Is 100 Years Long Enough?

[Have At You]

Western Canadians (especially in Alberta) now support secession more strongly than even Quebec ever has. There is a feeling that the national government back East just takes from them, without really paying attention to their concerns. And now that the western oil sands have been shown to have the second-largest reserve of oil in the world, and the price of oil is high enough to justify the cost of extraction, on top of the West's already being the nation's breadbasket and main source of lumber and other resources, the question is starting seriously to be asked "why should we let THEM govern US?"

I'd be interested in hearing from the Canadians on the board what they think. Is 100 years long enough?

[jBirch]

Western Canadians (especially in Alberta) now support secession more strongly than even Quebec ever has. There is a feeling that the national government back East just takes from them, without really paying attention to their concerns. And now that the western oil sands have been shown to have the second-largest reserve of oil in the world, and the price of oil is high enough to justify the cost of extraction, on top of the West's already being the nation's breadbasket and main source of lumber and other resources, the question is starting seriously to be asked "why should we let THEM govern US?"

I'd be interested in hearing from the Canadians on the board what they think. Is 100 years long enough?

Nope.

Nobody out here takes seriously the talk of secession, regardless of what you read in the newspaper. The Alberta government likes to make a big stink out of it, and the people are still pissed about the NEP, but by and large, we are all still excited to be part of Canada.

And everyone out here remembers the oil crash in Texas in the 70s and is under no illusion that we don't need the rest of Canada for when the bad times come around. The droughts, BSE and the general state of the Agriculture sector are far more pressing concerns then the boom in Oil.

And Albertans in general like being one of the hotbeds of controversy in Canada. We're just a little irritated at Quebec pulling the "We're going to seperate if you don't give us a bigger slice of the pie" things and the fact that our opinion doesn't matter on anything. It's fun having the election results in Ontario announced before we even get out to vote and knowing who's going to form the next government regardless of what we cast at the ballot box.

But nobody is disenfranchised enough to believe that life would be better outside the Federation, then in it. And we can still vote Conservative, just to irritate Ontario and Quebec, so life isn't quite so bad. *grin*

James.

[Fencergrl]

I agree with J.Birch. I AM Canadian and have been for many generations. Why on earth would we want to separate from Canada?

Sure, Ottawa takes more than they give us and seldom listen... can you imagine the cost of us running our own country??? Nor do I want to be part of the States... nice people, but I prefer to remain Canadian.

Nope, we're all in this together, good or bad.

[Schiavona]

I AM Canadian and have been for many generations.

You keep getting reincarnated in Canada?

Nor do I want to be part of the States... nice people, but I prefer to remain Canadian.

Hey! You guys can join with Alaska and form a big, oil rich country with a small population..........

[Epee_Pox]

You guys can join with Alaska and form a big, oil rich country with a small population..........

Hush!

That's an excellent idea that would seriously piss off the US and the Eastern provinces. Best to keep your mouth shut.

[ThatReallyHurt]

Manitoba is always flip-flopping on this issue, half the time we think Alberta (and to a lesser extent, British Columbia) is nuts (sorry to you out west), and the other half of the time we think Ontario and Quebec are nuts (sorry to you out east). Like JBirch said, no one here takes it seriously, but it's occasionally toyed with - when times are good.

I can't see it ever happening... the western provinces don't have the population, infrastructure, or industry required to actually make a go of it if they wanted to secede.

It would be a quick way to drastically reduce the standard of living.

[Black Jeebus]

Well I can't say much about Canadian seperation but I do think neither of the factions in the US Civil War (not saying Canada would go to war) would have survived long without the other. Obviously those damn Yankees agreed (and I'm sure lurking somewhere nearby is one of my cousins ready to lynch me for agreeing with anything Yankee-like).

[Fencergrl]

Hey! You guys can join with Alaska and form a big, oil rich country with a small population..........

It was damn stupid that we let you guys have Alaska. You're right it should be part of Canada (whether we separate or not). How 'bout it Schiv? We won't forget you're one of our territories... ahem... unlike some people.... no annoying border to cross... no change in currency.... stronger beer. I'll send you a pound of back-bacon and a jug of maple syrup and we'll seal the deal.

We have a cool flag....

[Larrison]

Heh! *Grins* Personally I always supported "Fifty Four-Forty or Fight!"

Would have solved this whole dang argument right there....

[ThatReallyHurt]

Hey! You guys can join with Alaska and form a big, oil rich country with a small population..........

Actually, Alaska is already part of Canada - we took you guys over in what, '73 or '76? I can never remember.

We even had a popular cop show on TV - Alaska One-Three (that was before Nunavut).

Wait a minute - you're still flying the Stars and Stripes... I guess the paperwork is still pending.

No problem, we'll wait.

[Have At You]

It was damn stupid that we let you guys have Alaska.....

"Let" us? I believe we bought it from Russia fair and square, without any need for Canadian permission.

Heh! *Grins* Personally I always supported "Fifty Four-Forty or Fight!"

Would have solved this whole dang argument right there....

It's telling, isn't it, that the American side of the border is so sparsely populated, while the Canadian side is crammed with almost the entire population. It's almost as if they really really want to come here.

