Pearson-Shoyama Institute
Place du Canada

Individual rights vs. ethnic utopia

I am a Canadian citizen who lives in Quebec. My family has lived here since the 18th and 19th centuries yet I am not an equal and free member of society. I, nor any of my family members, can never hope to get a municipal of provincial government job, my very language is deemed offensive and derogatory to the main tribe that lives here.

If a "distinct society" clause is accepted, or any similar form of clause, the rapid result will be the creation of a French ethnic state in which citizens will have varying degrees of rights, depending on the contents of their chromosomes. The rest of Canada seems willing to accept this situation and
to turn its face away while the Quebec government violates the most basic rights of Canadians living in this province.

This should not be an acceptable compromise to solve our self created problems. Giving more powers to the separatists will only make them stronger and enable them to reach their cherished goal of an ethnic utopia sooner. It is far better to have the residents of Quebec choose Canada as is with the ability to work from within to effect change or outright independence for the separatist areas of Quebec that want it.

The attitude of "let them go" is also a unhealthy backward response. "Let them go" means they will kidnap about 2 million Canadians against our wills. Is there no responsibility for the rest of Canada to protect us? Once we are sacrificed what will Canada claim to stand for? Certainly not freedom, equality, and the protection of basic rights. My basic rights as a Canadian ore not open to be voted on by any regional group.

Likewise the demands from some Quebec residents of "give us this and that or we will leave" is a fantasy. Quebec is far from solidly united and would splinter into numerous ungovernable regions should an declaration of independence occur. Such a declaration of independence would be outside all Canadian and international law. What courts would the Quebec government take me before if I and one million of my neighbors refuse to pay our taxes to them, register our cars, etc.? We do not need violence to shut the Government down and make us ungovernable, civil disobedience would work very well. Would a revolutionary council establish makeshift tribunals to deal out revolutionary justice? How much money would you suppose the Americans, Germans, etc. be willing to lend this breakaway state under such a situation of anarchy?

The result is a deadlock, but the problem is self created and almost entirely fantasy and myth. Rather than turn the country upside down and abandon the concept of a modern free constitutional democracy in favour of multiple classes of citizens in a group rights oriented ethnic state, the Canadian prime minister should constantly champion freedom, equality, and basic rights. He or she will certainly win in the end, for he or she would be arguing on the side of individual freedoms versus group rights.

Eventually the residents of Quebec will identify the ethnic utopians as the main problem that is steadily and efficiently eroding our standard ofliving and will turn on them. The sad thing is that things will get worse before this will occur. Where are our leaders who will steadfastly support basic rights? We need you now more than ever. Where are the other Canadians who believe that rights are rights are rights? Is Canada merely a corporation willing to sign any deal and cut its losses?

Sometimes we have to take a stand on basic principles, regardless of the short term costs.

Robert Nicholson
rnicho@po-box.mcgill.ca