Volume XVI, Number 4, April 1998
The Western Separatist Papers are published
monthly by W.S.P. Ltd.
Address all correspondence to WSP, P.O. Box 40143, Victoria, B.C.
Western Canada V8W 3N3.
A one-year subscription is $15.00. Our e-mail address is:
wcc@islandnet.com.
Phone us at: 250-727-3438 or fax us at: 250-479-3294
Our Cover: This cartoon by J.W. Bengough from the Grip of June 1884, illustrates a similar disagreement over the future of confederation that is exhibited in present-day Canada.
Canada: The Winners and the Losers
by Fred Williamson
In the Canadian federation, some provinces benefit being members of the federation in that they get more cash from the federal government than they send to the federal government. The biggest financial winner, of course, if Quebec, as the statistics below indicate:
Nfld. $962,200,000
PEI $189,600,000
NS $1,127,000,000
NB $944,300,000
Que. $3,851,100,000
Ont. -$2,658,100,000
Man. $1,072,400,000
Sask. $352,100,000
AB -$5,322,400,000
BC -$2,617,500,000
Nfld. $4,042.54
PEI $3,021.03
NS $2,702.12
NB $2,829.74
Que. $1,159.35
Ont. -$516.58
Man. $2,084.88
Sask. $797.71
AB -$4,178,46
BC -$1,497.93
(Source: Department of Finance, 1996, Ottawa)
If one calculates the above figures on the basis of individual taxpayers, the biggest winner is the province of Newfoundland (+$4,000.00 per year) and the biggest loser is (again) Alberta (-$4,100.00 per year). Indeed, even if one were to consider the West as a whole, the entire region is still a loser in confederation. The financial benefits to Saskatchewan being in confederation are rather small, and are not positive every year.
These statistics are from Statistics Canada for the fiscal year 1995-1996, and in that year, Alberta alone paid out five billion, three hundred million dollars more to Ottawa than it received in all federal spending put together. In other words, Alberta alone lost more than five billion dollars in 1996 just for being in the Canadian federation. This works out to more than $4000 net loss that year for each Alberta taxpayer. The other two provinces that are losers in the Canadian Federation, BC and Ontario, each lost 2.6 billion dollars, although the net loss per taxpayer is much higher for British Columbians than it is for Ontarians. Further, Ontario receives (and has received) many substantial benefits being in the Canadian federation, such as a tariff protection for its products, profound say in who the government is and how the federation is run, and almost perpetual control of the federal parliament.
Even such an anti-Western Canadian as former PC cabinet minister John Crosbie has admitted: "Ontario, Alberta and B.C. would each be economically viable as independent countries, and would each have the option of going it alone." (Source: No Holds Barred by John Crosbie, McClelland and Stewart, 1997, Toronto, page 467). Mr. Crosbie considers such an event probable if Quebec leaves Canada.
The following is from a young Western separatist, presenting studying music and physics in Germany.
It really is a different world here. The people have no idea what freedom is. They are now a subservient people with a defeatist, prideless attitude. National spirit is basically non-existent, and moral standards are pathetic. Religion is so weak here that even those who attend church might as well not go because their faith is so weak.
Revival of a national spirit seems like an enormously impossible task here, and makes me happy that I'm Western Canadian and don't have to worry about it.
Sadly many of the problems here are exactly the same as problems in Western Canada. The people aren't having enough children because of selfish attitudes (i.e. they'll have more money for material things if they don't have children), widespread contraception, and abortion. Many people from poorer countries are coming here to take advantage of the German social system, unemployment is high (approx. 5 million), and taxes are also high.
We are familiar with these problems in our own land.
There is a certain amount of east-west tension and nationalism in Germany too, mostly due to the enormous amount of tax revenue from western Germany transferred to the east to help with the rebuilding of a land neglected by a communist government.
The eastern Germans say that the people were friendlier with each other in former times, everything was cheaper, and everyone had a job. They resent the claims of the new government that everything was worse before. I can't really blame them. They still don't know what it means to live in a free country with a fair government. The inhuman communist system has been replaced by an inhuman capitalist one that offers only marginally more free expression.
But unlike Canada, Germany has reasons to stay together. They have a long history of being a strong country, and the people know that. All the reasons Germany has to stay together fail in Canada: A common language, a proud history, and a common culture (with interesting local variations).
