Can Canada Survive?: Under What Terms and Conditions?

Graeme S. Mount is a professor of history at Laurentian University, the
author of Canada’s Enemies: Spies and Spying in the Peaceable Kingdom,
and the co-author of The Border at Sault Ste. Marie.

In this collection of papers, separatists, devolutionists, and
federalists express their opinions about the type of Canada they would
like to see. The papers, which provide a cross-section of attitudes
toward Canada’s Constitution, originated as speeches (delivered in
English or in French) to the Royal Society of Canada in November 1996.

Bilingual summaries precede each paper. Le Devoir’s Lise Bissonnette
marvels that federalist politicians regard separatists like herself as
more threatening than constructive; despite Parizeau’s referendum
night speech, she considers most Parti Québécois supporters to be
tolerant of diversity. University of Calgary Professor Thomas Flanagan
endorses some aspects of “Plan B,” but rejects others as dangerous.
McGill’s Charles Taylor, who believes that Quebec should be recognized
as a distinct society, rightly observes that Robert Bourassa’s 1988
rejection of a Supreme Court decision on bilingualism offended many
Canadians and “had a lot to do with the failure of Meech.”

Other views follow. Separatist Guy Rocher thinks that an independent
Quebec and the rest of Canada can be harmonious partners.
Saskatchewan’s Alan C. Cairns doubts whether Meech could have worked,
discredited as it was by 1990. Devolutionist Jean Laponce considers
Belgium a credible role model for Canada! From Halifax, Margaret Conrad
warns against privatization and decentralization without consideration
of the con-sequences. Two summaries, one in English, one in French,
conclude the book.