Canadian Rejection of Unity

Quebec reminds me of a teenager who will not live by the house rules. It wants to move out of the house or stay and live by its own rules with special status. The parents, however, have to pay all the costs.

The proposals do not embrace the principle of representation by population. To get Quebec's agreement, the proposal guaranteed it 25 percent of the members of the Commons; its population, however, is shrinking and is already just over 24 percent. This is my major objection to the proposals. The proposals give more weight to collective rights than to individual rights. Many interpret Quebec's strategy as a means to maintain French supremacy by law if it cannot do it by population.

The proposals do give more political force and autonomy to the Indians. This is an important part of the deal and long overdue. V. Hoeppner, Saskatchewan

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