New Turmoil in ... Canada? Canada's Voters Are Uncertain and Frustrated on Eve of National Elections. NAFTA's Future Is in Question

Beginning of article

AS they prepare to vote in parliamentary elections Monday, Canadians show signs of the distrust for "politics as usual" now sweeping the industrial democracies. With a long recession, an unemployment rate of 11 percent, and a growing federal deficit, Canadian voters will likely drive the ruling Progressive Conservative Party, or Tories, from office.

But the discontent extends far beyond disaffection with Tories: Voters are questioning the longterm consensus that has held bilingual Canada together.

Canada's existence has always been problematic, dating to the French surrender of Quebec to England in 1763. Regional demands have conflicted with Canadian national …