[Stephen Dame]

This will run all over the place tomorrow, buried beneath banner stories with heads like: "Martin's a Dictator" or "Harper Doesn't Understand How Parliament Works," depending on the newspaper of course.

I'm just glad somebody is finally voicing the long view in all of this, and I'm particularly enthused that it's this particular somebody:

"Justin Trudeau says he fears renewal of separatism in ugly political climate (Trudeau-Future)
Source: The Canadian Press
May 11, 2005 17:42

By Dennis Bueckert

OTTAWA (CP) - Justin Trudeau says the Liberals could use some time in the wilderness.

"That was one of my father's tricks to stay grounded, and it's certainly one of mine,'' Trudeau said Wednesday. "You get back out of the woods, you regain a certain amount of perspective.''

The son of one of Canada's most charismatic and controversial prime ministers said the political situation today is "ugly.''

He said the sponsorship scandal is evidence of sloppiness in a government that has lacked serious opposition for too long.

"I'd like to see the Conservatives come back to being a strong, credible, national force,'' he said as he fielded questions on a visit to Parliament Hill.

"I don't think the way they are right now they're going to be able to do that.''

The Liberals missed a chance for renewal when Jean Chretien stepped down as Liberal leader and prime minister, he said.

Of particular worry to the younger Trudeau is the rise of the sovereignty movement since the sponsorship mess.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau was obsessed by national unity and defeated the sovereigntists in the 1980 referendum but he never decisively conquered separatism.

"That's one of the things that really scares me right now,'' said the younger Trudeau. "I think we are far closer to the separation of Quebec than we have been for a very long time and I don't think anyone in Ottawa particularly, but in the rest of Canada, is aware or ready to deal with it.''

With the complexion of an outdoorsman and the tousled mane of a rebel, Trudeau radiates health, idealism and the charisma of his father.

But the 33-year-old readily concedes he's too young and inexperienced yet to jump into the fray.

"I'm talking about life experience, I'm talking about depth, I'm talking about a lot of things to learn, a lot of things to understand.

"My own core values are very much in place, but to look at how to make the transition between what you believe into actual policy and actual real decisions, I'm a long way from being able to do that. . . . I'm so young still. It'll take some time.''

He says he's serving his country through his leadership of the Katimavik youth program, which enlists young volunteers to do community service across Canada.

"I will be involved in making a difference and effecting change as much as I can for the rest of my life. Will it end up with me being here (Parliament)? Maybe. I've always said maybe.

"But I'm a long way from that and I'm a long way from being ready for that, and I'm a long way from wanting to do it right now.

"There have to be some serious changes in me and in this place before we're a proper fit.''

INDEX: POLITICS"

[j-monster]

The ultimate irony... Jean Chretien, who was desperate for a legacy as the Prime Minister of Canada, initiated the sponsorship program to help keep Quebec in Canada. Instead, through corrupt and criminal elements in the Liberal party, the sponsorship program begat the Adscam scandal, which could very well be the spark that re-ignites separatism and eventually leads to Quebec leaving Canada.

[Dilly_sAm]

While I understand the implications of the sponsorship scandal for the Liberal party, I fail to see how this can be tied into a renewed vigour for Quebec seperatism. Even with the last referendum a mere decade behind us, it seems to me that Quebec nationalism has died down substantially. Most, if not all, of the young Quebecers I know are loath to the thought of their province going it on its own. Also, the current premier of Quebec is a Liberal and staunch federalist. On the federal level, Paul Martin's style of de-centralized federalism is working with Quebec; they are the province who brokered the recent provincial health deal. Quebec is now the lead province in the interprovincial forum, which has turned from candid debate among provincial and federal powers into Provinces vs. Ottawa, the former being led by Quebec. The current unity crisis is nothing more than sabre-rattling by a province who are asserting their power over a federal minority weakened by one party's desire to ascertain a majority.
The only reason Justin Trudeau can't see this is because he sees federalism as everyone toeing(sic?) Ottawa's line.

[fingernailsonhull]

The sponsorship scandal shows that Ottawa (and the Liberals) believe that Quebec needs to be bought off in order to keep them in the country. More specifically, it shows that the Liberals were willing to do underhanded things in order to suppress the sovereignty movement in Quebec. I believe that if the Liberals are re-elected in the coming election, that this will show Quebec that the rest of Canada doesn't care that the Liberals have entirely dishonoured that province with this sponsorship nonsense. If the Liberals come back to power, the sovereignty movement will re-ignite in Quebec faster than you can say "sovereignty association". Separatist attitudes go in cycles. Catalysts bring them back to the fore. Need I restate that if the Liberals win once again, not only will separatist attitudes revive in Quebec, but I also believe that Western Canadian discontentment will be a huge problem as well. Their voice has been shut out of parliament for much too long. If central Canada (read: Ontario) decides to put this corrupt party back in power, it will mean a world of trouble for the country. Bring on the "The Conservatives will eat your children and burn down hospitals" posts.

[das_hips]

Last election the Liberal's faired terribly in Quebec compared to the previous two elections; bringing the Liberals back into power isn't going to upset the Quebecois, a Conservative minority government might... 2/3's the province won't be happy unless the Bloc is elected with a majority, quite obviously that isn't going to happen. The CPC hasn't gained any tremendous ground in Quebec (they started with 0 seats, whats their approval rating up to now in Quebec? 4%, I think?) and as for the west feeling blockaded in the parliamentary closet, it's tough to argue that their voices are being ignored when the entire Federal system is based on riding's, completely indicative of population... the only real political war the West Coast can declare is with Ontario, and the East. As I see it, it seems that the Conservatives haven't gained a whole lot of ground, the Liberals have just lost votes to the NDP (20% now, that's fairly significant) and the Bloc... even the Green Party has gained a couple of points... regardless of the outcome of the late June/early July election, it's going to be a messy 10 months in parliament, and then we'll probably be off to the polls once more...