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| It is too early yet to judge how far Premier Daniel Johnson will take Quebec along the road to separatism. But behind the scenes, there are ominous por- tents that centennial year could be decisive in determining Que- bec's future. After recent discussions with a numbr of knowledgeable bec residents, I am more pes- simistic than ever that a final and complete split can be avoid- ed. Despite reassurances by Pre- mier Johnson in the first days of his administration, those close to the Quebec political scene warn that the new admin- istration is merely biding its time before striking out on a radically nationalistic policy. "The revolution will go on -- nothing will slow down," I was told. Tue inplication here was that Fremie: 'ohnson, elected with only 42 ver cunt. of the vote, will take an increasingly nationalistic stance in a bid for additional support. It must be remembered that while Jean Lesage was an out- spoken advocate of a new role for Quebec in Confederation, he also came from a national politi- cal organization, with long experience and association at Ottawa. Johnson, in contrast, represents a purely provincial party with no ties to the federal scene. It can therefore be hoped that the Pearson administration will take a more decisive stand in dealing with Quebec. There can be no question of launching any kind of offensive against Que- bec's legitimate aspirations. But is separatism legitimate? While it can be hoped that it would be premature to judge separation as a Johnsonian goal, the time has come for Canada to make up its mind on whether it will permit Quebec to secede should French Canada opt in that direction. So far, no such decision has been rendered. The chief effects which separ- ation would have on Canada are obvious. Quebec would control Crisis In Centennial Year the gateway to Ceatral Canada. World shipping would have to pass through Quebec territory -- the Gulf of St. Lawrence -- to gain entrance to the Seaway. . This would affect both Canada and the United States. Unless a customs union could be estab- lishe', Canada would encounter tremendous difficulties in ful- filling such agreements as ship- ments of wheat to the Soviet Union, which now mostly paSs through the port of Montreal. A significant development which has so far escaped public notice is the trickle of "refu- gees" already starting to flee Quebec. I was told by a Montreal busi- nessman that he and "'at least" thirty f his friends had trans- ferred their investments and bank accounts from Quebec to Ontario. Before the apparently mount- ing tide of separatism becomes any stronger in Quebec, some federal spokesman should point out the benefits which that province enjoys in Confedera- tion. While Quebec leaders con- stantly harp on the flow of tax money from Quebec to Ottawa, nothing is ever said about the federal support which goes back to French Canada. This covers every field from family allow- ances to all manner of federal services such as tax grants, de- fense installations, and federal economic assistance. One example will suffice. The Eastern Quebec Planning Bu- reau, financed jointly by Quebec and Ottawa, has recommended a five-year program to boost the living standards of the Gaspe aud Lower St. Lawrence re- gions. This commendable plan would cost federal and provin- cial governments tens of mil- lions of dollars. Would Quebec taxpayers -- if told the facts -- really prefer to go it alone? It's time someone started sel- ling Confederation to French Canada. The basic question to be faced in this issue is the right of a people to self-determination. The separatists place their main THE NEWS argument on this philosophy. But what of the right of a feder- al union to maintain itself in- tact? The United States met this problem a century ago and it 'took a civil war to resolve it. Ot- TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT AWARDED Terrace Bay High School Board has awarded a con- tract to Mr. G.Pearen of Terrace Bay, Ontario, for the transportation of local students, who will be attending the Schreiber High School, during the school year 1966-67. DEPARTURE TIMES - Leave Terrace Bay at 8.30 a.m. Leave Schreiber approximately 10 minutes after school closing. Students will be picked up at Recreation Centre in the morning and taken directly to Schreiber High For return trip students will be picked up at Schreiber High School and dropped off at the Recreation Centre. No other stops shall be made to pick up or let students off. Transportation shall leave promptly at stated times. Late students shall School . be left behind. Students shall not be permitted to drive vehicle under any circumstances. H.J.Boudreau, Secretary-Treasurer, Terrace Bay High School Board. Recreation Director Buck Matiowsky leaves this week fo attend the National Hockey Leadership In- stitute at McDonald College, St.Anne de Belliveau, Buck is one of two candidates from North- western Ontario selected to attend this clinic The primary pureose of the Clinic is to develop Quebec. tawa should rule now on wheth- er a province is to have the right to secede, because if Que- bec were to do so, other prov- inces would not be long in fol- lowing. Dry Cleaners to The North Shore .... TELEPHONE 155 SCHBEIBER