“Uf the Yex vote goes through, separation will be as final as lob. sters in boiling water” — Statement auributed to Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeuu by diplomats of the European Union, WILL THE Yes vote go through? Can‘t say ["m [os- ing any sleep over it ane way or the other, What | worry about is whether those Ottawa Liberals will sell us down the St. Lawrence if the lobsters win. Historically, everything in Ouawa bis revolved around whether Quebee likes it, That's why we got “Conscription if nec- essary but not necessarily con- scription” during the last war, And why the Financial pandering to Quebec has been worse than the NDP's pandering to pansies, The way Parizeau sees if, a separate Quebec can go on using the Canadian dollar and Quebecers can have Canadian pitssports. So don't imagine there could not be further pandering if Quebec goes. "Over our dead bodies!” is the cry from the famous West Van watering hole. And cries emanat- ing from that august institution usually reflect national feelings. Not that national feclings count with the Liberals, of course. - Parizeau also says that-trade with the rest of Canada will go on as usual, It might, too, if the money men tell the politicians we would all be better off. But there’s one thing that’s been forgotten in all this gandy- dancing. It's that English Canada might “tell Quebec to go and get lost. as _it did with the Charlottetown Accord. About half of La belle Province’s trade is with the rest of the country. And a call to Statistics Canada brought the information that British Columbia “alone buys $3.3 billion worth of “ goods and services from Quebec. Trade in the reverse direction is. only $1.4 billion. In other words, we are in a position to stick it to them more -than'they can stick it to us. Furthermore, if Quebec takes a on the other hand hike, Western Canada would be much better off doing niore busi- ness trading with de U.S. So might the rest of the country. Whatever governments do, the ordinary citizen might decide not to buy anything with a Quebec label on it. People often tell me they would boycott anvihing made in Quebec. One chap has been doing it for yeurs and says that the lirge stores are stuffed with Quebee merchan- ise: electrical fixtures, paint. aspirins, wood furniture products, shoes, you mame it. Not being that much of a stare detective, don't know whether he’s right. But the trade figures certainly support what he says. He alse claus that the Quebeo labels are deceptive and often dis- guised under ia Predict da Canada tag. But Quebec follows the lobster master it would be pretty hard for our trade cormmissars to go on calling Quebee Canada. There are other considerations. A lotof people just hope they will take off anyway, whether or not the dollar takes a dip. One benefit would be that its equalization handouts would cease. ore 10 MINUTE OIL CHANGE CENTRE INE DRIVE 980-9115” Competitues coupons accepted E Wi , “expires Oct. 31/95 eee che GOA tere cee Gun SE SEN ce GFN Bee OGD Ores oe 1 DOZEN COLORED ROSES (cash & carry) $ 7 ? 99 Bouquets, Arrangements, Weddings, Funerals, AFS Wire Service 992 Marine Dr. North Van 985-7673 / Fax 985-7808 KEN BAXTER LAWYER 2d Years - Dpetene LONSDALE QUAY. NORTH VANCOUVER 988-6321 For over 50 years, we've been creating individual solutions through a range of products, including GICs, RSPs and our family of Fdhical Matual funds. _ Plus, for a limited time, there's FLEX erm 96. Bul time is running out. -So call today. 986-1321 Wednesday, October 11, North Shore News — 7 Using figures supplied by the ministry of finance. Professor Alistair Taylor of Queen's University has shown that Quebec is the biggest beneficiary of that Ortrageous progr. “Equalization” robs the sor called rich provinces in order ta pay the so-called poor provinces. But why Quebee should ever have heen considered a paur province is puczling. itis hue and richly endowed with raw materials, We cymes have always said that equalization was sinipls anether trick to get the old-fine pebticnins a few more votes. fis also another example of things starting small and becuns- ing big. Like multiculturalism, bilingualism and other curses. According to the professor, in. 1957 Quebec got $46.3 million in current dollar values. Last year it got $3,845.3 billion. Since the start of the program il has received $62.7 billion. This compares with nothing for B.C... nothing for Alberta, and aothing for Ontario, Alberta was additionally robbed blind by Trudeau's National Energy Policy. Thats why “French” and “Quebec™ are bad words in that province. 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