In Western Canada we don't want to see our freedoms restricted the way they are in Germany. That is a major difference between us in Western Canada and the average German student that I have been living with here. The students in this country openly say that they believe we in North America enjoy too much freedom of expression, and Germany should actually have stricter laws, especially against the `neo-Nazi's' and `communists'.
These political `misfits' are not clearly defined, only `exposed' through lots of name calling and pointing of fingers, exactly as in Canada (though anyone who expresses a little bit of pride in Germany seems to be unanimously considered a `nazi').
In Western Canada I believe most people really want free expression, and it is only our government and certain special interest groups which threaten our God given rights. That makes me happy and gives me hope for our nation, when it is finally freed. We will enjoy true freedom, freedom that has always been stolen from us by our spineless central government it its constant yields to left wing pressure. We will have a government that doesn't ignore its duty as defender of our rights and freedoms.
The problems in Germany have almost immeasurably deep roots. Let us in Western Canada prevent our land from being subjugated further and our people from being brainwashed like the majority here. Let us dig up the roots of the corruption now before it steals our blood and nutrients, leaving us with nothing but a beautiful weed.
Peter Rhone
The latest unemployment figures, released on April 9th, told a tale of two provinces, as described by a CP article: "One has a booming auto industry cranking out jobs at full throttle. The other is on the verge of recession, its forest industry shedding workers like old leaves. Indeed, Ontario and British Columbia have reversed roles since the early 1990s when restructuring for freer trade eroded Ontario's industrial base while a huge wave of immigration and blossoming Asian markets heaped new wealth on B.C. But the hard times in B.C. will be largely offset by Ontario's huge gains."
This situation demonstrates the contrast between a resource-based economy and a manufacturing economy, and underlines the differences between central Canada and western Canada.
"The strength in Ontario (which accounts for 40 per cent of the national economy) will help other provinces, primarily those closer to the inputs of production, like Quebec and Manitoba," said Mark Chandler, an economist at Goldman Sachs Canada, citing a rationalization which has always been voiced by central Canadians to justify helping Ontario get stronger.
Last month at this time, Statistics Canada reported the Canadian economy added a whopping 448,000 jobs in the previous year -- the largest 12-month gain in 20 years. Some 260,000 of those jobs (over one-half!) were landed in Ontario.
Every Canadian province reported job growth in February, except B.C. where the percentage of unemployed rose to 9.7 per cent, up from 9.3 per cent in January.
"I would say the next six months are going to be pretty difficult for B.C.," said Teresa Courchene, economist at TD Bank in Toronto. The fuel for Ontario's rapid growth has come from a wide assortment of restructured businesses, says William Robson, policy analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute in Toronto.
"This advance is very broad-based. The construction industry, for example, is going great guns as well."
But the auto industry has been the single most important factor, considering it accounts for a fifth of Canada's $435 billion in manufacturing output.
A recent TD Bank forecast suggested Ontario will rank near the top in economic growth this year mainly because of the auto sector, which has been producing at capacity to feed the hungry U.S. market.
Chrysler Canada will contribute to that growth after announcing last week the addition of a third shift at its plant in Brampton, Ont., creating 1,000 new jobs.
British Columbians are hoping world demand for their natural resources will start to rebound. B.C.'s economy has suffered from slumping prices for lumber, newsprint, pulp, copper and coal. Economic turmoil in Asia has worsened the problem because a third of B.C.'s trade is with that region. That compares with an average of eight per cent for the other provinces.
"B.C. is essentially in a recession," said TD's Courchene.
(Source: CP, Thursday, April 9, 1998 Ontario leads job parade as B.C. struggles)
The "Official English" vs. right to speak any language as a public employee of Arizona case has been ongoing for 10 years, reaching the U.S. Supreme Court last year, but sent back to the State Court system because the original plaintiff -- who insisted on writing state reports in Spanish, had quit her job. At the same time, a similar case with a state employee was filed in AZ courts. Now, the issue can again be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it belongs.
English-only nullification opens linguistic nightmare
Editorial 5-1-98, The Daily Courier, Prescott, AZ
In France, Frenchmen speak French. Thus, they understand each other, communicate their needs to their fellow countrymen and operate France efficiently. The same goes for all other countries around the world that use their own specific languages: England, Japan, Portugal, India, Spain, Germany, China, and a hundred others.
In America, we officially speak English and have done so at least since this country declared its independence from England in 1776.
