Quote:
Originally posted by Flames Draft Watcher+May 17 2005, 03:34 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Flames Draft Watcher @ May 17 2005, 03:34 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Snakeeye@May 17 2005, 10:16 PM
However, either measure takes power away from Ontario, and moves it into the hinterland.# Why would Ontario want that?
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Well it might surprise you but not everybody in Ontario is only looking after their own self interest. Not every Canadian or Ontarian would put having a greater voice in government ahead of fairness. I think most Canadians would respond to a rational argument as to why the current electoral system is not fair and how it encourages some of the regionalism that most of us are unhappy with. [/b][/quote]
You cant get any more rational than the argument, that comes up after every election, of how the Liberals usually took 60% of the seats with 40% of the vote, or how the NDP got screwed, as usual.
I'm sorry, but it has become patently obvious that Canadians, and specifically Ontarians, dont respond to this.
And yes, I am aware that I am over-generalizing.
I've actually been arguing the flaws of the system with someone from Ottawa lately. In his view, which he argued as typical of the majority of Ontarians, Quebec deserves special treatment, while Alberta is simply whining. He also sees no problems with the national makeup as it exists today.
As you say, PR is bad for the Bloq, so Quebec will not support it. PR takes power away from Ontario, so Ontario will not support it. It is no coincedence at all that the provinces working hardest to change the system are the provinces farthest from Ottawa.
Honestly, the only way we in Alberta are going to make Ontario sit up and listen is to do what Quebec has done. Build the damn firewalls. Seperate ourselves from as many national policies as possible, and leave it up to Ontario to cover the welfare bill for the rest of the nation.
So long as we accept being treated like a piggy bank and nothing more, Canada will treat us like a piggy bank and nothing more. We need to push our agenda harder.