Martin Is Endangering Unity

The premise on which you base your argument Anonymous is incorrect. Canada is not a Confederation. I repeat, Canada IS NOT a Confederation. If Canada had maintained its end of the deal with Québec, it would not have to constantly 'deal' with Québec's incessant demands for more control over its society and destiny. Over the years and decades, Canada centralized and acquired more and more powers to the detriment of the original signatories of the Confederation treaty. Canada is today a federation and it has become so without the 'distinct' approval of Québec, one of the signatories of the Confederation agreement. You don't even have to question yourself any further than this to know the reason why Québec has refused to sign any other constitutional accord ever since. Canada changes the rules as it pleases and some of us don't agree and speak up about it.<p> Here is a short explanation of what a confederation is versus a federation:</p><p> <b>Confederation</b></p> A form of government in which the major geographical subdivisions of the country have their own governmental organizations that retain numerous independent rights of policy-making and decision that may not be overridden by the central government, and in which the central government's rights of policy-making and decision are severely restricted. The distinction between a federation and a confederation is not always easy to make, but generally speaking, confederations assign much more limited powers to the central government than do federations -- typically only national defense and foreign relations, plus a few other minor functions. One practical criterion often used as the key to distinguishing federations from confederations is that in the latter the central government does not have direct taxing or enforcement authority over individual citizens but rather must depend upon the regional governments to provide its revenues and give effect to its laws governing individuals.

Sorry Anonymous, I've just noticed you are not the author of this comment. But by calling Canada a confederation, Mr Gwyn certainly is in the dark if not in the park.

Canada was always a federation. The term confederation was used frequently in the parlance at the time the British North American colonies federated. They said 'confederation' but they knew they were creating a federation.

Most pundits realise Canada is not a true confederation. Mr. Gwyn is most likely just using confederation in its colloquial sense, not in the formal political science definition sense.

Exactly ! Canada was never a confederation and MacDonald used the term as a ruse in order to bring members into discussions. It sure sounds good though doesn't it ? A confederation that wasn't is closer to the truth. <p> The same concept applies to "Canadian Unity". Martin is not endangering anything because there is no Canadian unity to speak of and there never was except maybe in those same Canadian minds who probably think Canada is a confederation. Canada never was a confederation and never was united. Naming it thus does not make it so. In modern terms, it is called doublespeak or just plain propaganda.

Use subjecive linguistic arguments all you want, but the important thing is Canada is a country, with 10 provinces and 3 territories. Amen.

Of course MArin endangers unty. All of our politicians do, with their carelessness, incompetence and greed, evenevilness. Even Jack Layton is a threat to unity.

Object: Canada is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories
Are these 10 provinces and 3 territories united in their vision and loyalty towards a centralized federated Canada ?
The answer is NO.
There is nothing subjective in my answer. The rest is all day dreaming and wishful thinking. How can you endanger something which doesn't exist except in someone's fantasy world ?
Unity is or isn't. There can be no middle ground here. The only chance Canada has to remain a 'federated' nation is through accomodation of its "un-united" elements.

One additional comment. According to the opinion offered above, Canadians who do not share the same unified vision of the nation are evil, greedy, incompetent and careless. Is that what passes as objective reasoning ?

You might as well build lots of concentration camps and intern all those evildoers. That way, you'll have the Canada you want. (this is what's called subjectivity with a dash of sarcasm)

I think you`ll find the majority of Canadians from coast to coast do feel united as Canadians. For most of us, we are not 'Albertans' first, or 'Ontarians' first. We are Canadian! And yes, the small but wealthy minority who are regionalists seek to balkanize Canada because then it is that much easier to 'divide and conquer' and subsequently sell Canada out to the USA and the corporations.

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Dave Ruston

Ignore the fools, Dave. The CIA is having a slow drug-running day. Anonymous fools.

Yeah, you`re right! I wonder where the coke that was in one of Martin`s CSL ( Canada Sweatship lines) ships was headed before someone actually did their job and seized it!

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Dave Ruston