As a melting pot of peoples from hundreds of cultures, both native and transplanted from other nations of the world, Americans have traditionally understood that speaking English is the common denominator that fosters essential communication with each other.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a 1988 voter-approved initiative requiring state and local governments to conduct business only in English is unconstitutional.
"Critics had called the measure racist," said one news story.
"The amendment adversely affects non-English-speaking persons," the court opinion said, "and impinges on their ability to seek and obtain information and services from government."
This ruling throws open a linguistic Pandora's Box. Just how many languages will the law require us to accommodate? No doubt thousands of American citizens can speak any one of dozens of other languages, including numerous Native American dialects, Spanish, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, Romanian, Yiddish, Portuguese, Hebrew, Vietnamese, etc., ad infinitum.
If the law does not require them also to speak English at least for state or local government transactions, the complications and expense from this new ruling could debilitate the entire country.
Under threat of racial discrimination complaints, we would have to pay to translate into untold numbers of languages all government documents including court documents, IRS forms, postal forms, road signs, voting ballots, library and text books, maps, court papers, etc.
Overwhelming and impractical, yes, but thanks to this ruling, if we didn't, hundreds, nay, thousands of people who call themselves Americans could accuse the government of discriminating against them and demand anything from monetary damages to translation of any "unreadable language" - in this case English - wherever they find their particular, arcane dialect unrepresented.
No one in America should suffer discrimination, but speaking, understanding and writing English is not discrimination; it is common sense.
Having a single language which all the inhabitants of a given country use to communicate, conduct business, direct traffic and warn of danger creates basic cohesiveness among citizens. It's not a luxury; it's a basic necessity.
Otherwise, welcome to the Tower of Babble, and add to the Bill of Rights freedom from communication.
The Reform party, which has usurped so much of Western Canada's independent spirit has now come full circle and moved to the left of the Liberal party. Hepatitis C victims who contracted the disease from the blood supply even before there was a screening test available are the latest beneficiaries of Reform's support.
Never do they dare however speak out against homosexuality, the cause of the hepatitis C infection of the blood supply in the first place. Never before has an epidemic like aids or hepatitis C received so much political obscurantism and protection of its carriers and infective source as aids and hepatitis C. When you would think someone in political life would dare to say homosexuality is a dangerous and destructive life style, which should result in quarantine for its carriers, no such efforts are made. When sanatoriums were successfully used to control and virtually eliminate tuberculosis, no one dares to suggest the same for the aids and related diseases which are carried and promoted by a particular lifestyle choice.
Just at the very time when any logical person could obtain empirical evidence of the destructive nature of the homosexuals chosen behaviour, we are being told it is illegal to discriminate against those engaged in this sexual practice.
When have the members of the Reform party taken a stand on the Vriend case which holds the province of Alberta must apply human rights laws to prohibit discrimination against homosexuality. The Reform party always soft-pedals any right wing stance on important issues except economic ones.
This kind of ignorance is typical of those who believe the state should remedy all illness, prevent all harm and punish all that is "evil." This would all be good if we had perfect states, run by saints and clairvoyants, but unfortunately, they are inevitably run by fools, hypocrites and power-hungry bureaucrats, whom if you give an inch, they take a mile and wrap it around your neck.
And so it goes in politics in Canada. "Western alienation" became reform instead of separation and eventually to try to win Ontario, it becomes a new version of the Progressive Conservatives. The west loses confidence and vision everyday by such clever manipulators.
What is the solution? We must begin to rebuild the Western separatist movement. A new nation and nothing less is the only way to prevent the parasitic political elite from perpetrating itself in power by co-opting Western leadership. The communist element which from its position in the elite has inflicted the Bolshevik agenda while wrapping themselves in liberal sheep's clothing. They are really only happy embracing Fidel Castro and the successors of Mao Tsetung. The whole of Canada's right wing has been terrified to tell the truth and let the people decide. Fundamental changes will only happen when the Quebec/Ontario power base is broken up and we see emerge a Western Canadian image, culture and political process. Nothing short of independence will save us. Nothing short of independence is even tolerable to thinking people as Canada saunters merrily down the left side of the road.
Recently an American spoke in Toronto about the Spanish bilingualism of California which is really a cover for groups like la Razza (the Race) which ultimately want to reconquer California, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. from the United States. The parallel to bilingualism in Canada being a stepping stone to Quebec power is only fully understood when you realize the province of origin most of our Prime Ministers for the last 30 years — Mulroney, Trudeau, Chretien. Always a Quebec Prime Minister. We can only overcome this by a solid separatist movement for our future.
