Canadian National Unity Essay Example For Students

Canadian National Unity Essay Canadian National Unity has been a serious debate to all Canadians for close to three decadesnow. Starting with French President Charles DeGaulle, who in visiting Quebec told a large crowd in Motreal, Vivre le Quebec libre! or, Live in a free Quebec. This one event started the whole modern separtist movement in Canada, and brought us to where we are now. They went from one person with an idea then, to 2 provincial parties, and a federal one as well, now. This is a very serious issue, that could end up in the destuction of an amazing country. Its not like theyre bluffing, weve had two Referendums on this issue (one almost resulting in a Yes vote), and numerous Constitutional meetings to tweak what we live by to be in tune with the wants and needs of many Quebekers, but it hasnt worked to this point, and has been a long, stressful, but interesting affair to this point. A little background is needed in order to understand this whole ordeal. The Parti Quebecois is a provincial party in Quebec City. The party was formed by Ren Lvesque, who was its leader from 1968 to 1982. In that time, the PQ formed the government in Quebec from 1976 to 1982. The next leader was Pierre-Marc Johnson, followed in 1988 by Jacques Parizeau. Mr Parizeau was leader until 1996. During that period, the PQ formed the government from 1994-1996. There was a second referendum on sovereignty in 1995 (cost $63.5 million): 60% to 40%. The current leader of the PQ is Lucien Bouchard. The PQ currently forms the provincial government in Quebec City. The Referendum of 1995 saw one of the closest votes possible as the No side squeaked out with a 50.6% to 49.4% victory. The Bloc Quebecois is a separatist party in the federal Parliament in Ottawa. The party was formed by Lucien Bouchard, who was its leader from 1991 to early 1996. The next leader of the party was Michel Gauthier. After a convention in March, 1997, the next and current leader of the party was Gilles Duceppe.The BQ formed Her Majestys Loyal Opposition in the House of Commons during the last Parliament. However, after the 1997 federal election, after getting 37.7% of Quebecs vote, it lost second place status, and now sits as an official party in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Chrtien sits atop the Federalist side. The longer Mr Chrtien governs, the closer he seems to hold his cards. A very few advisors surround him, giving him aid and have special tasks in order to save the country as a whole. Minister Stphane Dion heads this department, and is also President of the Queens Privy Council for Canada (PCO). He is really the man hired to talk to Bouchard and Duceppe and really save our country from a federal aspect. Minister Anne McLellan handles the hottest potato of all: the Supreme Court Reference on Quebec secession, which is the hallmark of the Feds tough-love Plan B strategy. The decision sets the legal parameters for any further secession attempt a clear referendum question and a clear majority (as opposed to a simple majority of 50% +1) are now the law of the land. The Quebec Liberal Party pro Canadian with a twist of Quebec nationalism, this party went digital in early 1997. Daniel Johnson announced in March, 1998 that he would step down as leader, and Jean Charest has taken his place. The party lost the 1994 provincial election by only a couple percentage points, but actually won the last election in terms of vote percentage a big boost for unity. They currently hold 48 National Assembly seats. Vision Nationale, The new federalist party, led by Jean Briere, will take a stand against any sovereignty referendums, while promoting bilingualism in Quebec. The party opposes distinct society status for the province. Briere wants to tap into the 2.4 million French Quebecers who voted No in the last referendum, and fight a perception in the French media that wanting to stay in Canada is radical, while being a separatist is normal. Throughout the world, Canada is known as a tranquil, economically prosperous, multicultural society. Yet, in one of its provinces, Quebec, a number of people are dissatisfied with Quebecs relationship with the rest of Canada and want to seperate. The issue of seperating is not new, in fact, the Quebecois voted on this very same controversial subject in 1980, ending in a sixty-forty split in favor of the federalists; In the weeks before the 1995 vote the polls showed a fifty-fifty split, marking a clear and true division among both the Anglo phone and Francophone Canadians. To secede would create a state of paralysis leading to an economic crisis the likes of which, Canadians have never before experienced and truly cannot imagine. Therefore Quebec should not separate from Canada. Quebec should remain a part of Canada, due to the fact that the problems facing the Quebecois wouldnt diminish or be resolved. Quebec always has been and always will be a respected, distinct society within Canada, and leaving Canada now would adversely affect more than just the Quebecois. First, the problems facing Quebec would not diminish