Uriel,
can we say "are you able to ..."?
can we say "are you able to ..."?
Vive Le Quebec libre
" No, bernard, we don't actually WANT them .... nor would they wish to join. And there is NO reason why they wouldn't be a perfectly viable nation on their own. I would think if a single province like Quebec could go it alone, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, BC, and Co. could muddle through as well. "
It is not a question of economic viability, I have no doubt that the english canadian provinces could continue to be a country of their own. The problem is a question of identity : without the french part Canada will lost her specificity, and would be just a "little USA of the north", even if its still be independant from the USA.
It is not a question of economic viability, I have no doubt that the english canadian provinces could continue to be a country of their own. The problem is a question of identity : without the french part Canada will lost her specificity, and would be just a "little USA of the north", even if its still be independant from the USA.
The problem is a question of identity : without the french part Canada will lost her specificity, and would be just a "little USA of the north", even if its still be independant from the USA. >>>
What absolute rubbish.
What absolute rubbish.
Sigma,
=>What is rubbish?<=
'"The problem is a question of identity : without the french part Canada will lost her specificity, and would be just a "little USA of the north", even if its still be independant from the USA."'
Hard isn't it? Tsss.
=>What is rubbish?<=
'"The problem is a question of identity : without the french part Canada will lost her specificity, and would be just a "little USA of the north", even if its still be independant from the USA."'
Hard isn't it? Tsss.
It's rubbish because Canada and the US are two different countries. Scotland and England are two different countries, despite sharing an island and the same language.
Anyone who thinks English-speaking Canadians are just 'clones' of Americans obviously don't know any. And no, you can't lump them all together just because they happen to speak the same language and be 'Anglo-Saxon' (I'm just saving you the bother of writing it).
Anyone who thinks English-speaking Canadians are just 'clones' of Americans obviously don't know any. And no, you can't lump them all together just because they happen to speak the same language and be 'Anglo-Saxon' (I'm just saving you the bother of writing it).
Ejem Candy in fact I wanted to know the meaning of the word "rubbish"which I don't know.
Not the US- Canada differences
Not the US- Canada differences
Sigma, rubbish is the British word for garbage, trash.
(my previous post was really a continuation of the last one, because I didn't have much time then - not really aimed at you)
(my previous post was really a continuation of the last one, because I didn't have much time then - not really aimed at you)
I heartily (with all my heart) disagree on this matter with Bernard.
First, Even a province like Quebec which has a lot going for it, culturally, politically and economically would have great difficulties.
I saw studies that indicated the average income, would drop to about 60% of todays value, and unemployment would go up to about 30%.
They also have a strong identity. And they are used to living down on the farm. Quebec would always retain it's Tourist industry.
It offers US tourists a lot they can not get without going to France.
As for Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces, they can not go it alone,
and they would be looking for the best deal from the USA,
they could get.
They would develop into something like Puerto Rico of the North,
with more and more Canadians having Dual Citizenship.
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, BC, are growing but they are to small to self-sustaining. They would muddle along until the first crisis and then collapse.
Big trading partner would get special consideration.
Little Banana Republics are just taken over or bought.
Alberta might get special consideration, because it provides
most of the Oil & Gas for North West USA.
Anyway, thank goodness you are not making the decision.
Canada at this moment is having trouble getting it Trade agreements honored by the US. Image someone sending a letter of outrage from Quebec in French to the White House. They are still trying to get money from New York for power.
There was a story about such a thing in "The Mouse that Roared"
Anybody read it.
Regards, Paul V.
P.S. Anyway, It is not just a question of economic viability, I have no doubt that the english canadian provinces could continue to be a country of their own,
for a little while at least.
The problem is a question of identity. Without Unity and identity with the french part Canada will lost her specificity, and would become just a "little USA of the north".
First, Even a province like Quebec which has a lot going for it, culturally, politically and economically would have great difficulties.
I saw studies that indicated the average income, would drop to about 60% of todays value, and unemployment would go up to about 30%.
They also have a strong identity. And they are used to living down on the farm. Quebec would always retain it's Tourist industry.
It offers US tourists a lot they can not get without going to France.
As for Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces, they can not go it alone,
and they would be looking for the best deal from the USA,
they could get.
They would develop into something like Puerto Rico of the North,
with more and more Canadians having Dual Citizenship.
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, BC, are growing but they are to small to self-sustaining. They would muddle along until the first crisis and then collapse.
Big trading partner would get special consideration.
Little Banana Republics are just taken over or bought.
Alberta might get special consideration, because it provides
most of the Oil & Gas for North West USA.
Anyway, thank goodness you are not making the decision.
Canada at this moment is having trouble getting it Trade agreements honored by the US. Image someone sending a letter of outrage from Quebec in French to the White House. They are still trying to get money from New York for power.
There was a story about such a thing in "The Mouse that Roared"
Anybody read it.
Regards, Paul V.
P.S. Anyway, It is not just a question of economic viability, I have no doubt that the english canadian provinces could continue to be a country of their own,
for a little while at least.
