Faster horses said:
All this time I thought your Maple Leaf was a symbol of peace.
But what the heck, I don't even know where Canada is. :wink:
by Patrick Henry
March 23, 1775
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take but as for me: give me liberty or give me death.
Mrs Greg said
Roper,it was said tongue in cheek,yes I imagine the trees were planted and aren't native..kind of like the Oak tree in my yard. This is my thought,yes you bring up lots of valid points for sure but the fact remains our flag as it is is greatly respected and known throughout the world...why change a good thing??I love and am VERY proad of my flag....{salute}
To me the flag represents whats wrong with this country.
No equal representation in the Federal government.
You should not have to live in Ontario or Quebec to be a "Real Canadian"
Yes I realize that Ontario and Quebec have higher populations but this is largely due to the rest of the country being exploited because of little Federal representation. As a result most of the civil service jobs and government contracts, military spending all goes to Ontario and Quebec.
Their industries are taken care of and our industries dont matter. Look at softwood lumber! If it was about maple trees in Ontario and Quebec the matter would be taken care of right away!
Why was milk replacer left out of the feed ban<bse>? Because the biggest users of milk replacer<blood meal> is dairy. Where are most of the dairy farms? In Ontario and Quebec! Plus there also subsidized by about 130%! When was the last time a western industry was subsidized by 130%?
So basically they risked western Canadas beef industry for french milkers in Quebec.
I will tell you something else. I read the new revised feedban from the Alberta Beef Producers web site last month. I didnt see anything mentioned about milk replacer.<maybe I missed it?
Look at the televised federal election debates? Did they even mention weastern agriculture? No! Because we dont count.
Look I have lived in Ontario and I have relatives living there yet. I know the mindset.
Economic Cost of Federation for Alberta, 1961 – Present
Alberta has, on a per capita basis, been Ottawa's largest single contributor. For example, between 1961 and 1992, Alberta paid $139 billion more to Ottawa than it received back from Ottawa. That is what it cost Albertans to be Canadian. *
And where did the money go? During that time frame, the province of Quebec, despite its large population and vibrant economy, was a net recipient of over $ 168 billion from Ottawa. Alberta was paying Quebec to be Canadian. *
* Source: Dr. Robert Mansell and Ronald Schlenker, "The Provincial Distribution of Federal Fiscal Balances," Canadian Business Economics 3:2 (Winter, 1995), 3-21
There are two net contributors to Ottawa: Alberta and Ontario. The difference is that Ontario gets a return on investment. They have a diversified economy with end use manufacturing. They also have a strong voice in federal policy. The Kyoto Accord would have adversely affected Alberta and Ontario, however, Ottawa exempted the Ontario Auto Industry from the Accord.
Alberta's cost 1997 - 2003 **
In Billions Canadian Dollars: $54.933
1997: $5.668
1998: $6.279
1999: $6.130
2000: $7.190
2001: $8.568
2002: $9.998
2003: $11.100
**Source: Alberta Finance, March 2004
Do you know how much money Ottawa has taken out of Alberta so far just this year? Over $7,000,000,000 Thats what it cost us so far this year to be part of Canada.
The official tree of Alberta is Lodgepole Pine and the official Alberta colours are gold and "Tory" blue and I fly the Alberta flag proudly. But as far as unequal Federalism goes im not very patriotic.
That last unelected Senator they gave us should have been taken to the Ontario border and dumped off.
Its about time that the west started standing up for itself.
Confederation at any cost? I dont think so :wink: