Distinct Society'?  NOT!
  3. Will the west ever get a better opportunity to guard it's natural 
     resources?  Probably NOT - unless they are their own country!
  4. Will the Federal Government, 10 Premiers, 2 Territorial Leaders, and the
     Natives ever reach a better deal?  NOT! NOT! NOT!
  5. Isn't this accord a reflection of our thoughts - EEE Senate, Distinct
     Society and Native Self Government seem to be the theme of all those 
     meetings.

My predictions, the results of a YES vote :

  1. Some economic stability - finally.
  2. The lawyers argue for a couple of years about legal text and the federal/
     provincial governments keep negotiating - SO?
  3. This will no longer be the big issue, though it will always be an issue,
     and we can now deal with other important issues (economy)?
  4. Quebec signs the CHARTER - I get to be a real citizen when I'm in Quebec!!!!
  5. Maybe the PQ will finally die, or a least diminish in power and the big
     threat will go away (this probably won't happen, but a NO vote certainly
     isn't going to get rid of them).

The results of a NO vote (without Quebec seperation) :
 
  1. More economic instability - look at Montreal after the 1981 Referendum.
     Companies do not like to invest in unstable countries - it's simple. 
  2. Another 10 years of constitutional committes, Quebec threats, referendum.

The results of a NO vote (with Quebec seperation) :

  1. Possibly four countries from one.  Quebec, the Maratimes (probably join
     the U.S.), Ontario and the West (who would never let their lives be run
     by just Ontario).
  2. Kiss off the #1 rated country by the U.N..  Right now Canada is the best place
     in the world to live, according to the U.N..  Would we be better as four 
     weaker countries?  I doubt it.

My god, think about!  And don't just protest vote!

Don
My brain, my thoughts, my words.
If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a K-car (a nice reliant automobile),
If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a fur coat
  (but not a real fur coat, that's cruel),
If I had a million dollars, we wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
  (but we would eat Kraft Dinner), of course we would, we'd just eat more. - BNL
Newsgroups: can.politics