The Leaders of the Parties of the Canadian Establishment are
using the June 2 1997 Federal Election campaign to contest who
will best uphold the 19th-century notions of empire building upon
which the Canadian Constitution rests. They are fiercely fighting
on this question, have worked themselves into a frenzy about
"Quebec separatism," and are trying to do the same to the
electors.
Against this backdrop, it was revealed on May 16, that from
May 1 to 7 the Southam monopolists carried out a survey about the
use of armed force in Quebec. The Southam survey release came
just as the leaders of the political parties of the rich were
negotiating to have a "special continuation" of their French
debate on "national unity," which was disrupted when the
moderator passed out.
The survey and the campaigning about "Quebec separatism" in
this election can only be described as an act of incitement of
civil war. It must be condemned by all Canadians. It is bringing
into sharp relief the fact that these parties and their financial
backers have become the greatest obstacle to Canadians creating a
free and equal union amongst the people of Quebec, the Aboriginal
peoples and the rest of Canada. A vote against these parties has
never been more important.
It is reported that Canadians were asked what they think
about force being used to execute separation of both Quebec and
parts of Quebec, specifically Montreal's West Island, the region
of West Quebec across the Ottawa River from the nation's capital,
and the Eastern Townships area east of Montreal on the U.S.
border, as well as the lands inhabited by the Native peoples.
Southam reports that "an unnerving number" of Canadians expect
armed force to be used and that many considered this
"understandable or pardonable or justifiable."
All of this only highlights the urgency for the working
class to heighten its vigilance about what the rich in Canada
have in store for the people. The rich in Canada are acutely
aware that Canadians are getting weary of being bounced back and
forth between one political party of the rich to another.
All of these parties of the establishment have declared that
the crisis-ridden capitalist system is the best that human
society is going to get. Yet, they carry on with the charade
about how they are now going to solve all of the country's
problems. This charade cannot fool people forever.
The Canadian ruling circles also know they cannot keep on
playing their "Quebec card" forever. They see that the people of
Quebec and Canada and the Aboriginal peoples are on the verge of
an historic advance to affirm their sovereignty. This is why they
are now trying to create a panicky excitement and anxious feeling
amongst the people. They hope this will divert the people away
from their political, economic and social bankruptcy. This is a
crime against the people.
TML Daily, May 1997
Shawgi Tell
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
