Anyone who has studied (or at least read) the history of this sometimes fragile confederation, knows this type of regional rhetoric has been a mainstay of our political debate since the very beginning. As unfortunate as it may or may not be, it is certainly nothing new. Shut up? Yeah, that helps.
I'm getting a bit sick of Newfoundland's whining, tbh. I mean, on what possible principle could they possibly base the absurd notion that the province should continue to collect equalization payments even if/when it becomes a "have" province?
It's an important beef, although I don't claim to really understand these equalization calculations. That said, why do we have to elevate it to separation, talk of parties? Baker should start acting like an adult, maybe he needs some sober second thought.
Labeling federal parties like the Bloc Quebecois as separatist parties is misleading. They are regional-interest parties that just use the empty "threat" of separation to add an exclamation point to their arguments. These types of regional-interest parties are the inevitable future of federal politics in Canada.
Perhaps Preston Manning had a good idea with the triple-E senate. It may have given a permanent home to the regional squabbling and reduced its presence in the House that matters.
What I love are the comments at the end of the article, (as he leaves, yet another comment!) What is it about Reform-a-tories? Do they have to leave their droppings everywhere?
There are plenty of 'separatists' in the reform/alliance/conservative fold, and many words that Harper himself has said that were aligned with such regionalism fervour. I think we should have some of them put before the press to remind them that this knife cuts both ways. As unproductive as Baker's suggestion is, it is not a revelation. The CONs should be called out for being so selective and divisive.
9 comments:
Anyone who has studied (or at least read) the history of this sometimes fragile confederation, knows this type of regional rhetoric has been a mainstay of our political debate since the very beginning. As unfortunate as it may or may not be, it is certainly nothing new. Shut up? Yeah, that helps.
Please.
I'm getting a bit sick of Newfoundland's whining, tbh. I mean, on what possible principle could they possibly base the absurd notion that the province should continue to collect equalization payments even if/when it becomes a "have" province?
It's an important beef, although I don't claim to really understand these equalization calculations. That said, why do we have to elevate it to separation, talk of parties? Baker should start acting like an adult, maybe he needs some sober second thought.
Labeling federal parties like the Bloc Quebecois as separatist parties is misleading. They are regional-interest parties that just use the empty "threat" of separation to add an exclamation point to their arguments. These types of regional-interest parties are the inevitable future of federal politics in Canada.
Perhaps Preston Manning had a good idea with the triple-E senate. It may have given a permanent home to the regional squabbling and reduced its presence in the House that matters.
Oh the outrage of the CONS, meanwhile Albertans are always threatening the separate - why don't the CONS deal with that?
I think Baker (poorly done) is trying to show that Harper is dividing the country.
What I love are the comments at the end of the article, (as he leaves, yet another comment!) What is it about Reform-a-tories? Do they have to leave their droppings everywhere?
You should check out blogger "Trudeau is My Homeboy"....he sets out the Harper letter regarding Alberta/separation...interesting
There are plenty of 'separatists' in the reform/alliance/conservative fold, and many words that Harper himself has said that were aligned with such regionalism fervour. I think we should have some of them put before the press to remind them that this knife cuts both ways. As unproductive as Baker's suggestion is, it is not a revelation. The CONs should be called out for being so selective and divisive.
Post a Comment