As Westerners, our belief in Canada is unconditional
Last week, Preston Manning, the former leader of the Reform Party of Canada, wrote a column for The Globe and Mail about a rising tide of support for Western secession in Canada. He shared that, in his view, a vote for Mark Carney would be a vote for “the breakup of Canada as we know it.”
As two people who have served their respective Western provinces for many years, we know that we are not alone in disagreeing with Mr. Manning’s attempt to threaten voters in “central and Atlantic Canada” and foment division across our great country.
The suggestion that Westerners’ commitment to Canada is in any way conditional is offensive. The idea that Westerners would simply quit being Canadian because of policy disagreements with the federal government of the day gives us far too little credit.
We both know from experience that even in times of disagreement, we have to roll up our sleeves and work alongside our fellow Canadians to deliver results, and continue to build up this great country.
Some Westerners may legitimately disagree – some strongly so – with the present government’s policies. But it doesn’t make the vast majority – even the critics – any less loyal to Canada. Western Canadian political leaders like former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed, former Saskatchewan premier Alan Blakeney and many others, including ourselves, have often disagreed with Ottawa’s approach to the West. But disagreement has not blinded us to the greatness of our country as a whole – a greatness that we profoundly hope will endure.
Our belief in Canada, unlike Mr. Manning’s, is unconditional. We urge all Canadians, of whatever political stripe, to fight unconditionally for Canada, and reject ideas that seek to divide us.
In its modern, pluralistic era, the idea of Canada has never been about silencing or ignoring the diverse expressions of our identities. Indeed, this country has been built over generations of vigourous debate as to how we govern ourselves, build our economy, and interact with one another. These qualities are what have built the muscle of this country.
Today, as our country and the world at large face an unprecedented economic attack from our American neighbours, we need to hold tight to the shared values that our country embodies. Those who promote division, and those who threaten other Canadians, only make us weaker and play into the hands of those who would do us harm.
At a time of existential threat to Canada, a moment when we all need to be pulling together (what part of this has Mr. Manning missed?) Mr. Manning proposes that, if he doesn’t get his way in the federal election, we should be pulling apart the country. It is the agenda of our enemies, not our friends.
Such a position, especially now, can only be described as deeply problematic. It is hard to believe that any Canadian who cares about our country would write this, let alone someone who was respected on the national stage.
Every political party leader in this election campaign should explicitly disavow Mr. Manning’s threats. Let’s stand united for Canada.
Roy Romanow and Anne McLellan
Roy Romanow is a former premier of Saskatchewan. Anne McLellan is a former member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and a former deputy prime minister.
Gifted article: theglobeandmail.com |
