Why is there a Canada?
Canada was established to retain a British foothold in North America. The Canadian Pacific Railway and the Hudson’s Bay Company were the initial threads that held this huge northern country from unravelling into miscellaneous states of the United States.
If you look at any city phone book now, you’ll see more non-British names than British. The CPR and HBC have faded into being just other large corporations and their corporate control has shifted in the last century.
Is there a Canada because most of it becomes so danged cold in winter that no one wants us? Is there a Canada so right-wing Reformers and left-wing Bloc Quebecois can gather in the House of Commons to abuse the Liberals who haven’t decided which wing to flap?
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Is there a Canada so we can tell developing countries how to conduct their affairs to enable them to enjoy a modern, peaceful debt-depressed economy?
Is there a Canada so we can revel in the successes of Wayne Gretzky, Donovan Bailey and Elvis Stojko? Is there a Canada so we can hire Russians, Czechs, Finns and Swedes to dominate our national game?
Is there a Canada so we can demonstrate how to abandon elevators, hospitals, schools, libraries, stores and crop insurance offices?
There must be some reason for Canada to be. When we find out what that is, only then will we be in position to decide how to get organized to make all the right things happen.
So far the clearest message I get is that whatever Canada is, it isn’t the United States.
