Vol. XIX, No. 3 March 2001
The Western Separatist Papers
has been published (usually) monthly by W.S.P. Ltd. since 1983. Address all
correspondence to WSP,
Box 143, 255 Menzies Street, Victoria, B.C. Western Canada V8V 2G6. A
one-year subscription is $15.00. Members of the Western Canada Concept receive
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Send e-mail to kzubko@home.com. Visit the WCC on the web at: www.westcan.org
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Media Analyzed
To the Editor:
I find quite amusing and ignorant how the Eastern media continues to report their news, thinking that they know what the West wants and what it needs.
Tough talk from papers like the Globe and Mail saying that Alliance MP's are “loopy extremists” and that catering to these separatists is not “going to convince Ontario to vote for them.” They seem to miss the point that most westerners are tired of having to “convince Ontario to vote for them.”
It is this pompous attitude that will continue to pit one part of the country against the other. I don't know where these papers get their statistics from (claiming only 3 per cent of westerners support separation) but they are misleading their eastern readers about the real situation that is emerging here. I would imagine that this stat comes from another skewed CBC poll.
In conclusion, I believe that despite what these papers are claiming, if the Canadian Alliance started to transform itself into a separatist party they would not lose very much support. Many Alliance members and supporters including myself have come the conclusion that we must disconnect ourselves from Ottawa if we are to truly live under the laws and culture that we have been deprived of at the hands of the Liberals.
J. Francis
From a Quebec Nationalist
To the Editor:
Great page you've got!
In your Nationalist web links, do not forget to add the ones about Québec. We all want the same: To have Ottawa listen to the specific provinces' needs. But it seems that Ottawa won't listen and it's not that we did not try to revamp the constitution. Then, I think it is time for each region to become a county on its own and then organize ourselves like the Europeans did.
There are other nationalist links in Spain, Ireland also.
Marc
Quebec
More Reasons for Independence
To the Editor:
I've scrolled through your website and have found it compelling. I'm a Vancouverite who has lived in Canada all my life and have been working for the past 4 years since graduating from college.
My naivety about earning money was stripped clean when I started making more money or bonuses.
I recall my first bonus was taxed 49% and if I could physically manifest how I felt inside I would've needed to cover my office floor with paper towels. I'm currently getting 38.9% cut off my gross paycheck. When you combine that with GST and BC's PST I'm not left with much buying power.
Watching the election, I had hoped people would kick Chrétien out of office and elect somebody like Day. Again I was naive. I guess most of Canada didn't feel the same as I did.
In earlier years I recall jokes with my friends about how cool it would be if BC was its own country but until now none of us had ever given much serious consideration. Kind of like customizing the perfect car in your head even though you know they'll never make one or at least you'd never be able to afford it if it really existed.
What I came to realize is that while watching the election coverage there was this line being drawn between the west and east. The line was like an answer to a question I had asked myself every time I got a paycheck or every time I heard the words brain drain. I felt a sense of satisfaction that I wasn't alone in the way I felt.
When asked how Canadian I feel I can't answer. I honestly feel that Tokyo is closer to Vancouver than Ottawa or at the very least more tangible having visited there. People there who've never left their country ask me what Canada is like am I'm both filled with pride and shame when I explain the nuances of our country. I've had to separate my loyalty to what I thought was Canada but is really the beauty of our nation (mostly west of the prairies) and my disdain for the government to which we are supposed to pledge our allegiance. Well I'm not interested in pledging my loyalty to a man who says he doesn't like Westerners.
Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know that the work you're doing is worth more than you can possibly realize at this time. Keep educating others like myself and reward their contributions to this cause. I'll send more your way.
Jay F.
Vancouver, B.C.
The Western Separatist Papers welcomes your letters to the editor. Please send them to P.O. Box 143, 255 Menzies St., Victoria, B.C. V8V 2G6, or by fax to 250-479-3294, or by email to kzubko@home.com .
by Douglas Christie
Stephane Dion, Canada's Unity Minister, has spoken recently about separatism, once at the University of Toronto, addressing the general concept of separatism, and later in Saskatchewan, trying to address western alienation. Doug Christie deals with what arguments the minister was able to come up with.
