Is there a Canada in YOUR

ONE MORNING next October, only a few months from
now, Canadians will read in their morning newspaper the
results of the Quebec referendum on its future status.

If the vote supports separation,
as of that moment Canada as a
nation is effectively finished.
While the painfui unravelling pro-
cess would take several years, dur-
ing the lifetime of most of us,
American citizenship would be our
inevitable destiny.

Undoubtedly some Canadians
would welcome that destiny.
However, the majority would not.

Most of us appreciate our good
fortune in having the U.S. as a
friendly neighbor, but want to
continue our distinctive national

_ journey launched by the Fathers
of Confederation 125 years ago.

If we only realized it, we have a
country that is the envy of the
world. And the rest of that world
tooks at us in astonishment, at
our short-sighted stupidity in
rushing to the precipice of
disintegration.

Newspaper columnists, open-
line radio hosts and letter writers
can usually be counted on to put
the worst negative spin on any
discussion of national issues.

While freedom of the press is a
vital element in any open society,
surely there should be room for a
few positive things as well.

Media types, obsessed with the
“man bites dog’’ principle of the
news business, should not forget
they are Canadian citizens too
with at least some obligation to
their country.

Their world of journalism
would not come crashing down

Let Us Make
Under the Tree FREE,

Well be wrapping your Capilano Mall purchases

FREE OF CHARGE

This Monday until Dec 24th. Visit our Free Gift Wrapping
_ Centre located in the North East Wing next to the

“Capilano Mall

By Don Lanskail
Contributing Writer

around them if occasionally they
said something positive about
Canada.

It is high time that we put aside ~

the mean-spirited francophobia
that characterizes the views of sc
many editorial columnists, in-
cluding most of those in the North
Shore News.

At this critical time in our
country’s history we should be
trying to develop a spirit of un-
derstanding and tolerance about
those issues that tend to divide us
across the frontiers of language,
culture and geography.

Quebec is an essential part of
Canada.

its presence as part of the coun-
try gives Canada the unparalleled
opportunity to be a distinctive na-
tion of North America, rather
than a pale imitation of our
American cousins.

It is also true that Quebec needs
Canada.

Many Quebecers realize this but
there is extreme danger of them
being swept along by the
separatist tide because of the
widely held perception that
Canada has rejected them because
of the failure of Meech Lake.

I do not believe that Canada
has rejected Quebec, but the im-
portant thing is that the majority

Information Booth.

of Quebecers believe it and
perception is reality in the eye of
the perceiver.

And if nothing is done to alter
that perception in a substantial
way prior to the referendum next
October, it will result in the
breakup of the country.

At this point I can hear the
refrain, ‘“‘Of course we want
Quebec to stay but not at any
price.”

Lhasten to concede that
nothing, except maybe life itself,
can conimanrd a price beyond
limit. But the preservation of
Canada is worth some price.

And, if you contemplate the
price we'll pay if we allow Canada
to be dismembered, we are look-
ing at something very, very
modest in comparison.

Determiration of the price for
holding the nation together re-
quires a lock at the package of 28
constitutional changes proposed a
few weeks ago by the federal gov-
ernment, and which is now the
subject of national debate.

Whiie far from pezfect or com-
plete, it does form a reasonable
basis for negotiation.

Four of those proposals are of
particular significance:

@ recognition of Quebec as a
distinct society;

© redistribution of powers be-
tween federal and provincial gov-
ernments;

@ aboriginal status;

@ and a radically reformed
Senate.

Canadians are ready to accept a
fair settlement of the aboriginal!
problem, most will recognize the

You Look Good

.. More Christmas For Your Green.
oe

935 MARINE DRIVE., (NEXT TO DAVE BUCK FORD) NORTH VANCOUVER.
MONDAY-FRIDAY 10-9, SATURDAY 9:30-5:30, SUNDAY NOON-5.

need for a much improved Senate,
and all taxpaying citizens would
welcome a more rational align-
ment of authority which would
eliminate costly duplication be-
tween levels of govermment.

But it is the ‘‘distinct society’’
provision that causes the most
difficulty.

The difficulty stems froma
montage of emotion, ignorance of
history, misunderstanding and,
unfortunately, a not incon-
siderable measure of intolerance.

If the response to that proposal
is going to be objective, it is vital-
ly necessary to at icast make an
effort to understand the thinking
of francophone Canadians in
Quebec.

Quebec has the right to preserve
and prozect the language aid
culture of a people that were not
only equal co-founders of Can-
federation, but also the original
explorers and settlers of what is
now Canada.

Unfortunately, largely because
of an ignorance of history, too
many Canadians fail to recognize
the legitimacy of that right or the
collective passion that drives it.

As aresult, Quebec sees itself as
a small island of French language
and culture surrounded by an
ocean of English North America.
Rightly or wrongly, they perceive
a threat to the survival of their

In $5, $10, $25 and
$50 denominations,
Keg gift ¢
certificates fit

# everyone, they
never go out a
of style and
they’re

1 redeemable
at any Keg

restaurant

future?

language and culture and seek to
protect it. .

Recognition of their status as a
distinct society would give them a
greater feeling cf security, without
cost to the rest of Canada. Rec-
ognition of difference, or distinc-
tiveness, does not equate to supe-
riority.

Some Canadians, who argue
against ‘‘cistinct society” recogni-
tion, do so out of professed con-
cern for the welfare of the
anglophone minority in Quebec.

They would be prepared to see
Quebec separate rather than -
recognize their unique position.

One has to penetrate the
outermost frontiers of nonsense to-
arguc that the anglophone minori-
ty would be more secure in an in-
dependent Quebec than they
would if remaining within the Ca-
nadian Confederation.

When viewed objectively, ina
setting free of emotional intensity,
constitutional recognition of the
distinctive character of Quebec ___
can be scen to be free of cost to |”
the rest of Canada. i

Even if it could be used as a
tool of judicial interpretation and
change in some degree the balance
between collective and individual
rights with regard to language in
Quebec, that result by any rea-
sonabic test is far better than the
destruction of the natioa, -

coast to coast." 7
And now, with every.
Y gift certificate |
purchase. you'll
receive a
charming ©) |
holiday
A ereeting «|
card,
absolutely
free.

and Seafood House

Also available at participating
‘London Drug locations.

NORTH VANCOOYVER