If You Have the Answers, You Don't Understand Canada

Morton, Desmond, Canadian Speeches

DESMOND MORTON

Director, McGill Institute for the Study of Canada

Quebecers vote for a separatist government but don't want to separate. Federalist get the answer they sought from a Supreme Court ruling but separatists call it their victory. The most visible result of the first balanced federal budget in a quarter of a century is quarrels about what to do with it. Global warming in the land of the cold brings a devastating ice storm. Confusion reigns. Speech to a seminar on Canada organized by the U.S. State Department at the Meridian International Centre, Washington, D.C., October 14, 1998.

Invitations to Washington are intimidating. As an historian, invited to talk about the economics, politics and the world view of Canada in 20 minutes, do I know where to begin? Familiar with my weaknesses, an American collegue said: "Start Now." I shall.

Last night I left Canada under a Liberal government with an eight-seat majority over the combined opposition and overweening pride that, for the the first year since 1974, the federal deficit has vanished and the national debt might shrink. Far from gratitude, Canadians are restive but divided about how this blessing should be shared. Should surpluses be used to shrink the national debt, cut income …

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Publication information: Article title: If You Have the Answers, You Don't Understand Canada. Contributors: Morton, Desmond - Author. Magazine title: Canadian Speeches. Volume: 12. Issue: 8 Publication date: December 1998. Page number: 27. © 1998 Canadian Speeches. COPYRIGHT 1998 Gale Group.

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