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My point, Harry, is that Canada is again moving in the
direction of not being able to take a stand that is independent from the
US. Chretien was able to do it even if it was on the basis of his own ego,
but he's leaving the scene.
Ed
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2003 4:09
AM
Subject: RE: Toward a spiritual
renaissance (was RE: [Futurework] Be a good little beaver for Uncle
Sam!)
Ed,
Perhaps the Congo should be a Canadian
priority?
Harry
********************************************
Henry George School of Social
Science
of Los
Angeles
Box 655
Tujunga CA 91042
Tel: 818 352-4141 -- Fax: 818 353-2242
http://haledward.home.comcast.net
********************************************
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ed
Weick
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 1:23 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject:
Re: Toward a spiritual renaissance (was RE: [Futurework] Be a good little
beaver for Uncle Sam!)
Hi Lawry,
Yes, it was me that was wondering if Canada has lost
its way. I'm no longer wondering. If we haven't lost it yet, I'm pretty sure
we are on our way to doing so. I fear that in the next few years we are going
to become increasingly insular, with major attention being given to patching
up federal/provincial differences, which widened significantly under the
Chretien government during the past few years. Chretien's attitude on matters
of federal support to the provinces was to put matters on a largely
non-negotiable, take it or leave it basis. The result was growing discord and
alienation between the federal and provincial governments. The incoming PM,
Paul Martin, has given ever so many signals that he wants to turn this around
and to bring about a much friendlier level of interaction with the provinces
and cities.
All this seems well and good. On first appearances, it
would seem nice to see the various parts of the country pull together. But it
raises the question of who will do the pulling. In any country, the farther
you get from the topmost level of government and the closer you get to the
ground level, the more you have to give up higher morality and principles and
the more you have to pay attention to gut-level bread and butter issues. At
the topmost level you can think, like Trudeau did, about Canada being a
bilingual country, about a Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and about the
inherent rights of Aboriginal people. Or, like Pearson, you can think of
Canada's role in the world and making Canada a leader in peacekeeping.
However, the more you move toward the bottom, the more you have to give
priority to British Columbia's concerns about softwood lumber exports,
Alberta's concerns about oil and gas and beef exports, Ontario's concerns
about remaining a vital part of the automotive industry, Toronto’s and
Montreal’s ties with continental financial markets, and ever so many other
bread and butter issues. And, our economy being what it is, the more you have
to recognize a large correlation between Canadian regional and local interests
and the need to remain friends with the US. Economically, we are very
dependent on American goodwill. And as the US has demonstrated in softwood
lumber and other cases, it can hurt us if it feels we are not playing ball to
the extent that we should.
Having put himself forward as a listener, negotiator
and joint problem solver, Martin’s role is not going to be an easy one. The
provinces will be after him to take up their causes and solve their problems.
And since ever so many of these problems are trade related, good relations
with the US will be a prime requirement, no matter who heads up the
Administration and no matter what that Administration does. For the next few
years, I don't really see much hope of Canada taking much of an independent
stand on major global issues. The Romeo Dallaires of this world can point to
the horrors underway in the Congo, and suggest that we could stop that
bloodbath and others by sending in a few thousand troops, but if it's not on,
meaning if it's not an American priority like Afghanistan and Iraq, forget
it.
Times are very difficult, and require a surer, more granular, and more
disciplined treatment than is normally the case. Missteps at this time can
create very bad results. I would hope that Canada's historical ability to see
the moral light and policy essentials will again prevail, and that Canada may
be able to help the US learn what it must, but by ignoring the US's mistakes,
but by guiding the US to their resolution.
---
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