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Constitutional Crisis

Reaction to letters on the ‘‘ Constitutional Crisis’’

I hesitated before writting this letter but I felt I had

to finally answer the question: ‘‘ What does Quebec want?’’ Which is the basic notion under that whole idea of acrisis. In UPEI, you may go onif you want, claiming that there is no real crisis going on; but not in Quebec province and therefore not in the rest of the country which will inevitably be influenced by it.

It did not start ‘‘as soos as’’ Meech Lake. It did not start in 1980. It started far more ago than that: 1763 tells yousomething? Since then, no matter what Quebecers will do (economically, culturally, techno- logically...), they will always be the ‘‘loosers’’, the second ones besides you anglo winners.

We do not want to tear Canada apart; we do not want a war ora fight with ours nieghbours.

We want to re-gain that pride and equality feeling towards you, and toward ourselves. We want to look ourselves in the mirror and be able to say:

**I did not ask for it. They did not give it to me. I did it myself, on my own. It’s all mine.’’

Because we are not ‘‘Canadian’’ under the same definition that you, because we no more (or never did?) speak the same language, because we do not have the same goals; we can only thrive under Quebecers from Quebec, with the full country mean- ing of it.

That is the real ‘‘crisis’’ upon me and, as wise as you May say he is, Mulroney won’t find as answer to it before next elections.

Quebecoise in UPEI

COMMENTARY

THE CANADA ROUND

Last week the federal minister of unemployment and immigration, Bernard Valcour was at the pit to talk to UPEI students about Canada’s new constitutional reforms. But ifa stranger had come to the meeting halfway through they would have never known the purpose of the gathering.

Valcour spoke eloquently and from the heart on the reforms and the future of Canada. He spoke of this of being the Canada Round, not the Quebec Round. While Valcour realises how a firm contitution is necessary as a base for the country if it wants to serve the everyday needs ofall Canadians but the students at this university don’t seem to care about that.

When question and answer time came, UPEI students hounded the minister on the closing of the Canada Emplymnet Centre on campus. I consider this narrowminded and bordering on selfish. I realize the employment centre is important to hundreds of stu- dents but I don’t consider this meeting the time or the place forit. The rights guaranteed to all Canadians and the staying together of ourcountry should be the first concerns of everyone.

When you don’t know where your next paycheck is coming from, you don’t have enough money forthe next semesters tuition and you are down to your last package of kraft dinner, I know worrying about the constitution is the last thing on your mind. But considering it is the country supplying us with wel- fare, medicare, and unemployment insurance, maybe it’s worth the time to worry. Bob Rae’s social charter could sound good now. Ifanyone from UPEI cares what that is.

Colleen Easter

October 3, 1991

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