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WIilTY FIREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OTOBER 4,1989, PAGE 7 PA-GE SEVE-N BLACKMAILING US WITH MEECH LAKE To most English-Canadians, the separation of Quebec :1i would be unthinkable but if the poils are any indication, we k find the Meech Lake accord equally unacceptable. Quebec wants more than we're willing to give and it's using separatism as its trump card. Thousands of parents with teenage kids face the same dilemma every year - ids want their cake and eat it too. The apron strings stretch and fray until they snap, and junior goes off into the world on his or her own. And Io and behold the reiationship improves - a new understanding replaces the strident uncompromising positions of the past. Quebec is that teenage kid that wants more than its -""" parents are prepared to give. Perhaps only by saying goodbye will they grow up politically and face reality. Before I get accused of being an ânti-French bigot, I should point out that I have two dajughter<- in French immersion. I am very much a Canadian nationalist and proud of the Canadian heritage - ail of it. I certainly don't want Quebec to separate but 'sovereignty association' between a separate Quebec and the rest of Canada may be preferable ta the de-federalization of Canada. Between now and next June when the *NMeech Lake accord is either ratified or dies, the efforts t o piick at the heart ______________________________________________ strings of tradition, 'love of your country', heritage, patriotism - whatever you care to cali it - wiil intensilfr immeasurabiy. The lobbying on Gary Filmon, Frank ~ McKenna and Clyde Wells wiil be incredibly intense. I hope they can resist it. Because if we give this teenager what it wants, the rest of us- may as. well move out of the bouse. Last week's Quebec election played magnificently into the nationalists' hands. Not only did the Parti Quebecois gain votes, but the federalist option was totaily marginalized into a splinter English parly. The only federalist option was the ty English option - what more could the nationalists hope for? Bourassa deftly skated down the middle hardly ever mentioning Ottawa. H-e, the arch-teenager, is now poised te blackmail us for half the family estate. And if we don't give it r ta him - well, he'1l just. turn the music up a littie higher and he'1l throw even more of bis garbage into the St. Lawrence (and bis little brothers and sisters downstream will just have ta choke on it) and he'1l refuse to pay any board and ...well you get the picture. What Quebec wants is littie different from what every teenager wants - a sense of distinct identity from the rest of the family - Quebec wants ta be a 'distinct society~. But Quebec is no more distinct than the Ukrainian Ï4Ï F ~PO R S settlements on the Prairies, the Mennonite communities around Waterloo, the Scots of Cape Breton, the Icelandic settlements around Gimli, Manitoba, or even Little Italy in Tarante. It is larger for sure, but for that reason, it is more ONTARIO PREMIER JOHN ROBARTS S1'EAKI.NG AT OPENING 0F secure and less in need of special status.NE COR USEP.3 14 The Fec can li.sea rgt as oneofteoudn The County Building on Rossland Road was the scene of this photo taken on the front lawn na enfChnadaimt s pcal igt theec fo uing during the opening ceremany. To the right of the premier are County Property Chairman nations ofoCanadad butdas ausseltFrancie.titybQuebec ispquit prepared ta abandon French minorities in the rest of Canada Gog rosadWre uslFacs htyAdlo hL and te blatantly discriminate against members of the other founding nation who dare ta be born in Quebec.10YAS G The founding nations argument also ignores aur original 1 ER G iiti7.nq li theInians and Tninit. i,'fi1from the Wednesday, October 3. 1979 edition of the certainly continue; over time I doubt that most of us wouid 7 ER G be aware of any change. from theAG Separatism, though, is being driven by emotion. Rejection fo h Thursday, Octeber 1, 1914 edition of the of Meech Lake will certainly intensify that emotion. But in WHMTY G.AZEITE AND CHIRONICLE the ardglae o prctial olitcssepraton s uUel. eThe famous Scottisb tenor George Neil will sing at a patriotic concert in the Music Hall on Negotiations would focus an practical matters ike transport, *Pligyi Oct. 19fr8.n nablwt ul Hdoeeti ala rmWib tariffs and divvying up the national debt. Frankly, the sooner e Port Perray i . 1 o oigo ya obidaHdoeeti ala rmWi we get down ta the practicalities, the sooner separatism Vill e A men's club bas been organized in Broolin ta meet in rooms over W. M. Lawrence's * ~run out of steam. As with any teenager, tbreatening ta move soe out is far easier than actually doing it. * Dr. John Waugh, former Whitby High School principal, will speak at the school at the The chaice is up te Quebec - live at home under conditions l5th annual meeting of the South Ontario Teachers' Institute Oct. 8 and 9. jthat are fair for the whole family or move out. 1 1i affl-1