From: schuck@fraser.sfu.ca (Bruce Jonathan Schuck)
Subject: Re: Plan S -- Quebec separation
Reply-To: Bruce_Schuck@sfu.ca
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 18:08:58 GMT

(Gerry Gryschuk) writes:

>>In article <schuck.721092172@sfu.ca> Bruce_Schuck@sfu.ca writes:


>> Do you think they would give it to us?
>> Would it jeopardize the FTA with the US?
>> How long would it take to negotiate?

>Having given even more thought to this, it seems to me it would take about
>a second and a half maybe two depending on how fast the new Quebec leaders
>can sign their name. 

>Consider that by the time the seperation of Quebec got to a point where it
>was a reality we would be working under NAFTA(I'm not sure but I imagine
>this makes the FTA between Canada and the US null and void). The threat
>of TROC,the US and Mexico ganging up on Quebec to exclude them from
>the North American market should be sufficient to make them sign on.

Bill Clinton is a protectionist. NAFTA will not pass.

"Ganging up?" Quebec will have to beg the US into allowing them entry
into the FTA and the US under Clinton will say NO!

>I'm thoroughly convinced this is a minor problem which could be settled
>within a couple of months at the most.

It would be years before a change in the FTA would be possible.
Remember, if we open up the FTA, then all the special interest groups
in the US would demand concessions from us for sponsoring it and from
Quebec for wanting to join. There is very little benefit for the US in
allowing such a small market into the FTA.


>Consider the alienation in Ontario if the West insisted on making them
>buy more expensive products. Sure the East has screwed the West in
>the past that's no reason to try to screw them back, revenge is a
>poor motive for any action.

Revenge is the only motive with a real long memory. :)

>> 
>> If Ontario *insisted* on carrying on it's traditional trading
>> patterns with a sovereign Quebec, instead of establishing new ones
>> with the rest of Canada, then the country would be finished.

>If the West insisted on forcing Ontario to establish markets that
>were not beneficial to them Canada as a country would be finished.
>At least by your logic it would be. Ontario is in a much better
>position to leave Canada then the western provinces.

Ha ha ha ha ha. Ontario is in a post-industrial slump from which it
may never recover. Toronto leads the country in unemployment.
The provincial deficit soars above 10 billion [I admit out NDP gov't
may try to catch up :( ]

Besides, Ottawa is in Ontario. If Ontario leaves, it gets the
national debt all by itself. :)

>> 
>> There would certainly be *no* point in BC or Alberta staying within
>> such a ludicrous situation.
>> 

>The more articles I read by you the more I realize that it's not so much
>Quebec getting preferential treatment that bothers you it's that BC doesn't.

Nonsense. I am a firm believer in the EEE Senate. Equal treatment for
all provinces. If I wanted BC to have the best deal I would be a
supporter of the 5 region Senate where all regions are equal and BC is
a region and gets 20% of the seats. That would be unfair.

>The best thing for Canada as a whole would be to establish free trade
>amongst all it's trading partners outside and inside the country, then nobody
>gets an upper hand, nobody gets subsidies, no quotas etc. In that framework
>the most competitive, efficient, cost effective companies will win,
>the dinosaurs will lose and good riddance.

That sure is switch. Ontario and Quebec preferred captive markets in
the Maritimes and West and high tariff barriers to protect them from
competition. What you forget is that BC has been buying manufactured
goods from Central Canada for decades at inflated prices. We can buy
them cheaper from the Pacific Rim.

If Canada had free trade with Japan, it would be -- Bye bye Ontario. :)
Their manufacturing industry would never recover.

-- 
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"We've got to get bigger guns" -- Dick Durkin                  schuck@sfu.ca
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Newsgroups: can.politics