or be resolved through separation. The economic uncertainties that have plagued Quebec, such as unemployment, high taxes, high government spending, as well as high interest rates would not lessen. Businesses would pull out of Quebec due to concerns over instability, thereby causing a higher rate of unemployment. The rising number of people who would require financial assistance would rise dramatically, swamping, and maybe even surpassing, the governments ability to give aid. Quebec would have to create new bureaucracy to replace current Canadian services that are designed to help improve social pr oblems such as teen pregnancy and elevated drop out rates. Without federal funds, this would prove to be impossible, and in all likelihood such problems would grow. Without a well educated work force Quebec will flounder in the global marketplace, adding a further burden to the government and people. History has proven that, in countries where there is such instability and economic hardship crime rates skyrocket. For years the Quebecois have complained of the repression of the French language and culture, and of unfair treatment by the rest of Canada. Yet ninety percent of French Canadians agree that the French language is more secure now than ever and that English speaking Canadians believe that Quebec always has been and always will be a respected, distinct society within Canada. To prove just how much they value Quebec, the Supreme Court of Canada, in its interpretation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, has recognized Quebecs status as a distinct society, and requires the co nsent of Ottawa and any seven provinces that make up at least fifty percent of the population of Canada to make any changes. even that hasnt stopped Quebecs or rather Parizeaus and numerous others whining. To further placate Quebec, many proposals for change have been suggested, such as, 1) The restoration and formal recognition of Quebecs traditional right to a constitutional veto; 2) Jean Chretien has promised to never allow the constitution to be changed in a way that affects Quebec without their consent. It is obvious to anyone that Canadas willingness to create such changes demonstrates their desire to be a whole country, as well as how inflexible and childish Quebecs leaders really are. Third, leaving Canada would adversely affect beyond just Quebec. The United States, Canada, and Mexico would all be forced to decide whether or not they will accept Quebec into NAFTA, the North American Trade Agreement. Also, Canada would face the possibility of breaking up completely. There ar e no guarantees, predicts Gordon Gibson, author of Plan B: The Future of the Rest of Canada, that there will be only one new country. (If Quebec Goes, pg. 45). The secession of Quebec would separate the Maritime provinces from mainland Canada and a unilateral declaration of independence would most certainly result in a sharp drop in the value of the Canadian dollar, plunging Canada into a terrible recession. Alfred Tennyson was born on August 6th, 1809, at S EssayA third difficulty, expressed by western Canada, would be the feeling of alienation from and dominance by the economic power of Ontario. This feeling of dependence has been put in place by a tarrif policy that forced westerners to buy dear in Toronto and sell cheap east or west, rather than follow the more travelled and profitable lines of commerce that flow north to south. The purpose of this so-called national policy was to jump-start the industrial base in central Canada, but, in the opinion of westerners, at their expense. With the advent of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA, the distortions of trade resulting from tariffs have disappeared, but the feelings of political and economic dependence in the west live on. For example, the federal Liberal Party of Canada has its power base in the industrial heartland of central Canada and is not well-represented west of Winnipeg. After a breakup, the English-speaking r emains of Canada would contain a lopsided distribution of power. Ontario would be like a king, the remaining provinces like slaves, not so much in terms of territory as in industrial capacity and population. Surely western Canada would demand a change of government along the lines of the United States, with an equal Senate and perhaps a more powerful House to lower the strength of the prime minister. But such a change of power within a smaller Canada, and away from Ottawa toward the western provinces, might likewise fail. It might amount to too much sacrifice for central Canada, but not enough gain for Alberta and British Columbia. Politically, an independent Quebec could survive adjustment, capital flight, and exchange-rate fluctuation in the short term and a lessened growth rate over the long term, if at a price. But could it remain whole? On the heels of Quebecs independence, English is the language in the Ottawa River valley, west Montreal, and the Eastern Townships region might attempt to create separate city-states of their own. Also, the Cree and other Indian tribes and Inuit communities reject