IN OR OUT

 

IN OR OUT

 

Despite the recent outpouring of support for a strong and united Canada, from elbows up to a display of national fervor that has never been this strong, there still have been provincial rumblings of discord and even separation talk.  True, from the comments flowing from the lips of an American president and his entourage, we have every reason to be concerned.  The sizeable landmass of our nation doesn’t equate with the ability to support our independence with a great deal of force.  Standing up to a former staunch ally and trading partner is a bit like David minus his slingshot taking on an erratically behaving Goliath.  David would be forced to smooth talk his way out of it, rather than placing a well-aimed shot.  Personally I think the David story was just that, a nice little parable to illustrate how sometimes the underdog can come out on top.  We have our hockey rivalry and sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.  But I wouldn’t put any bets on Canada’s ability to take on the US in a real nasty spat, kind of like a mouse sharing a nuptial bed with an elephant and you keep your little paws crossed that the sucker doesn’t roll over.

No, despite all that national togetherness there were rumblings in Alberta with its premier floating the possibility of separating.  Every now and then a spat erupts between provinces and the federal government.  I hail from a family of twelve and therefore I can sympathize with the ripples of discord that can erupt with great regularity.  Everybody wants attention and we’re so eager to point a finger at a preferred or spoiled sibling.

Anyway, I sometimes approach the subject matter for a potential article by asking questions.  When it comes to provincial relations and how we interact with the federal government (mom and dad), how did the nation develop?  What were some of the benefits for joining in a partnership?

The following answers came to mind.  How about large national projects initiated by the federal government?  Railroads, highways, bridges, ports, airports, pipelines, industrial infrastructure projects, transfer payments.  Just to name a few.

How about some of the social benefits we all enjoy.  Universal healthcare, pensions, army and security forces, trade agreements negotiated to open up world markets to Canadian goods.  Just to name a few.

Next question.  What would provinces gain from independence?  I mention the plural because it should be answered by all of us and not just the predictable culprits and those who have been at it for decades.  What would they lose?  All of them are kind of vague when it comes to trade and border issues, to a division of debts.  And what about defense and security?  What about currency?  Would separation open up trade and prosperity or restrict it?

Can you pick and choose as to what you want to keep and what you want to separate from?  In other words, kind of like cherry picking independence.  Next question—I hope you feel slightly uncomfortable now—would provinces be better off on their own or would we be stronger as a whole?  Would it be really fair to the others with one foot in and one foot out?

As a nation we’re kind of unique because we hail from diverse backgrounds and although we’ve had our share of skirmishes, none of them have been fatal or extremely destructive.  We’ve kind of embraced diversity and made it work.  Without beating each other up or maintaining grudges.  We use dialogue and appreciate our democratic principles and approaches.  And yes, not always smoothly or satisfactory to all parties.  Our gruesome twelve didn’t always agree either, but we made it work, even grudgingly so.

The answer is kind of simple.  We’re as weak or as strong as the sum of all our parts.  It is up to all of us to make it work.  Throughout our history, from our humble beginnings to the present, we have had our moments.  We have had our hay-days and maydays.  Some things are unique to each province and it makes them who they are and how they identify and we’re smart enough to recognize and respect distinct differences.  Our multi-party political system may seem unworkable at times and defy logic, but we have proven time and time again that when push comes to shove, we stand together as one. 

Fortunes come and go and nothing stays the same forever.  There are a multitude of factors that can impact the development of a province, positively and negatively; distance, geographical isolation, population density, proximity to industrial and trade centers, transportation; canals, lakes, oceans, ports, roads; the ups and downs in industry and global competition.  Nothing in our lives stays the same forever and advantages may disappear or vanish altogether and new opportunities may arise or not.  The vagaries of prosperity and success!

But we have succeeded remarkably well by concentrating on the unique needs of every province and by assisting them when they needed our help the most.  It is the rather ambiguous role of a federal government (mom and dad) to remain fair, considerate and respectful.  We should not forget that not a single one of us looks the same and thinks alike.  Getting along amongst ourselves is bad enough, but it gets even worse when you decide to make politics your life and you’re right in the thick of all the changes and challenges that take place.

Guided by our humanity and a strong belief in our shared values and common goals will allow us to remain strong and committed to each other.  I hope I’ve made a case for ONE Canada!

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