OH CANADA

Last week I mentioned, in my article on the "Bear Pit" with two M.P.'s from Ottawa, the idea of the possibility of the irrationality of the Canadian nation. The react- ion I received from the article was-AMAZING! Why? 'Most people, it seems, have never questioned the being of Canada.

Remembering that P.E.I. was maverick in 1867 con— cerning the idea of con- federation, I was surpris- ed by the dogmatic app— roach most people have here toward the Canadian nation. Is it that easy to forget that P.E.Ia had a relative- ly better economic position in relation/to North Amer-, ica then, than it does now? The leaders of P.E.I. knew what was happening back then better than the present lead- ers know what is happening now. The leaders then, knew for instance, that the lead- ers of Canada wanted the Maritime region as an econ- omic buffer to hold things together while "forced \ growth" could be planned and executed on the St. Lawrence River Valley,(the 'Western valley). They knew what they were getting in exchange for this con- tract — a better integra— ted railway system.

In retrospect the Marit- ime region received the "screw"! The Maritimes? trade was based on ship— ping on the high seas.

It is common knowledge that transport via high seas is marketly cheap-

er than any other form of transportation. The region did not need railways Con- necting it with Canada. The St. Lawrence River‘served as an excellent passageway to'Canada if, in fact, there was need to export to Canada. The Maritimes had good trade with New England and the west Ind— ies so that export to Canada was not an urgent necessity. ‘

.No — it was not the Mar— itimes who needed the rail- way network: it Was Canada. It was the economy of cen-

ngHficADRE, TUES.,JOCT.' 23, 1973

tral North America that demanded railways: and if railways were to be finan— cially successful they needed to include all poss— ible regions of economic activity, including the maritimes. ..

So much for history, — what of today!

Similar arguments for staying out of Canada exist now as they did some one hundred years ago. For ex- ample, inflation is rampag- ing the Maritime economy - why? Not because we have over—developed and over- spent our area and resourc-

She’sGoing Fast

es but because Ontario has over-developed and over- spent her area and resourc— es. It is a fact that Mar- itimes are paying, through inflation, for something they have never received - namely big economic develop- ment. we are paying for mis- takes made outside our de-' cision-making reach: which

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oncern

by joe] ha I'ISén‘

brings us to the crux of the argument supporting the irrationality of the Canadian nation as it now exists. Due to Canada's geographic expanse decis- ions concerning the future cannot be made to the sat-I isfaction of the individ- ual regions within the parameters of the nation.

But what of a more basic and important aspect of the Canadian approach to political decision—mak— ing namely citizen dem- ocracy? Is it possible to conduct citizen democracy on such mass terms as is entailed in the Canadian nation? I think not. In Canada the electorate is so diverse in region, cul- ture and economy that they cannot be properly called a similar electorate or an electorate with common int- erests. Therefore, if the ideal of citizen-democracy is to have any meaning it cannot be conducted on the scale the Canadian nation attempts. Decision—making (political autonomy) needs to be placed in a more local arena if citizen—dem— ocracy is to be made tang- ible. Economic planning must be done on a more reg— ional level: there cannot be a "national economic _ policy" for all of Canada for, in reality, there are several nations in this one country of Canada.

Is it necessary and right for Maritimers to pay TAX and HOMAGE to a central authority that does them more harm than good? -’that

is the question!

The next time some fast talking federal politic- ians come to U.P.E.I. let them answer the question, Is there a real Canadian nation? If they answer "Yes" they must be as stoned drunk as was the big man himself— John A. .MacDonald.

I leave the correctness of my argument to your judgement - but for.God's

nsake make a judgement: You may be surprised at your own conclusions.