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2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, September 14,1994 Section Two l|t Caftan statesman Former Publishers • Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854 -1878 • M. A. James, 1878 -1935 • George W. James, 1935 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 For 140 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Fax 905-623-6161 Rick Patterson, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Ralph Rozema, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford Does a PQ Victory Mean Separation? As we write this, the results from the Quebec provincial election are unknown. But, regardless of the outcome, it is safe to say that the sun will rise tomorrow and Canadà will not be much different than it was before. To interpret the September 12 election as a major crossroads in Canada's history may make sense for those of us with an over-developed sense of melodrama. But, the reality is that we are dealing with old, recurring theipes of Canadian politics. Whether the Parti Québécois wins the election (which is likely) or whether the Liberals win (which is unlikely), the forces of nationalism in Quebec will not disappear. This nationalist streak in Quebec politics is only natural when you consider the fact that Quebec has had a different language and a different set of traditions from the rest of the Canadian provinces. Indeed, it would be surprising (given the Quebec background) if there were no nationalist movement in such a section of Canada. Throughout Canadian history, politicians who have wanted to get ahead in Quebec learned how to play up nationalistic sentiments. Even the staunchest federalists in the province have paid tribute to the uniqueness of Quebec. Sovereignty supporters are merely upping the ante by suggesting that, rather than seeing Quebec as a special part of the Canadian confederation, it would be best for Quebec to be a sovereign nation. Does a PQ victory necessarily mean separation? Of course not. This would not be the first time a sovereignty-supporting party has held the provincial government Even under the guidance of arch-nationalist Rene Levesque, Quebec did not separate. The election of a PQ government in Quebec does not mean the majority of Quebec voters are separatists any more than the election of the New Democrats in Ontario meant that the majority of Ontarians are social democrats. And, to carry that parallel a little farther, the sovereignty plank in the PQ platform is no guarantee of separation. No more than the New Democrats' political platform was any guarantee that public sector auto insurance would be introduced. Politicians must still work with what is possible and expedient. It seems to us that Quebec nationalism is more effective when seen as a distant dream than as a looming reality. And the threat of separation, whether real or imagined, can be a valuable bargaining chip when negotiating with the federal government -- a chip which would be valueless in an independent state. There is some possibility that much of what takes place in Quebec's future will depend on reaction from the rest of the country. If anglophone Canadians take the attitude that Quebec should "hurry up and leave," then there is the possibility that separation could occur. But it seems to us that the majority of Canadians remain patient, even if that patience is wearing a little thin. The sheer logistics of separation would be staggering. There are dozens of issues which could take generations to solve. And it is unlikely that anybody on either side of the fence would want to become drawn into that quagmire. For instance, there are questions of where Quebec's boundaries would be drawn, how Quebec would pay its share of the national debt, the settlement of native land claims, and there is even the question of whether separation would also require the approval of the rest of Canada through yet another referendum. If Quebec or the remainder of Canada were to fail to live up to some part of the deal over separation, what recourse would there be? United Nations intervention? Action by the armed forces? Civil war? Who knows? Finally, there is the question of whether Quebec's culture and language could best be protected in an independent country or as a province within a federal system that is prepared to recognize Quebec's unique status. Even in Europe, there are concerns that the local culture is being replaced by American culture through, for example, the wide distribution of Hollywood movies. Given Quebec's chances of survival as an island of Francophone culture in a sea of American culture, it seems to us that the true nationalists would favor a compassionate federalism to outright sovereignty. But these are questions for another day. In addition to its nationalistic pursuits, the Parti Québécois will have the challenging task of governing a province. And that means looking after all the bread-and-butter issues such as jobs, highways, education, taxation, etc. The PQ has indicated that it is not interested solely in the founding of a new Quebec state, but also in good government. It will have to devote considerable energy towards effective day-to-day government if it is to ever be taken seriously as the federal government of the future. For the moment, nothing has changed. In the short-term, nothing will change. And, in the long term, change is still rather unlikely. What is more likely is the possibility that the discussion of federalism versus sovereignty will be a lot like the little rabbit in the battery commercial. It'll keep going and going and going.... United Nations Conference Predicts 6.2 Billion Population by Year 2000 ... Can the earth support them all? We Asked -- What is your opinion about racist literature being left along roadsides in Clarington? .. .And You Said n --- ' Irene Carey Wilmot Creek "I don't like it. 1 think it's terrible!" Gail Ross Fred Cosgrove Nancy Hagans Bowmanville Bowmanville Wilmot Creek "I don't think they "I think it's bad." "I've not seen any, should have it. I but I would be think it's despicable." opposed to it."