Quebec independence, either because their lands would be divided by separation, or because they believe that Ottawa looks better than Quebec City on their eventual self-government. Only in the twentieth century was the northernmost section of Quebec, Ruperts Land, formally granted to the province by British imperial authority. Potentially resource-rich, this territory contains such assets as the James Bay hydroelectric project( If Quebec Goes, Pg. 112). If Canada is divisible, then why is Quebec indivisible? If Quebec is indivisible then on what grounds should Canada be obliged to allow Quebecs secession? In an age of mini-states like Singapore and Luxembourg, the minimum requirement for self-government, however compromised, is not very substantial. Seperation of an independent Quebec cannot be ruled out by the possibility of a minimum state size. Washington must be prepared for all possibilities. Seperationn of Canada, depending on its nature and extent, would transfer some of the cost of administration from Ottawa to Washington. Washington increasingly would take on the jobs of peacemaker, rule-maker and police officer. These are not roles that the United States should seek. Nor are they responsibilities Washington would necessarily be able to carry out better than any of the Canadian provinces or the Canadian federal government. To conclude, this issue is still a huge burden on the always awkward Canadian economy. Both the federal and Quebec governments should get down to business with this and figure it all out as best they can, so it wont hurt our country anymore then it already has. All the other Provincial governments should have representatives there, and all get their opinions heard and then come to some sort of a conclusion, so we can get on with it all. If they cant come to some sort an agreement, or theres a stalemate, then fine let them have another referendum, and if that works, great, let them leave, it cant hurt anymore then having them complaining and talking about what they want to do. Really its been a series of threats and no real serious go at seperation, its all a big thing, seeing how far the feds will go before they lose it and say fine, get out of here. All in all, this is Canadas biggest problem to this point and should be solved as soon as possible, because one of the scenarios above is going to happen, and the longer they wait the harder it gets, so someone better go out and take a stranglehold on this whole issue and get it settled, one way or the other, or you could see a great country spiral from the greatest country in the world today, to a sad story in a hurry Only the future can tell, and the politicians have got to come up with the answers, and let the people tell them what is needed, and then maybe we can get on to living, with or without Quebec, well thats what the future is going to tell Works CitedCote, Marcel, and David Johnson. If Quebec Goes Toronto: Stoddart, 1995. Encarta 97. Computer Software. Microsoft, 1996. PC, CD-Rom, 17.1 MB. Geddes, John. A New Departure. MacLeans 15 Feb. 1999: 35. If Quebec goes, Natives might stay- Dion. Chronicle-Herald Halifax, NS 24 Feb. 1998: Page Unknown. Internet Document, An Act respecting the sovereignty of Quebec. http://www.ola.bc.ca/online/cf/documents/sovereignty.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Impact of ruling uncertain. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court5.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Native leaders put spin on a few sentences. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court3.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, PQ claims victory- of a sort. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court2.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Press Release. http://www.premier.gouv.qc.ca/communiques/ca970416.htm, 1 page. Internet Document, Quebec Cant unilaterally separate, Supreme Court rules.http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court1.html, 5 pages. Internet Document, Ruling splits voters in the rest of Canada. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court4.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Signs of desperation in PQ ads. http://www.montrealgazette.com/PAGES/990227/2321105.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Unity Chronology. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court6.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- 21st Century Cheat Sheet. http://www.uni.ca/cheat_sheet.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- Canada after UDI. http://www.uni.ca/udi2.html, 5 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- National History and Perspective. http://www.uni.ca/history.html, 8 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- Team Canada for Unity. http://www.uni.ca/tcu.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Will Canada Unravel? ttp://forum.theglobeandmail.com/globenet/NUdoran.html, 5 pages. Quebec needs OK to separate. Chronicle-Herald Halifax, NS Unknown date, unknown page. The Quebec Question. Chronicle-Herald Halifax, NS 24 Feb. 1998: page unknown.