In Consideration of Stephane Dion
Stephane Dion: Solidarity Forever
Stephane Dion summed up his own word like the good old Soviet comrade: “a country is in the best position to improve itself if all its citizens support the principle of solidarity” This assertion, however, begs two questions: What is a country? Why should Canada be a country at all? The logic of Stephane Dion justifies such monstrosities as the Soviet Union and world government. His logic is impeccable only if you accept his premises that Canada is a country and should therefore stay united. Can no one spot a tautology when they see one?
The assumption of Dion is like the car salesman who assures you that you will have a better family life, sex-appeal, prosperous image and better smile if you buy this car from him. All very well, if you believe him.
Mr. Dion assures us that frank discussions are more fruitful and solidarity exists if only we have well . . . . solidarity. He kindly allows that politicians can disagree, but we must agree on “unwavering solidarity.” Four times in the first four paragraphs he invokes this old Soviet cliché. Just to be sure he repeats the word in the fifth paragraph as well. Solidarity forever.
Mr. Dion particularly deplores “using the separatist threat as a bargaining tool.” Mr. Day, it appears, dutifully removed separatism shortly after this speech, like a humiliated schoolboy as if Quebec and the Liberal Party haven't constantly used the separatist threat to demand more money, more bilingualism, and more jobs for Quebecois. Does Mr. Dion secretly fear the West may find the secret of Liberal success?
What is “separatist blackmail?” Horror of horrors, Stephane Dion tells us it is not supporting (you guessed it) “solidarity.” Seven times in seven short paragraphs -- not bad for repeating a message. No doubt the press overlook this monotonous aspect of the Dion lecture. Lecture, a good word to describe it, really. After reading the Dion lecture you feel like an embarrassed teenager whose teacher caught them being naughty.
Mr. Dion says , give separatists no concessions, just a frank lecture on (again) solidarity. He is so obsessed with Quebec that he actually says not getting their fair share is not what separatism is about, or decentralization either, because Canada shares and is decentralized. Obviously this doesn't apply to Alberta's wealth or to bilingualism. We get forced to share both.
Mr. Dion demands to hear Mr. Day say “Nothing in Canada today justifies secession, not in Quebec, not in the West, not anywhere else in Canada.” Well tell us Mr. Dion, what justifies keeping Canada together? Is it the Liberal flag, the national anthem, which no one knows? Or is it Alberta and BC's lost billions in investments, equalization, government spending, which always, always, always favours the East?
The Liberals have always flirted with separatism and still do, if it is the Quebec variety. Ontario will vote for them to quell it with their Quebec leader while they reject the Western Day for fear of losing Quebec and hence their powerful position. But when Day flirts with Western separatists, horror of horrors the tables might be turned. So Stephane throws in a few more “solidarities.”
“Separatist Blackmail makes us lose sight of the public interest”
Dion tells us this. All of Mr. Dion's speech in this regard is focused on Quebec. The West never was a public policy concern. From the National Energy Policy, to the Polar 8 Ice-Breakers, to the F-18A repair facilities, to hand outs to eastern industries, from Bombardier to American and foreign auto assembly plants, they are all in Quebec or Ontario now. So what public policy do we benefit from in Canada. Our farmers can't even sell their own wheat.
Quebec on the other hand, controls immigration, language, education (all public policy issues), like no other province would dare to ask to control. So why would it be wrong to give in to separatist blackmail on the public policy front simply because the West could no longer be controlled and plundered? This is a double standard Mr. Dion is applying. There has been no booty in Canada for a Western province but there has been booty-a-plenty for Quebec. Where would Mr. Dion himself be if it were not for the threat of Quebec separatism? Why would we need a “unity minister,” and why him? Maybe he is afraid if Western separatism becomes too strong, then the PM will need a western Uncle Tom to get westerners back on the plantation and he will be out of a job.
“Separatist Blackmail tends to trivialize the issue of secession”
This is according to Stephane Dion. Oh really. Well just reject it then and see how real Quebec separatism is. I suggest the Liberals cut off equalization and give no jobs and grants to ridings like say Shawinigan. Build no hotels and golf courses there. Finance no Desmarais projects, cut off all spending in Quebec while a government there is elected which advocates separatism and you will see how “trivial” secession really is. Dion knows his party, his position and his power depends on bribing separatists every day. What a hypocrite he is! Dion reverts to polls where the question is split to conveniently split the separatist vote. “See!” he says, “four options, four opinions. Separatists don't know what they want.” How clever. Why then, in two referenda has Quebec gone from 60/40 to 50/50?