April 2, 1998: Let the People Choose
Long term binding constitutional or treaty arrangements, which have consequences beyond the life of the Chretien government must be ratified by a vote of all the people in a referendum. The Calgary Declaration, like the Charlottetown Accord must be subjected to a referendum. Similarly long term treaties like MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment) must be debated and ratified or rejected by referendum. The days when a few Party insiders, Premieres or Cabinet Ministers could cobble a deal that the people would have to accept or "vote us out at the next election" are over. The rights of the people must be defended.
The Western Canada Concept will entrench the right of citizen's referendum in the constitution of Western Canada. This is to prevent petty politicians from ignoring public opinion. In the end Canada doesn't work. It has to be abandoned and a new constitutional arrangement created true to our ideals of democratic government.
D.H. Christie, Western Canada Concept
April 9, 1998: An open letter to Preston Manning
"The west does not matter", "We do not need to consult Western Canadians because they elected us". "Most of the people of the West cannot understand the issues and therefore we will act on their best interests" Westerners must make sacrifices for the good of all Canadians".
You were elected because you fought words such as these when they came from the mouths of Prime Minister Mulroney and then from the mouth of Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Now you say the same things, maybe not so much in words but make no mistake, by your actions.
The Liberals did not win the by-election in British Columbia. Reform lost it and why? Westerners again have been sold a party that would be consultative but again, history repeated itself when a Western-based party sold out its people. The old bait and switch; Promise consultation and representation and then forget them in the name of "Canada", placating Quebec and dozens of other excuses all of which deprive the west of basic democratic representation.
If you fail to represent the West the next election will see more Liberals, NDP and Conservatives elected and Reform will join other movements that neglected the West in the wastebasket of "could have beens".
You see discontent within your own party as they can already smell blood.
As a Westerner, I am asking you to stand up and start consulting us on not one or two issues but every issue. Let us be heard!
We have the technology for direct democracy, recall, and referendum. This is what Westerners want. You would know this if you sought to listen to Western Canadians and not fall into the classic trap of being more concerned with winning Ontario despite the West. We did not send you to Ottawa to represent Ontario or Quebec. As you can see, they are more than ample at defending their own interests. What we need is someone with at least a fraction of the initiative of those two provinces to fight for us and that starts with listening. Not choosing your own ideas and then trying to sell them to the West so you can win the hearts of those in Ontario.
I have requested that you consult with Westerners, as have many that I know have written you. There has not been one reply forthcoming from your office. This is reminiscent of the Government for which you are Her Majesties Official Opposition for to them there are two Canadas. There are those who support them and those who do not. It would appear that for you there are two types of Westerners, those who support you and those who do not. I can assure you that the latter is rising quickly, as evident of the last by-election and will continue to do so.
Our petition in support of Quebec's Right to Self-Determination is gathering steam. Ironically, it would be a non-issue except for the insistence of Reform that they know what is best for Westerners and also for Quebecois. When you deny the free choice of Quebecois to choose their destiny, you will continue to lose support in the West and never gaining Quebec. We ask you once more to begin a consultative practice starting with asking Western Canadians their will for Canada and Quebec instead of acting in complicity with those who do not have the West's interest at heart.
Douglas Christie, Western Canada Concept
April 22, 1998: To Whom Does the Future Belong?
There are several major issues for decision as to the future operation of our political affairs in Western Canada. At present only a selected party machine appointed by the Canadian elite, the family compact of Canada, will decide how these questions are resolved.
They are the Multilateral Agreement on Investments ("MAI"), the Calgary Declaration giving special status to Quebec and the determination of the question of the Constitutional right of Quebec to secede from Canada.
The MAI is being debated and decided in secret by shadowy appointees of the Prime Minister. The Calgary Declaration will be passed by disciplined party votes in the provincial legislatures. The constitutional question will be decided by a Supreme Court, appointed by the Prime Minister.
These fundamental issues will be decided without any public input and in ways the people cannot meaningfully understand or discuss. Yet the outcome of these decisions will affect the most important aspects of the rest of their lives. How are they different than slaves? How is democracy real for them? What government has a mandate to do this to them?
The answer lies in the way Canada works. It is not a democratic country.
All parties are a silent conspiracy against the people. All parties are accomplices in this deception of the people and perversion of democracy.
This is simply how the federal state of Canada works.
