Maritime Independence and Canadian
Union, Ronald Colman, GPI Atlantic
Quebec’s separatists may have narrowly lost their 1995 referendum
on independence, but the movement is far from dead. On the
contrary, says Ronald Colman of Nova Scotia-based think-tank
GPI Atlantic, separatist sentiment is stronger than
ever. But what impact would Quebec’s independence have on Canada’s
eastern Maritime provinces, involuntarily cut off from the rest of
the country? In a recent ‘Clarity Bill,’ Canada’s House of Commons
insisted that Quebecers decide whether to stay or separate from the
rest of the provinces. But Quebec, with a recent outflux of
English-speakers and a growing young voting population, is not
requesting complete indepedence, but perhaps a European-style
union, with Ottawa overseeing borders. This change in political
structure could also strengthen the Maritimes, which have suffered
tremendous economic devastation since the 1860s. ‘With a little
help from Quebec,’ writes Colman, ‘the Maritimes may well be the
first place in the world to find itself independent without having
asked for it, in keeping with the non-aggressive nature of its
people.’ — Amanda LukerGo there>>