Mr. Dion assures us there is a huge gulf fixed between “sovereignty partnership” and “renewed federalism.” But perhaps he should get the same glossary of terms as Mike Pearson, Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chretien because when they heard separatists saying separation, they gave them more than they asked for and translated it into English for us dolts as “renewed federalism.” So why is sauce for the goose not sauce for the gander?
In the midst of his rhetoric Mr. Dion slips in the big lie. He says Canada is “one of the most prosperous and most tolerant countries of the world.” This big lie assumes tolerance is necessarily a good thing which is debatable and Canada is one of the most prosperous countries which in terms of take home pay was once true but today puts us somewhat below Italy.
Separatist blackmail, he maintains, leads us to blow out of all proportion “the quite normal disagreements that we have in Canada.” How is it normal to never have any influence in your government because two provinces control two-thirds of the seats and they have two-thirds of judicial seats in the Supreme Court of Canada and the “one man band” prime minister thusly elected, appoints his favourites to every position of power from coast to coast. The French king said “l'etat, c'es mois!” Mr. Dion says the disagreements are quite “normal.” Quite normal I suppose because he and his party intend to ignore them. In fact, we will never get Triple E Senate as long as Canada shall exist. In fact we will never have a Western Prime Minister.
In his final paragraph under our “normal disagreement” he lists all the goodies he and his party have given Quebec, including the Clarity Act and money, power, and influence.
“Separatist Blackmail aggravates regional jealousy” according to Dion
I would have thought that separatism was the result, not the cause of regional jealousies. As a Quebec cabinet minister whose claim to fame was closing the door on the separatist Quebec horses, of what does he have to be jealous? Who but a Quebecois like him could have all those plums of power? Who but a Quebecois like Chretien would be so incompetent and still be the Prime Minister because he can give the separatists “tough love?”
He defends his noblesse oblige statement “all Westerners are committed Canadians. To me it's not an issue” by saying he has faith in his subjects. How noble of him! Might not he have rather recognized that they have some legitimate grievances?
He dares to tell us separatism has been a total loss for Quebec. Name me one job, one federal grant, one cabinet appointment, one ship building contract, one government investigation, which was not driven by the need not to upset, inflame or add credence to the separatists in Quebec, by his own Liberal government? And he has the nerve to say “separatism doesn't pay” and “separatism has been a total loss for Quebec and Canada”. Maybe a loss for Canada but never a loss for Quebec.
Mr. Dion finally pulls out his best weapon, the threat of violence if a referendum was to succeed. It wouldn't end the quarreling Dion says, only begin it. By that token one might as well contend, let's not have elections and all that quarrelsome talk; let's just believe in the divine right of Liberals to rule, join the party and beg for our medals, badges and patronage appointments! Dion sounds like a senior administrator of the Ming Dynasty, advising the peasants against rebellion.
If a vote of Quebecois renounce Canada it would for once end our responsibility for them and their language and get on with preserving ourselves and our language. Something which a politician like Dion would find totally disadvantageous to his bilingual advancement in view of his English skills. He would definitely be in the backward half of the former country of Canada.
“Separatist leaders need to carry the burden of proof” according to Dion.
And blackmail somehow relieves them of that burden. Quite how, he never says. Of course the advocate of change has the burden of proof. We Western separatists talk about the cost of equalization, the absence of control, and hundreds of other issues growing from the basic unequal structure of Canada? The high taxes to Ottawa that never come back. What is his solution? More of the same. Burden discharged? I find for the separatist Plaintiff because he has proved his case; Western Separatism has satisfied the burden of proof on the facts. The federalist Defendant offers no reply.
What has Dion said about a Triple E Senate? Does he know what it means and why? Nothing of substance comes out of his hollow mouth. Just emotions. He says if we separate we “become foreigners.” How so? Maybe he does, but not us. For once, we have our country.
Maybe it's him, his job, his power, his party in power for 70 of the last 100 years with never a majority in the West, that he worries about. Not one substantive improvement does he offer for the West. Just a vague promise that solidarity, which he repeats twice in the last five lines, will see us through. Let us all stand, comrades, and sing the Internationale with comrade Dion. No thanks, I say. I already feel like a foreigner in his company, and in his country.