Without referendum, initiative and recall as a constitutional right of the people at all times, the people will remain enslaved and democracy a pipe dream. The only hope for freedom and democracy is to dismantle the Canadian oligarchy and re-establish new nations out of remains of the Canadian federation. Then, and only then, can Western Canada entrench referendum, initiative and recall in the constitutional framework of a new and independent nation of Western Canada.
For this reason, we support the independence of Quebec. For this reason, we realize Reform is a fraud as it pretends to seek change but really only wants a place at the patronage trough. For this reason, separation and a nation with direct democracy in its constitution is essential for the vitality of Western Canada.
Douglas H. Christie, Western Canada Concept
April 24, 1998: Taxes, the Boston Tea Party and Western Separation
The Problem: Taxes, Income taxes, GST, PST, property taxes. Government is strangling people and destroying their dreams. Tax is destroying freedom. Billions of dollars are being driven into the black market. A few people run Canada and good creative people are being driven to foreign lands by high taxes. Patronage runs the Canadian State system. Corruption is pandemic. The taxpayers are dissatisfied. The people are virtual tax slaves whose money is squandered.
Tinkering won't work. Reform won't work. The GST, PST, income tax and property tax are ruining people's lives and jobs. The Boston Tea Party started as a tax revolt. They, like us, were tired of paying for a government they didn't elect.
The Solution: Only a new separate nation of Western Canada can and will reduce taxes. Prosperity comes through smaller government. The right of constitutionally entrenched referenda on budget deficits and other constitutional change is only possible with independence. Only separation can save the tax-burdened Western Canadians from being strangled by taxes transferring wealth to the bankrupt east. Only separation can give the citizen the right of referendum, initiative and recall.
History records that nations have fallen when taxation destroyed the initiative of the citizen. That point has been reached in Canada. Wake up and hear the real voice of spring! Not the despair of "pay, pay, pay" to Ottawa, but the joyful hope of a free Western Canada where the individual can enjoy the fruits of their labour in our abundant land.
D. H. Christie, Western Canada Concept
by Linda Fleming
The key for success for any grass-roots organization or any organization for that matter is to get as much bang for the buck as possible. One effective method of free advertising is by party members sending letters to the editor. If done correctly, not only can it help the party to grow but it can help to start debate on those issues that are near and dear to us all.
When writing to the editor there are some rules that need to be followed. The first is to use your real name, something that recently got a sitting Liberal member of the B.C. legislature in some trouble. The next thing you need to do is to define the problem. This is not usually hard. Young Offenders Act, Free Speech, Photo Radar, there is not a shortage of issues.
Try to keep the message positive and stay clear of personal attacks. When you define the problem, you can lump government in as part of the problem, and not being part of the solution. Of course, then offer the solution; separation, referendum and recall. It is amazing how many of our problems today can be tackled in such a manner. Feel free to use any of the enclosed or past press releases or simply visit the WCC site at <W0>http://www.westcan.org.
We continue to send out press releases and I am proud to report that we are getting replies from people of all kinds from praise from the Office of the Premier of Quebec to students across the west wanting to learn more about the WCC.
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank those who never lost the vision and never wavered in their support over the years. It is this base that is allowing us to attract new members and grow.
From our E-mail
To the Editor:
I don't know how you got my address but your message touched me. We need more people like you in Canada. I entirely support you. Good luck.
Eric Warren
View From Ontario
To the Editor:
Your premise that Canada is not a democracy is quite frankly ridiculous (sic) - but it is consistent with the notion that Canada is a buffet. that regions can simply take what they want and ignore the rest.
I imagine that like the separatists in Quebec, you aren't calling for complete independence for your region. only what might be called a better deal. While we should always be looking for ways to improve the federation, we all must realize that membership in this club called Canada has its costs.
It's not all what Canada can do for you . it's also what you can do for Canada.
We are all extremely privileged to live in this great country. Those who try to tear it down should be ashamed of themselves - that goes especially for those looking for political power.
You might also try to convince the residents of your region that they are being taken advantage of by being citizens of Canada. I doubt you will get many to agree with you, despite what the likes of Pat Carney says.
John Devine, Editor, Metroland Simcoe County
The Western Separatist Papers welcomes your letters to the editor. They should pertain to Western Canadian issues, and be short, due to our space limitations. Please send them to the Editor, WSP, P.O. Box 40143, Victoria, B.C. V8W 3N3, by e-mail or by fax to 250-479-3294.