Pearson-Shoyama Institute
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The ethnic vote and grassroots democracy
by Anne Clarke
After hearing Jacques Parizeau blaming the ethnic vote, all I can say is thank God for
the ethnics. We saved the country. I'm not surprised because after all we are proud
Canadians who believe that we as a society need to remain as one. I know Canadians who
came from India, from the former Yugoslavia and from other countries that have
experienced, ethnic conflict, separation and civil war, and their message is always to
find ways to accommodate each other and live together. While ethnic divisions have been
the downfall of so many other countries, we have found ways to turn it into an asset here
so let us not give up now.
Democracy is about giving everyone the vote and allowing people to exercise it and to
this end the referendum is something to be proud about. Most other countries would not
allow such a democratic process to take place, they would send in the army.
But we can go further. We can find ways for policies to come up from the grass roots
and for this a "constituent assembly' is perhaps the best forum where a cross section
of Canadians would come together to work on new constitutional ideals. But even they have
to bring their ideas from the grassroots and then work to sell the new ideas about our
future to their fellow citizens. I believe it will be easier for them to do it than for
politicians.
Part of me is very worried about our future because our politicians seem deadlocked.
But part of me is optimistic because we see the human spirit that resulted in the Montreal
rally and other rallies across the country. Canadians clearly want a country and I feel
are more willing than ever before to make a deal that will satisfy a large number of
people.
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