Canadian Election: It's On

[joncha]

It's not about the seperatists at all... it's about accepting the right of Quebecois to self-determination.

Their right, their question, their answer.

[notyoueither]

How about an honest question, and not an attempt to hi-jack the province based on deceit?

Do you think that elected officials can never do anything less than upstanding? Why do you think that ROC should not have a formulated position on the question?

[joncha]

The point is, who gets to decide on the "honest question"? Why would a question from the RoC be any more or less honest than one from Quebec?

Again, the point is it's Quebec's question to ask and answer.

[notyoueither]

And the ROCs to ask whether it was an honest question. There are more interests at stake than just those of Quebecers, as the SCC has mentioned.

[notyoueither]

Or maybe the GoAlberta could ask Albertans, 'are you mildly annoyed with Ottawa and do you approve of us doing something about it?'

Such a question would receive something in the vicinity of 85% yes. Our surprise then when the GoA declared independence unilaterally.

[joncha]

And how, pray tell, would Albertans react to the declaration in your caricature?

My guess is it wouldn't work. Same is true in Quebec.

You're second-guessing the mental capacity of the Quebec electorate. I'm second-guessing the Federal government's intentions in overseeing the referendum process.

[Agathon]

Has anyone accused Harper of wanting to put Canadian troops at US beck and call yet?

It's a sure fire vote getter that one.

[cinch]

THe 1995 Question:

"Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Quebec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995, Yes or No?"

Is it 'sovereign' or is it 'a new economic and political partnership'? The question can't even make up it's mind, how are the people supposed to?

[Asher]

Most Canadians don't give a **** about a few hundred troops in Iraq, which is why the focus is on more immediate, domestic issues like health care.

[cinch]

AND that's assuming that everyone read copies of the 'agreement signed on June 12', to know the particulars...

[joncha]

It's both, cinch.

Make an offer for a new federal partnership. If it's rejected, declare independence. Sounds clear enough to me.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by joncha
And how, pray tell, would Albertans react to the declaration in your caricature?

My guess is it wouldn't work. Same is true in Quebec.

You're second-guessing the mental capacity of the Quebec electorate. I'm second-guessing the Federal government's intentions in overseeing the referendum process.

One would hope that a majority would be against it. Trouble is that the proper place to have that decided is in the actual vote, and not the kvetching about misleading questions and examination of entrails after the fact.

Canada loses nothing by having a clearly stated position on succession. It is a damn sight better than having endless questions hanging over our heads in the lead up to and in the campaigns for such votes.

Ask a clear question. That is all that is required.

[notyoueither]

Multiple choice by vote:

Should we do a, and failing that do b?

How the hell do you know what the electorate voted for? Maybe they wanted a so they voted for that while not intending to support b.

And where the hell is 'unilateral independece' in the question actually asked? If it had been there, the Yes's would have been lucky to get 30%. Why do you think they won't put a straight question to the voters?

[joncha]

I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree, NYE. We're just arguing past each other at this point.

Now... what do you think of this?

http://www.cbc.ca/story/election/national/news/2004/05/27/reid_bilingualism040527.html

Conservative language critic resigns
Last Updated Fri, 28 May 2004 16:36:40 EDT
WINNIPEG - Scott Reid has resigned as the Conservative Party's official languages critic after saying bilingual services would be reduced if the Conservatives form the next government.

The Ottawa-area candidate made the announcement late Thursday night in a one-line news release.

"I have resigned as the Conservative Party critic for official languages," he said in the release.

The announcement came after he told a Moncton newspaper that Canada's bilingualism policies need a major overhaul. Reid told the Moncton Times and Transcript that a Conservative government would remove the federal government's obligation to offer bilingual services in some areas of the country.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper immediately distanced himself from the comments, saying they did not reflect the party stance.

Harper reprimanded Reid over the statements, adding the party would maintain the Official Languages Act.

During a campaign stop in St. Boniface, Winnipeg's French quarter, Harper told reporters, "They're his views. But, as I said, they are not party policy."

On Tuesday Harper told a Montreal audience that French would be a national priority in Quebec and across Canada.

Reid, who wrote about the rising costs associated with bilingualism in his book, Lament for a Nation: The Life and Death of Canada's Bilingual Dream, issued an earlier statement on Thursday saying his views were personal and not those of the party.

Liberal Leader Paul Martin, who is fluently bilingual, took the opportunity to emphasize the differences between the two parties on such a critical issue.

"If anybody has to ask is there a difference of opinion as to the kind of Canada that we want and the kind of Canada Mr. Harper wants, I think that this is an indication of what that's all about," Martin said in Victoria.

"I support official bilingualism. I support it unequivocally. I support minority language rights and I support them unequivocally."

In 1969 the government of Pierre Trudeau introduced the Official Languages Act, which stated that both French and English were to be official languages in Canada.

[notyoueither]

I think he should have gone out back and shot himself.

There are issues there that need discussed, but not as a blind side to his party in the midst of a national election.