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The
71st Annual Couchiching Conference in Orillia had participants
who voiced what I have long felt about provincial fiefdoms across
Canada. The provincial kings have abandoned their responsibilities
to the major urban centers in their respective provinces, so much
so, that these centers are on the threshold of economic and political
starvation.
Some of these
urban centers would be much better off if they dealt with only the
Federal Government. The system of 'tranfer payments' to the province
from the Federal coffers does not necessarily mean that the urban
centers are receiving the dollars they need to provide their citizenry
optimum responsible government that has a 'human face' on it. Too
often the bottom line, which is dollars, interferes with what is
the right thing to do.
Because the
provincial governments play the role of the 'middleman' in a sense,
the effect of who gets the assistance needed is watered down. As
I recall Pierre E. Trudeau, the greatest advocate of Federalism
made the provinces cowtow to Ottawa. And he was not without stiff
opposition to his federalist mentality. The likes of Peter Lougheed
from Alberta proved worthy adversarys to PET's advocacy of central
government.
The infrastructure
in our major centers is crumbling as I write and the suffering is
going to be long and far reaching. While provincial governments
continue to use axe and pick on our institutions including our major
dwelling places, the end results will not be pretty. Major urban
centers will lose their ability to withstand what the future is
going to demand of them. These cities are really only villages in
the 'global' sense of the word, and as such, must be well equipped
and healthy in order to compete.
Our rural communities
are collapsing under the weight of modernism, and the populations
are shifting to a relocation to the larger urban center. As a result,
these centers are bearing a heavy burden, while their provincial
mentors, are withdrawing monetary support that would otherwise keep
them vibrant and volatile. In the name of 'tax reform' and 'tax
cuts', we may literally be cutting our own throats and handing the
weapons of our own demise to the provinces.
My opinion only!
Three smiles
to you, J J J
Kathleen
Williams
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About Kathleen
Williams:
Kathleen is legally blind, on a Federal Disability Pension, since
1986. Some of her involvements include:
- Past Pres.
White Cane Club, Penticton, B.C.,
- Past Director,
2nd Vice Pres., and Prov. Liaison with CCB/BC/Yukon Div.
- Past Member-at-large,
Beta Sigma Phi,
- Past President,
Theta Chapter, Calgary;
- Public Relations
Chair, Hemer High School Reunion.
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