Millstone of United Canada
 

Leading on from what I just read in the dual citizenship thread...

I didn't realise the Newfies wanted out too (know all about the Quebecois urge to escape.) What is it so many Canadians dislike that much about being together in a Federal Canada?

AFAIK Ontario is the fiscal powerhouse of the country (maybe Alberta close behind or maybe now ahead with commodity prices being the way they are) and I understood that from a provincial point of view Ontarian taxpayers 'subsidise' the other provinces to a certain extent...

Surely then they should be the ones wanting out?!?!

Makes no sense to me... Maybe someone will enlighten me?

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Its all lost in the mists of time...The francos were oppresed by the brits for the longest time, and before that were there in practical terms their own nation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_...ignty_movement


The newfies only joined the confederation in the late 40s anyway, and now they have a load of oil revenue of their own they want to keep it. AFAIK the Newfie seperatists are a prety small minority, hardly in danger of acheiving there goal, but its a usefull tactic to get the feds to ease up on their revenue demands.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2005/higgins063005.htm

If you ask me it comes down to economics. Confederation is great if you are on the receiving end of the equalisation payments, but when you find a source if independent wealth, its natural to not want to share.

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Yeah I'm familiar with the Quebecois siuation ;) Went to the fort on Île Sainte-Hélène in Montreal on my first visit there and had a great laugh at the British declaration of war against the "vile and perfidious" French :D
Couple of people I know can't wait for another vote on seccession as apparently it makes house prices in Montreal take a dive - so they can afford to invest :eek:

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Yep, great way to trade up the ladder ;-)
Referendum? bring it on.

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

That's a tad simplistic. Newfoundland was the last province to join Canada as late as 1949. Prior to then it was a dominion of the British empire. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_of_Newfoundland ). So within living memory of many Newfoundlanders they were more British (or Irish) than Canadian. That feeling still pervades the place. Newfoundland and Newfoundlanders have an extremely strong identity compared to say Ontario. (whose identity is basically 'we're almost America' ;) )

The 'what if we hadn't joined Canada' question/feeling is driven by a number of things. Sure the oil resources now being tapped into is one but there are others - specifically the fishery and perceived mis-management by Ottowa for greater Canadian benefits as opposed to the livelyhood of those that depend on it, together with being shafted by Quebec over the Lower Churchil hydro project, losing most federal jobs and being the butt of many Canadian jokes!

The comparison oft made is with Iceland that became an independent state around the same time, has similar geography & economy is arguably much more successful. The popular myth (leastways round here it's considered a myth) is that Newfoundland is supported by and a drain on the rest of Canada. A local newspaper published a fairly in depth piece of analysis to debunk this theory http://www.theindependent.ca/pdf/Cos...ethodology.pdf if anyone is interested.

In reality, Newfoundland jingoism is an effective tool for politicians (witness Danny Williams throwing his toys out of the pram over equalisation and the Atlantic Accord) and the talk of independence is great over a few drinks. But it'll never happen. Which is a little bit of a shame................ ;)

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

I'd guess that, if any part of Canada ever separates, it'll be Alberta.

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Charles DeGaulle told the people of Quebec to get out of a Federal Canada years ago, and since then they have been trying to separate. If the people in Quebec want to go there own way, then let them. It will cause less problems for Canadians in the future. Quebec can become a French province or whatever, and they can fund Quebec.

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Remarkable that no one in Quebec thought of it first.

How so?

Wouldn't it be easier for the people of Quebec to move to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon?

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Except for the loss of one of the more economically productive provinces, the loss of a distinctive part of what makes canada canada, and the practicalities of having a country with a large hole in it between the atlantic provinces and the rest of the country.

Maybe we should just cut the atlantic provinces adrift too, as they are just a drain on resources too :rolleyes:

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

And Hamilton.

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Maybe just Hamilton, at first, as an experiment:)

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Quebec has been threatening to cecede for decades, and if they really want to leave a Federal Canada then better sooner than later. I seem to remember Ottawa making deals with Quebec in order to make them stay part of Canada, but most Canadians I have spoken to including my own family who live in Windsor Ont, say that they could'nt care less if Quebec goes its own way. It was a big insult to Canada though when French President Charles DeGaulle visited Canada back in the 70's and basically told the people of Quebec to cecede.

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

French and Insult - It's like Fish and Chips, Laurel and Hardy, Mutton and Jeff etc....

They're just fed-up because no one in the world wants to speak their language anymore..well not since about 1814 anyway. ;)

Let's face it. When the Chinese decide that English is their defacto second langauge then French hasn't got a hope and their a wee bit peeved and have decided to throw all the toys out of the pram. :p

Do what the nanny on TV does: give them Quebec as a designated 'Time-out' space, shut the door for 5 minutes and ignore the screaming. Then open it up, invite calm chastened franco-child back down stairs (i.e. into confederation) for Jelly and Pop. :D

It may work!!!! I await the screaming and abuse but be warned: I may put away the fizzy drinks and cake if you're bad.

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

But, even if we accept that as being true, if Quebec were to secede, how would it cause less problems for Canadians in the future?

Re: Millstone of United Canada
 

Out of what? Most Ontarioians think Canada is in Ontario. Ontarioians generally don't really know or care that there are other provinces and territories in Canada, besides Quebec. They're generally like the stereotyped 'dumb American' with an insular perception of the rest of Canada and the world; they don't have to know or care cos they have the political clout. I think most Canadians outside of Ontario would prefer that the 49th parallel, in terms of an international boundary, went straight east from Manitoba through Ontario.

Have you heard of Republic of Cascadia? Aboriginal Nation States/Nationalism? Alberta, USA? The Nine Nations of North America?

Canada will stay as is until any changes to Canadian Tire money force people to reconsider.