The Republic of Canada

What an idea!. Canada becoming a Republic, while I can appreciate and understand why some would be hesitant about becoming a republic I believe it is an idea that has merit.

I am from a Crown Loyalist Family, that is to say my ancestors left the newly formed Republic of The United States of America because we had to. We fought against the revolution, thus we wore out our welcome. I am of the opinion that my ancestors felt that it was an act of treason to raise arms against the King. We settled in Upper Canada and have lived there ever since. As such I think I am more than qualified to speak on this topic.

Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary democracy. This all good but there are problems within this Country that cannot be addressed under the current state of affairs.

The first and largest problem is; we are a democracy. Which is the rule of the majority, therefore the minority always suffers. So it's no great shakes being in the minority, however if you happen to be from the most populous region of Canada you get to dictate to everyone else. Ontario is the most populous Province in Canada with 12 000 000 souls and counting, Quebec is second. In years gone by before the Bloq Quebecoise Quebec was a key Province to carry for our National Parties therefore appeasing Quebec was job one. Many of our Prime Ministers were from La Belle Province. Since the formation of the Bloq, the voters of Quebec have in essence thrown their vote away by electing Bloq party members to Parliament. I say thrown away because the BQ will never form the Government.

Which leaves Ontario and its 106 seats in the House of Commons which when compared to the rest of Canada's 107 seats (excepting Quebec and the Territories) it requires 8 provinces to surpass Ontario's representation in Government. While it might be representative democracy it is hardly fair. But then when has democracy been about fairness? This in essence gives one province the ability to drive the national agenda. It would require 1 party to sweep all of Ontario and 2 more in other regions to run the slate. Conversely it would require one party to sweep every other region in Canada to negate Ontario.

While overly simplistic and not our present reality it is not outside the realm of possibility. Strange things happen in Politics all the time.

There is also the undemocratic side of our system. Constitutionally speaking Parliament is OMNIPOTENT. Nothing stands in the way of a majority Government. We do not have the checks and balances our neighbour to the south has built into their system. In fact we actually have Parliaments supremacy built into ours.

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is why we need to reform our Constitution and make Canada a Republic. While it's nice to be able to have the appendage "Royal" attached to our institutions the world won't come to an end if over the next 20 odd years became entirely severed from the Crown.

As it is today we have an unelected head of State, The Queen and her representative the Governor General. Which the latter is appointed. Our Prime Minister is merely the leader of the Party that got enough seats to form the Government. However the Prime Minister is actually more powerful than the President of the United States. He does wield supreme executive power but was not ever directly elected.

But the single greatest argument for a republic is The authority of the Government comes from the PEOPLE. As it stands today we in Canada only elect our dictators who's authority is derived from The Crown of England. The English Parliament enacted the Statute the created the super colony of Canada in 1867. In 1982 the final act of the English Parliament was to grant our Parliament its autonomy and to enable Parliament to amend the Constitution. We as Canadians gained nothing and we still pay for the privilege of have the "Royal" appendage.

It is no wonder that Quebec did not sign onto this. Why would they nothing changed for them. However by them not signing the Constitution, they made it de facto law not de jure.

We need now more than ever to unite our Country under a republic with reforms that will equalize the electorate stabilize and moot Quebec separatist. and bring our Western Provinces in out of the Cold.

At Last

At last there is movement on Parliament Hill, Yorkton Melville MP Gary Breitkreuz has introduce a Private Members Bill to end the multi billion dollar waste of money Known as the Long Gun Registry. Apart from ending the registry for rifles and shotguns it has some other cost saving measures that will streamline things without sacfrificing public safety. I see the move a step in the right direction, I will not be dancing a jig until all of the Firearms Act is repealed. There is no need nor call for these draconian measures introduced by the Chretien government. Law abiding citizens were not ever the problem. However they were made scapegoats. It was Kim the Pink who first brought in a stiffening of then current laws. But he illconcieved measures were quickly turned into political hay by the Liberal Party of Canada. There new law that they planned would make Ms Campbell look weak and worthless. it was to cost a "few million dollars" 2 billion in counting and the liberals governments making some of the costs "Cabinet Secrets" we the tax payers will or may never know the true cost of this pie in the sky idea known as the Firearms Act. All this money spent with the registry not helping to solve nor prevent a single crime. Indeed no in fact it has encouraged criminals enboldened them to commit crimes in broad day light. Car jackings home invasions being the new crimes that are in "vogue". Why one might ask? The short answer is, The Liberal Government gave every street thug a guarantee that we are disarmed and defenceless.

From a Tactical stand point if you are going to commit a crime are you going to pick a target that is able to fend you off or are you going to pick "soft target" that is easy pickins? The law as it is written makes our streets and homes one big Gun Free Zone. The storage regulations take care of your home since you can not keep a firearm loaded at the ready. The law has done two things it has told every theif and thug that you and your family cannot counter an attack effectively. Even if the perps are only armed with baseball bats numbers counter strength. On the streets they now no that no one is armed since concealed carry is non existent in Canada becuase the law allowing it requires an Authorization to Carry permit (ATC). The second thing the law has done is create a thriving black market on the streets. In Ontario there is a requirement that when a firearms owner buys ammunition the strore must keep record of that. with you name and address and type of firearm and its type of ammunition. No law is on the books about the security of these records..The Government has provided the criminals of our Province with an up to date catalogue. This of Course is always done in the name of "Public Safety" do you feel safer now knowing that the bad guys have the ability to find guns?

If it hadn't been reported I would not have believed it!

In case anyone is not up to speed about Britain and some of the silliness that has transpired over the past few years since the Labour party has been running the show. The below article kinda sums it up nicely. England a once proud and sensible place has taken a turn for the silly. Prince Harry had to undergo sensitivity training for comments he made while he was on active duty in Afghanistan. On a more serious note a shop keeper and his friend fended off an armed robber. The shop keeper ended up charged with assault. To his discredit instead of defending himself in court he plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid prison time. The Crown and the Judge agreeing painted him as being no different than the hooligan that tried to rob him. Stuff like this is stupifyingly amazing. It appears that defending your property is now a crime in England. One wonders what has gotten into the water supply there.... I would be laughing if this were a Monty Python sketch but sadly it's not. More is the pity our Great Nation of Canada is not all that far behind them.