Seriously, though, as free trade grows between our countries, and as our societies grow to have more and more in common, I wouldn't be surprised if the US and Canada unify at some point in the far future. I can see big benefits to both -- much larger marketplace and tax base for Canada, and more resources and productive nice people for the US. (Of course there will be big adjustments: Canada would have to make do without royalty in charge, and the US would have to learn a whole new set of folklore.)

[Fencergrl]

"Let" us? I believe we bought it from Russia fair and square, without any need for Canadian permission..)

I believe it was offered to Canada first. Which would make sense.

Seriously, though, as free trade grows between our countries

I doubt Canada will ever become part of the US, but the US is welcome to become part of Canada. Besides, we think of you as "Southern Canadians" anyway.

[jBirch]

Seriously, though, as free trade grows between our countries, and as our societies grow to have more and more in common, I wouldn't be surprised if the US and Canada unify at some point in the far future.

Heathen!!!!!!!!!!

I can see big benefits to both -- much larger marketplace and tax base for Canada, and more resources and productive nice people for the US.

Hmmmm, that shaft seems mighty pointy. We'll need some real lubrication before we bend over for that one.

(Of course there will be big adjustments: Canada would have to make do without royalty in charge, and the US would have to learn a whole new set of folklore.)

Folklore? Oh! You mean actual, true to form, culture right? Besides, King Bush seems to be more fond of exercising Executive power then HRH. We'd actually have to get used to Royalty ACTUALLY being in charge. And I can't wait for a French congress/Senate. THAT's funny.

*grin*

James.

[jBirch]

I doubt Canada will ever become part of the US, but the US is welcome to become part of Canada. Besides, we think of you as "Southern Canadians" anyway.

Forgot about this....

Fencergrl likes to make Canada sound like a warm inviting place, but in actuality it's a cold, frigid place with nothing but ugly stupid people who like to screw their same sex, shoot pool instead of guns, adhere to Sharia law, kill babies, hug trees (we've got so many of them that you guys are charging us to sell them!) and smoke pot while paying for inept doctors and welfare bums that don't do anything.

What sane, intelligent American would want to move North for that?

James.

[Fencergrl]

Forgot about this....

What sane, intelligent American would want to move North for that?

James.

I'm not suggesting they MOVE here James... heavens no... I would NEVER find secluded places to sunbathe! I just think that we can become one big happy country like Have At You suggested, only my way everyone gets to drink stronger beer and pepper their speach with "Eh?" instead of "Y'all".

[jBirch]

I'm not suggesting they MOVE here James... heavens no... I would NEVER find secluded places to sunbathe! I just think that we can become one big happy country like Have At You suggested, only my way everyone gets to drink stronger beer and pepper their speach with "Eh?" instead of "Y'all".

Yeah, but just think: we'd have 60 Provinces and 3 territories, plus Labrador, Guam and Peurto Rico. Think transfer payments are messed up now? Just wait! And we'd have to put up not only with Premier Klien but also Premier Swarzenegger lathered across the headlines. Then they'd probably legislate something silly, like renaming the Stanley Cup to the World Series of Hockey or the Superpuck.

James.

[Fencergrl]

Yeah, but just think: we'd have 60 Provinces and 3 territories, plus Labrador, Guam and Peurto Rico. Think transfer payments are messed up now? Just wait! And we'd have to put up not only with Premier Klien but also Premier Swarzenegger lathered across the headlines. Then they'd probably legislate something silly, like renaming the Stanley Cup to the World Series of Hockey or the Superpuck.

James.

Yes but would it not be worth it to see the looks on these new Canadian's faces when they see the tax deductions on their paycheques???

Truly a Kodak moment!

They will finally understand why we need the marijuana & stronger beer.

[Schiavona]

It was damn stupid that we let you guys have Alaska. You're right it should be part of Canada (whether we separate or not). How 'bout it Schiv? We won't forget you're one of our territories... ahem... unlike some people.... no annoying border to cross... no change in currency.... stronger beer. I'll send you a pound of back-bacon and a jug of maple syrup and we'll seal the deal.

We have a cool flag....

We'd have to deal with your stupid gun laws.........or I guess we could ignore them like the BCers .

As to the flag-all the school kids (and many adults) would ask, "What kind of leaf is that?" and "What the heck is an oak tree?".

[Fencergrl]

We'd have to deal with your stupid gun laws.........or I guess we could ignore them like the BCers .

As to the flag-all the school kids (and many adults) would ask, "What kind of leaf is that?" and "What the heck is an oak tree?".

My dear... If you're going to become a Canadian you'll have to learn to get misty-eye when looking up at the maple leaf bordered by two red bars representing the two oceans on either side of our country (we ignore the arctic ocean). The maple leaf is in the centre because they are plentiful in Ontario, which is the centre of the universe. And all that matters (or so they think).

Ignore gun laws???? No one likes what Ottawa has done, so no one will enforce it.

[Schiavona]

Sorry, I had heard? read? that people in BC were ignoring the law to register guns. Some group headed by an ex-RCMP was spearheading the ignoring.

Anyway, I still think we should form a new country, maybe with a Spruce Tree on the flag?