Posted on 10/30/2005 8:24:39 AM PST by Heartofsong83
EDITORIAL: Fuelling the separatists' fire
According to Jean Chretien, today is the day that inspired him to come up with the federal sponsorship program, otherwise known as AdScam.
After all, the former prime minister has always insisted that it was the narrow defeat of the separatists exactly 10 years ago today in the second Quebec referendum that prompted him to develop the sponsorship program.
His brilliant idea? To fly the Canadian flag and display the Canadian logo prominently in Quebec in order to help keep Canada united.
And we all know how that turned out.
On Tuesday, Judge John Gomery will release the findings of his inquiry into the sponsorship scandal in which hundreds of millions of our tax dollars went AWOL.
We'll have more to say about that later in the week, but today, let's remind ourselves of the sheer stupidity of this argument, the key one Chretien has always made in attempting to justify the sponsorship mess.
That is that, as he himself famously described it a few years ago, while a few million dollars may have been stolen, it was worth it to keep Canada united.
Similarly, Prime Minister Paul Martin continues to argue today that despite the Liberal political corruption exposed by AdScam -- which of course he blames on the Chretien era -- the Liberals are still the only party capable of keeping Quebec from separating.
Well, sorry, but when these two start babbling like this, no matter how much they don't like each other, we're reminded of the old story of two kids who murder their parents and then ask the court for mercy because they're orphans.
First, who was it who almost lost the country in 1995 because he initially took the Quebec referendum far too lightly, failed to anticipate the key role played by Lucien Bouchard, and by the time of the vote, seemed like pretty much of an emotional basket case? That's right. Chretien.
Second, who launched the sponsorship program at the very time separatist fires in Quebec were dying down after two failed referendum attempts? That's right. Chretien.
Third, who, after launching the program, according to his testimony before Gomery, left it up to others to make sure it was achieving the desired goals? That's right. Chretien.
Fourth, what disasterously-run federal program almost single-handedly revived the political fortunes of the separatist Bloc Quebecois in Quebec? That's right. AdScam.
Finally, what's the split between sovereignist and federalist supporters today in Quebec, compared to 1995?
Well, 10 years ago the "No" side defeated the "Yes" side by a margin of 50.6% to 49.4%. Meanwhile, a Strategic Counsel poll released last week showed if the same question was asked in Quebec today, 48% would vote "Yes" compared to 47% voting "No," with 5% undecided.
So how can the Liberals possibly claim to be the only party that can keep Canada united, when it's their own actions that keep tearing us apart?
another one for the pinglist
Yes! My sinister plot to detatch Quebec from Canada, so that we can then conquer it, administer it as a territory, and suck its resources dry, is working!
The only thing I can think of when I approach Quebec separatism is "Vive le Quebec libre!". Once they get out it may force Ontario to be marginally less leftist, or it can pull itself up by ousting all socialist separatists and electing free-marketers (just as what happened to Slovakia), or better yet it triggers a domino effect in which the West secedes, leaving Ontario as the rump.
Is it possible that the Liberals are the only ones who want to keep the Frenchies in the club?
If so, they are doing a horrible job at it...
I have a tendency to say "just join the States now", and get it over with!
Canada (or lack thereof) ping!
Please FReepmail me to be added to or removed from this Canada ping list.
The financial tentacles are so deeply embedded into Quebec now that they have no other choice.
Okay, bumping this to the top so I can respond when I'm not so tired and can actually add to the the discussion.
I recently got a job with a small town English-language newpaper. I'm sure my editor never expected to hire a Republican, LOL!
Anyway...I would like to study this issue more before posting on its substance.
What can I say? I'm a political junkie. If I can't have Rush, I'll have Yves DuCharmes v. Marc Bureau. ;)
Okay I guess I gave myself away. ;)
Become a 24/7 member.
Somedays, listening to Rush is the only way I know the whole planet hasn't gone mad.
;-)
You've convinced me. I'm going to have to do it, especially because I'd love to hear what he has to say today. :)
Good for you, you'll love it!
I'm sure that did lots to dissuade Quebec nationalists of any impressions that Canada is an occupation force...
As an American, to any western Canadian provinces that wish to join us, I say, welcome!
"As an American, to any western Canadian provinces that wish to join us, I say, welcome!"
No, no, no! Even the western provinces, though Alberta to a lesser degree, have been addled by nanny state socialism. Were the three western provinces admitted as states you'd have an immediate influx of ready made democrats and a few RINOs thrown in all carping for their beloved state controlled health care and maybe tipping the political balance towards the liberals. Western Canadians, hoping and wishing for decades to run their own lives rather than be treated like step-children by Ottawa, would, I presume, rather take their own reins rather than be swallowed up in the American goliath.
The better solution would be that Alberta, Saskatchwan and British Columbia seceded and formed their own nation---one that would be instantly viable and prosperous given Alberta's huge energy resources, Saskatchwan/Alberta's agricultural base and British Columbia's world class port facilities. I also believe that a new western confederation would be demonstrably more pro-American in it's policies than the current iterration of Canada controlled by Ontario.
I've read recently that the separatists already have a name picked out.
Three cheers to the people of western Canada and--Onward Cascadia!
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