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Canada. is slipping away As I write this, it is Monday evening. It is just after 10 o'clock. Peter Mansbridire 'has just declared the Charlottetown Accord te be' 'DOA (dead on arriva»)." I feel strange. A few minutes ago, I watched on TV as Jacques Parizeau, leader of the Parti Quebecois, bellowed'flux de bouche like a barfly. The fleur-de-lis waved from banners in the balcony. It resembled a scene fromn the birth of a nation. I felt sad. Across the country, the 'No' ide won solidly. »By now you know that better -than I do. Heck, as I write this, the polis have just'closed in Alberta.' British Columbia is still votmng. As you read this on Wednesday, Thursday, or whatever, you have aIl the nwnbers. at your disposal. Al I have is this distinct feeling that something strange happened te this country tenight. I don't think I like it. Early in the campaigni, my flrst knee-jerk said, Yes.' Then I kept reading information about the Accord; phoned Ottawa early on for ýcopies of the Agreement; spent days, in several blocks of time, reading and trying te, understand a complex text. By thenI was soidlly'N. -hs, I teld anyone brave enough to ask, is flot mny country. This agreement is a few bits and pieces cf this province, andthat province, and this group, and that group. -But the inidividual pieces aIl added up te more than the whole& It made n6 sense. "Besides," I would add, "this is a Constitution for provinces. No one goes to war and willingly <ies for a province. There is nothing in here about Canada." Ail through this debate, people talked about laws, and gauze, and clause, and old Santa Claus. Nobody talked about Canada. Surely our country means more thaii high taxes, high debt, blustering politicians and cranlcy voters. Flirtation with the forces of 'nay' continued until Sunday* -- the day before the vote. Suddenly, unbidden, a vision hît me full force. -Certainly there ar e many good reasons for voting 'No.' But there is not une good reason. Now get this: whoever we charge with the responsibiity of remaking our Constitution, the same difficulties will continue. Change the players and you change the. deal .-' but the difficulties remain. Give Preston Manning,,Lucien Bouchard, Jacques Parizeau and Sheila ,Carstairs a whack at it. Would you vote for what they cobbled together? Yah. Sure. A friend of mine who spent several years in Montreal, and who is fluently bilingul s far more passionate in his 'No' than I havebenin. any position. It is easy for English Canada te say they want Quebec te stay " he' says. It is another thîng for English Canaa te mue the -changes. that would accommodate Quebec. Ontario just doesn't understand what is happening in Quebec. ,And, unfortunately, Quebec does not'understand what is happening in the rest of Canada. We are perplexed by those-who cannot see how important Canada -- the whole Canada -- is. Maybe the politicians have the cart before the horse. Let Quebec décide whether or not it wants te stay in Canada. If the answer is 'No,' then nothing we do will keep them. If the answer is 'Yes.' hen gladly we will rewrite the Constitution; after ail, Canada is compromis.> Ail this «'nay' saying and flailing of politicians seems 50, unCanadian. Maybe tha's mwhat frïghtens me, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, October 28,1992, Page 7 PAGE SEVEN MYRTLE STATION LOOKING EASI', C. 1923 The Ontario and Quebec railway. (now, the CPR) was built through Whitby Towýnsbip i 1884, when Myrtie Station was establshed.. The station and the, livery stable'at the right were demolished many years ago. Whftby Archivoe phcto 10 YEARS AGO fromn the Wedne1daOctober 27,1982 edition of the FRW E PRSS *The new Young Offenders, Act has received mixed response from local youth agencies. .'The Free Press is filled with municipal election candidates' statements of their platforms. *Two cars weree destroyed in a $30,000 house lire in rural Whitby on Oct. 19. *The Hood-Hare bouse at Centre and Dunlop* Streets is to be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. 35 -YEARS AGO from the Thursatbr 31,ý 1957 edition of the WHIB WEEIKLY NEWS " Town coundil bas voted against a propoaifor a new Town hall in Centennial Park. " The federal. government will improve-Whxtby Harbour in 1958. " The Whitby Yacht Club is celebrating its first year of operation. " Brooklin bas an art guild. 110 YEAES AGO' from the Thursday, October 26, 1882 edition ofthe WEwm' CEMorNICn eGrocer Si mon Fraser is selling seven pounds- of good Japan tea for one doliar. *Mrs. Allin is selling spelling books at 20 cents.each. *Football matches are being, held between Viy oep*t niue*adPckrg College.WhtyCleitIntttanPcerg *G.Y. Smith of Whitby is president of-the board ofdirectors of the Ontàrio Liadies? College.