Klein warns Ottawa of separation threat

[Starchild]

Canada's just the Empire of Ontario anyway and Ontario is just the Empire of Toronto. The Albertoamericans should be glad we haven't revealed the truth behind the CN tower. That it's actually the centre of a giant parabolic dish that will one day be used to microwave the West.

[Wezil]

"I don't want to get off on a rant here..."

Well those emotions may feel great to express, they don't do **** to counter seraratism. I don't defend them, I share your sentiments but I suspect yours is the sort of reaction they are after in the first place. Don't play their game.

[KrazyHorse]

I'm not really worried about separatism as an actual possibility in the sestruction of Canada. 10 years ago I would have been.

Tingkai's comments are right on the money about Quebec. 40 years ago, liberal (not Liberal!) that I am I'd probably have voted for Quebec's independence. The separatist movement was always a dying quail. The people of Quebec were awakening politically, but at the same time they were being treated more like equals as time went on. So the number of people who were willing to vote for something new was growing, but the base of really angry people was always dropping. IMO, the threat's basically passed now.

[Wezil]

Quebec demographics are less favourable to the option today but it still doesn't help to get angry and yell at them to shut up......

I was reminded of the rednecks in Ontario tromping on the Quebec flag before the last neverendum.

[Ozz]

Originally posted by Tingkai
What we should do with these stupid separatist is give them a swift kick in the butt and make them look at reality.

No one is going to stop them.

We should stop catering to them, Quebec sucks $$$
in from Ottawa by being separtist. Seems Ralph wants
to get some threat/blackmail money too.

No one will miss them eithier.

[Flubber]

If you are going to do a senate totally proportional to population, why bother ? Thats what the House of Commons is and to replicate the same regional proportions is simply duplication for no added benefit.

If you want a Senate, then the idea is that it should do something other than simply be a reflection of the House. In the US they choose to make it a place for regional represenatation and places like California and New York simply accept that they get the same number of senators as Alaska.

Canadian politics is all about Ontario and Quebec. Western Alienation ??? Try coming from the east where the economy sucks and you have no voice at all to stop it . . . where it seems that the interests of the entire region are sacrificed for a few more auto jobs in Ontrario or textile jobs in Quebec and then the federal government trys to act as if it is caring as it creates some other stupid program to " assist" the region. This is the feeling in the East where the feds have jurisdiction over the fishery and seem to be only too willing to trade fishing quotas to foreign nations in return for trade benefits for other industries.

Oh and PEI's 4 seats changes the proportional balance so little that it is irrelevant in the big picture. If we are talking effective representation, I am sure that there are more diverse issues for the representative whose district involves thousands of square kilometres and 70,000 people than the one representing 10 square blocks of a city and 140,000 people. Also federal jurisdiction over almost anything to do with the ocean means that coastal areas see the feds more heavily involved in the most vital industries that affect people. So pardon the offense of PEI DARING to have 4 representatives in the house.



Bottom line is that Ontario and Quebec will NEVER accept the dimunation of power that a Senate mandated to protect regional interests will involve. So I say scrap the fogey- farm that is now the Senate and move on. It does not make me happy but it is a reality

[Wezil]

Most Quebecers never really wanted separation - the threat was prosperous. Won't work for Alberta since they have little Constitutional power. Alberta separatists can't play the extortion game to the same degree. The only real danger is if enough Albertans desire to leave. Highly unlikey as I've stated earlier.

edit:

Flubber - I'll take reform or abolition - the Senate in its current form is no good and has to go.

While I understand your point regarding federal jurisdiction encroaching on significant aspects of life in the Atlantic provinces, most provinces could cite similar encroachments. Simply having the status of 'province' confers MANY benefits one could argue such a small number of people should not have.....

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Frogger
I'm not really worried about separatism as an actual possibility in the sestruction of Canada. 10 years ago I would have been.

Tingkai's comments are right on the money about Quebec. 40 years ago, liberal (not Liberal!) that I am I'd probably have voted for Quebec's independence. The separatist movement was always a dying quail. The people of Quebec were awakening politically, but at the same time they were being treated more like equals as time went on. So the number of people who were willing to vote for something new was growing, but the base of really angry people was always dropping. IMO, the threat's basically passed now.

I would not say that it is passed.

[Ozz]

Originally posted by Wezil
Quebec demographics are less favourable to the option today but it still doesn't help to get angry and yell at them to shut up......

He's right, should take a re-FER-END-EM by County in Quebec and run any separtist county out on a rail.
They'll end up with a enclave around Quebec City and
we'll save millions on dumping official French policys.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Wezil
Most Quebecers never really wanted separation - the threat was prosperous.

I would tend to agree that "most" Quebecers never wanted separation, the results of the referendums support that.
But if you want to believe that separation is only a tool used to extort funds out of Ottawa, well, you keep on believing that.
But remember that it would have taken only one word from Bourassa back in 91-92 and he would have had around 70% for a Yes vote.

[Wezil]

But that would not have been prosperous.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Wezil
But that would not have been prosperous.

[Ozz]

Originally posted by Richelieu


I would tend to agree that "most" Quebecers never wanted separation, the results of the referendums support that.

But if you want to believe that separation is only a tool used to extort funds out of Ottawa, well, you keep on believing that.

But remember that it would have taken only one word from Bourassa back in 91-92 and he would have had around 70% for a Yes vote.

51/49 last vote wasn't it.

De Havalind aircraft.

What word?

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Ozz


51/49 last vote wasn't it.

De Havalind aircraft.

What word?

60/40 in 80. 51/49 in 95. (Getting scared ?)
De Havilland aircrafts ? What about them ? Should we compare which province in the history of this country has been the most favored by the Federal government ? Can you really have any doubts about that?
The word was yes.

[Ozz]

Originally posted by Richelieu
60/40 in 80. 51/49 in 95. (Getting scared ?)
De Havilland aircrafts ? What about them ? Should we compare which province in the history of this country has been the most favored by the Federal government ? Can you really have any doubts about that?
The word was yes.

No, Just refering to your "most" don't, a hell of alot do.

Scared? I fiqure Quebec is about as big a drag on Canada as it is a benefit. Naturally I don't want to
see a civil war over Ungava and the south shore.

Newfoundland.

It was supposed to be a open bidded contract, Are you
defending political corruption of equality of Canadians?

I think it would have been "oui", yes would have bombed.

If he could have said oui and been the first president of Quebec, he would have. A yes vote would really cause
a lot of trouble, you don't honestly think Canada will
trash itsself for an Independant Quebec's sake.