From: 4224_5201@uwovax.uwo.ca (John LaRocque)
Subject: Let Canada Go (was No Senate Elections)
Organization: University of Western Ont, London
Distribution: can
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 04:08:10 GMT

In article <BzC1x5.Hyz@mach1.wlu.ca>, scooper6@mach1.wlu.ca (stephen cooper 9209 U) writes:

> issues--Quebec voted no because it said that it got too little.  The West
> voted no because it said Quebec got too much.  One of them was wrong.  Maybe
> both?

Quebec specifically asked for particular powers, including powers which were
already Quebec's but which the federal (illegally IMnotsoHO) spends in
anyways. Mulroney and the rest said no, Bourassa caved in, and got his
so-called 25% guarantee. Quebec asked for things it did not get, and what
it got it did not need, and the rest of the country (according to the
newpapers) blamed QUEBEC for the 25% guarantee. Quebec got to many powers
--- no way --- what it got it did not want, nor did it ask for, nor did
it need. The guarantees of Meech on immigration were scaled down , and
the token distinct society is no substitute for real powers anyways.
Fooey on those who hated both Meech and Charlottetown for the distinct
society and the 25 % guarantee. Those were the last gasps of a failed
negotiator of duboius skills, one prime minister Robert Bourassa, and
his friend in Ottawa, Brian Mulroney.

> I really don't want to rehash the Oct 26 referendum.

too late, buddy    #-)

>>(dump the Senate, and HoC NOW   !!! They are all vipers)
> 
> I can see dumping the senate, but what would you replace the House of
> Commons with?

     After the death of Meech and all the constitutional hysterics, I 
spent a good 2 hours listening to so-called experts at the university
on Canada. hahahaha. Anyways, me and one of the panelists, a francophone
from Quebec, were having this discussion on the meaning of confederation
and why we should do what the Russians and the Ukrainians and the Baltics
did two years ago - abandon the central government and repatriate the
powers it possesses. This was a serious discussion.

     What to replace it with? Better ask why first. This country is an
anomaly: different regions with different economies all forced to share
the same vision and the same parliament. Different linguistic majorities,
each with hurt feelings or hate towards the other. This country is a sick
entity, with no single vision to keep it alive and only the national debt
to keep it from falling apart. 

     For the Atlantic provinces, I suggest that they abandon their over-
governed people with a general Atlantic Union, originally torpedoed by
John A but worth a second chance with the eventual decline of Canada and
the economic malaise that has surrounded this region for many decades.

     Ontario, a population of 10 million. An industrialized economy. An
educated populace. And her wealth being funnelled to Ottawa on "regional
development" that generally has done little for Canadians. For too long
Ontario has played the Captain Canada routine. If ANY province had a
perfect reason to go on its own, it is Ontario. Wealth. Industry. Integration
with the US market. The post-Free Trade decline of our industries will
not change this in the long run, as our ecomony switches gears to new
industries and sectors of the economy.

     BC. Separated by the Rockies, this beautiful region could do very
well on its own. As the Mighty Bruce Schuck pointed out, BC has not hurt
as badly as Central Canada after the post freed trade/recession slump.
Sovereignty for BC. Why not? Certainly no more goofy than Van Der Zalm!

     The Praries. Regroup their economies. Abandon Ottawa for the same
reasons Ottawa has already abandonned the West and her interests. The
West has to share her interests with people who will never accept her
demands. Maybe Alberta can become an Oil King again with better oil
prices.

     And finally Quebec.... a French majority, a common history, culture
and a modern economy and an educated populace eager for change.


     Forget the infantile linguistic debate. Quebec sovereigntists have
inadvertantly shown the ROC the future, and it is not as dark when Ottawa
is removed from the picture. Think about it: an unresponsive regime of
conflicting interests, an obscene federal tax burden coupled by a 
growing debt and a government unwilling to make the neccessary and very
painful decisions. Opposition parties who will continue the same hateful
system when they come to power. Abandon the center now, before it is
too late to save the country. 

     Save Canada and dismantle the federal regime now. Do what the peoples
of Russian and Ukraine and the other peoples of the Soviet Union did: they
abandonned a sinking ship, and so should we. Let it go. Let it sink. For
the love of Canada, let Canada go.

(Ross Perot starts talking about the "kids" again......... $-) )


> -- 
> Steve Cooper      |  Internet:  scooper6@mach1.wlu.ca
> Waterloo, Ontario |  If you actually think I speak for Wilfrid Laurier
> Canada!!          |  University, well... I don't even want to think about it.
-- 

John P. LaRocque
vader@uwo.ca
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario


"Urk..urk..."
"Apology accepted, Captain Needa", Darth Vader
Newsgroups: can.politics,soc.culture.british,soc.culture.australian