The very liberal power politics which has controlled Canada for 90% of my life and all the decision-makers in it, is a very real reason why change is obviously impossible with the status quo. It is also why it is intolerable to me, and to many other Western Canadians. Even with his last refrain he holds promise to Quebec of a new Meech Lake clause “recognizing the unique character of Quebec.”
Far from “nothing” justifying secession, I can give Mr. Dion 100 good reasons for secession. Can he give me one good reason to stay? Canada is a political arrangement, not a marriage. If it doesn't work to our liking then there is no reason to endure it forever. Common sense demands we change it and only one way is real change possible.
Report on Stephane Dion's Saskatchewan Tour
Stephane Dion in person is no better than his written speeches. Having analyzed as carefully as I could, Stephane Dion's solidarity speech which was riddled with clichés and repetitions of an empty appeal to emotion, I thought there must be more to the man in person. There isn't.
I travelled to Regina to the University campus on Tuesday, March 6th to hear Stephane Dion and Ralph Goodale speak on the West's place in confederation.
Dion's technique is the same for everything: Just analyze the problem out of existence. Need populism? No, you don't; it's not good for you and referenda are divisive and confusing. Want a Triple E Senate? Well no, no, even Alberta's two senators-in-waiting can't decide on how to distribute the seats. Want Western Canada as a nation? Why Albertans have no time for Saskatchewan and Calgarians are hated by other Albertans. See, you can't even agree with each other!
Do Westerners think differently on immigration or social programs or native rights? Not according to the polls. So don't worry, be happy! Vote Liberal.
Problem solved.
On to the next world to conquer, for our hero, Stephane. And so it goes: Liberalism uber alles!
The problems of the West are all in our heads, and we are sick, he implies. He seems perplexed that Liberals don't get elected in the West, but he assures us two-thirds of Albertans don't support the “firewall agenda.”
I finally got to ask him one question: With Liberals never having a majority in the West since 1905, and the Liberals being in power in Ottawa for 70 of the last 100 years, could he give us one good reason to stay in Canada?
Goodale answered. He said for every tax dollar to Ottawa, Saskatchewan gets $1.23 back. David Sawkiw was clever enough as a Saskatchewan Western Independent Nation leader, to say that if you take all Western Canada, what are the dollars to Ottawa and dollars back? Obviously this is a different story. Alberta alone gives about 3 to get 1 back. This doesn't consider export credits by reason of greater world export values than imports in Saskatchewan which is another reason why Saskatchewan gets the treatment it does.
The trip was worthwhile to meet about 100 Saskatchewan farmers who are separatists. I came away with the feeling that our movement is implacably spreading throughout the West, and cannot now be stopped. Long live Western Canada!
Leduc and Calgary Meetings
On Friday, I went to Alberta where we had arranged 2 meetings. The contrast was stark. In Saskatchewan I was received with kindness and generosity by the Western Independent Nation representatives; I met the M.P. Mr. Breitkreitz who was cordial and receptive. In Alberta I received the ultimate insult when Alberta Independence Party refused to allow their members to appear with me. The Alberta party is not doing itself any good by this, and I believe the election has proven this. Never deny separatism. Never abandon and reject a fellow separatist though you have other disagreements. We are united in the greatest vision and purpose.
Our Alberta meetings went reasonably well, but with 70 in Leduc and 40 in Calgary, it is my opinion such meetings are not productive, if not supported by more people. It is quite draining to travel and speak and it should only be where numbers warrant. In the near future we will confine our activities to other outreach and educational projects.
Report on Petitions and Growth
The petitions continue to roll in! As well, we continue to get more memberships and enquiries every day, which are answered by our faithful volunteers. At the end of April, somewhere in Western Canada, a summit or gathering of Western Separatists is being planned (not by the WCC, though we support and encourage everyone to attend this effort, if they can). Stay tuned. This could be a great inspiration to us all!
Contact Doug Christie, by fax at 250-479-3294 or at the Western Canada Concept, Box 143, 255 Menzies Street, Victoria, B.C. Western Canada V8V 2G6, or by email at dougchristie@home.com.
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