Newsgroups: soc.culture.canada
Subject: Death of Canada - One American's Opinion
From: rcf@netlink.cts.com (Bob Forsythe)
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 92 16:40:15 PST
Organization: NetLink Online Communications, San Diego CA

     Since there's been a lot of discussion on this topic lately, I'd 
thought I'd add my two cents worth.  It is only my opinion; based upon my 
schooling in political science, the on-going discussion, and readings 
from "Canadian Politics in the 1980's" ed. Whittington and williams.  So 
it may or may not be worth a lot, but who knows it may generate some 
fruitful discussion.

     The most direct cause of Canada's problems today can be traced to a 
distinct lack of national identity, and that in turn can be traced to the 
decentralization that has occurred over the last few decades.  In some 
ways Canada today resembles the U.S. during the period of the Articles of 
Confederation.  It is a loose union of provinces which are more concerned 
with provincial concerns than any sort of national solution.  In effect, 
the representatives to the federal goverment have become ambassadors and 
the provincial delegations have become embassies.

     The main question that continues to come up is how to go about 
arriving at a statement of national identity and purpose that won't 
offend anyone.  This is *never* going to happen.  No matter what happens, 
someone will be offended.  But that is the heart of democracy.  The 
purpose of a central government is to review those competing demands and 
arrive at a solution that is the most equitable to all.  But in Canada 
today, equitable has come to mean that each regional bloc has to gain 
more than the others or there is no equity.  Along with this is a 
distrust of the federal government which suggests that each region or 
province is more capable of deciding what is in its best interests than 
Ottawa, while showing little concern as to whether those interests are 
detrimental to the nation as a whole.

     This cannot continue if Canada is to maintain any sort of national 
cohesiveness.  A decision on what constitutes the Canadian national 
identity and social and political culture has to be made, and that 
decision must be implemented.  The other alternative is the Balkanization 
of the nation, with all the attendent problems that will come with it.  

     To a certain extent that has already begun.  The west demands 
control of decisions regarding its natural resources; Quebec demands 
control of virtually everything.  Quebec and Ontario demand that they be 
the first among equals in political matters.  It can't continue, folks, 
if you think the country is worth saving.  There has to be some sort of 
consensis regarding your national identity, and it has to be allowed to 
take hold.  If Quebec decides to leave, so be it.  Within a decade it 
will be so thoroughly dominated by the U.S. that it will have no desire 
to maintain an independent stance; or if it does, it will give up 
everything it fought so hard to attain.  

     One of the main battles fought by this country under the Articles of 
Confederation dealt with states staking claims to large areas of the 
"west", as it existed in those days.  But one by one they agreed to drop 
those claims and settle into established borders.  In the same way, 
Canada's provinces must agree to compromise in order to form a stronger 
union.  If that is not done, the country will wind up fragmented, and 
complete and final domination by the U.S. will occur.  

     It's up to you; there's not a lot we down here can do about it 
except watch as you tear yourselves apart.  Either get with the program 
and discover why you care about your country as a whole, or it will 
disintegrate from under you.  And as far as I'm concerned, that would be 
a serious loss to the world.  You've got a damn fine country; stop the 
bickering and work to bring it together.

-Bob

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