Part II – Solutions: Breaking down solitudes

With a brief glimpse at history, we can’t just be content with complaining about the status quo. We must look towards bold, substantive solutions. The constitutional question has not yet been resolved; Quebec has not signed on. As I’ve said before, we need to acknowledge that Quebec is a distinct society. Its civil law system and predominantly francophone population clearly establish that reality. Canada needs to “right” its past wrongs, and acknowledge its fiduciary duty towards Quebec, and that it must take all necessary steps to preserve French language, culture, history. I would also add similar guarantees for our Aboriginals, and francophones outside of Quebec.

Succinctly, as Governor-General Michaelle Jean has said, we need to « break down the solitudes ».

This is the least we can do, as the French language, culture, and history are fundamental components of OUR history, as Canadians. Without Jacques Cartier, and Samuel de Champlain THERE WOULD BE NO CANADA! Sovereigntists would have us think that Quebec is so distinct that is incompatible with the rest of Canada, and thus must be a sovereign, independent state. Au contraire. Quebec might be different, but that’s what Canada is all about…differences. We are a cultural mosaic, that have united in a great experiment for a common purpose; so far, we’ve survived, grown, and prospered, and together we’ll continue on that path.

I know what you’re going to say: “Uncle J, we can’t go down the constitutional path again. Remember Meech Lake and Charlottetown? Complete failures”. I say: Let’s march on! A country is most at risk when it is afraid to talk about its structure, and its union.

Problems that exist are just swept under the carpet, and we hope and pray that they will never combust. Then, one day, they’ll explode, and we’ll be in deep trouble. We need therefore to attack such issues head on.

Federalists keep saying that a “Yes” vote in a future referendum will lead to a “black hole” that Quebeckers will not know what they’re getting into. While I may agree with that premise, with all due respect, we can’t treat Quebeckers like idiots. Scare tactics and idle threats like these can only work on a short-term basis; we can’t take a “No” result in a referendum for granted. We must provide substantive reasons why Quebec is better off within a united Canada: reasons such as economics, defence, and international trade.

We need something we haven’t had in Ottawa for a while: leadership. We need to learn from Trudeau and even Mulroney, who were bold enough to take us down that path. One was successful, the other, not so much, but they created discussion points that can help us. We need to build on that.

Will my suggestions completely wipe out the separatist cause? Probably not. But will it help in securing Canada’s future, as a nation strong, united and free? Most definitely.