The problem is a question of identity. Without Unity and identity with the french part Canada will lost her specificity, and would become just a "little USA of the north".
They say Canada is just like America, without the gunfire... ;)
But seriously, Candy is right: Americans and Canadians are very different. Don't let the accents fool you! I don't see Uruguay and Argentina melting into each other just because economic times are hard and they happen to speak the same language; it won't be happening in North America either.
Nor is the US looking to expand. We haven't added another state in half a century, and we aren't in any mood to, whatever people may think out there. We've hit max size. The bar is now closed. No more applications are being taken. Not even if you have gas, oil, or tar sands. We took in Texas, and look at all the trouble THEY'VE caused.
But seriously, Candy is right: Americans and Canadians are very different. Don't let the accents fool you! I don't see Uruguay and Argentina melting into each other just because economic times are hard and they happen to speak the same language; it won't be happening in North America either.
Nor is the US looking to expand. We haven't added another state in half a century, and we aren't in any mood to, whatever people may think out there. We've hit max size. The bar is now closed. No more applications are being taken. Not even if you have gas, oil, or tar sands. We took in Texas, and look at all the trouble THEY'VE caused.
Even still, it's not hard to stop speaking of specifically the US and English-speaking Canada, and rather simply make reference to English-speaking North America instead, almost as of the political division between the two is effectively irrelevant. If anything, I think that it is politically useful to exaggerate differences between the US and Canada, especially from the Canadian point of view, as, as much as Canadians like to point out how differ from the US, in practice it seems like the only part of Canada which is at all really that notably different from the US is Quebec alone. From my standpoint, the relationship between the US and the English-speaking portions of Canada is probably analogous to that between Germany and Austria, all things considered.
>>Uriel,
can we say "are you able to ..."? <<
Yes. You can also just say "can you ...?"
can we say "are you able to ..."? <<
Yes. You can also just say "can you ...?"
Travis, I'm not sure I get your point. Of course, English-speaking Canadians have a lot in common with Americans, more than they have differences. Nobody's disputing that. But some people here seem to believe that Canada would cease to exist as an independent country if Quebec left, and I think that's nonsense. Yes, Germany and Austria are neighbours and German-speaking countries and probably very similar, but nobody's suggesting that Austria should be absorbed into Germany (they tried that a few decades ago!) ;) I don't think Damian would be very thrilled if I said to him 'you're a native English speaker and live in Britain so you might as well be English'. (HI DAMIAN!!)
Whatever people might think, Canada is NOT the US despite many similarities, and my Canadian partner for one would be mortally offended if anyone suggested to him that he should become American, 'because what's the difference?'
Whatever people might think, Canada is NOT the US despite many similarities, and my Canadian partner for one would be mortally offended if anyone suggested to him that he should become American, 'because what's the difference?'
In the same way as many Quebecois feel themselves members of a societe distincte and want greater autonomy, the same is true of English-speaking Canadians.
The sense of common identity of English-speaking Canadians is not dependent on the fact that Quebec is a part of Canada. It has to do with our English language, our Northern land, our institutions, our history (which includes the unique combination of rivalry and cooperation between French Canadian, British Canadian and Native Canadian) and the sense of solidarity we feel with other Canadians, inside and outside the country. ( I can just hear all those who have been weaned on historical grievance whining starting to type a rebuttal, but the reality is that all countries are forged through struggle. There is not more justification for resentment today of the English conquest of Canada, then for resentment by Anglo-Saxons towards Normans etc.)
Canada has been weakend by 35 years of Quebecois rule which has tried to deny English-Canadian identity and replace it with biculturalism and multiculturalism. Canada has been denied its freedom for 35 years while Quebecois lawyers and their politically correct Quisling English-Canadian lawyers accomplices have been ruining the country,. trying to convert it into something it will not be.
I bear them no malice. It is just time to change. Quebec and the rest of Canada should go their separate ways, in friendship and mutual support.
The sense of common identity of English-speaking Canadians is not dependent on the fact that Quebec is a part of Canada. It has to do with our English language, our Northern land, our institutions, our history (which includes the unique combination of rivalry and cooperation between French Canadian, British Canadian and Native Canadian) and the sense of solidarity we feel with other Canadians, inside and outside the country. ( I can just hear all those who have been weaned on historical grievance whining starting to type a rebuttal, but the reality is that all countries are forged through struggle. There is not more justification for resentment today of the English conquest of Canada, then for resentment by Anglo-Saxons towards Normans etc.)
Canada has been weakend by 35 years of Quebecois rule which has tried to deny English-Canadian identity and replace it with biculturalism and multiculturalism. Canada has been denied its freedom for 35 years while Quebecois lawyers and their politically correct Quisling English-Canadian lawyers accomplices have been ruining the country,. trying to convert it into something it will not be.
I bear them no malice. It is just time to change. Quebec and the rest of Canada should go their separate ways, in friendship and mutual support.