So you want to move to Canada?

[Pure]

HP is a plus, definitely! Probably from Britain. Not very similar to A-1.

 

[McKenna]

HP is a plus, definitely! Probably from Britain. Not very similar to A-1.

I found some the other night at the Cost Plus World Market, if you've a hankering for it.

 

[fogbank]

One of the key things that the Reform party stood for was log-cabin conservatives of British Columbia and religious conservatives of Alberta. The Reform Party has deep roots in the Prairie and was fuelled by the notion of Western Alienation - where the west felt like it was not getting enough weight in the policy making as the Federal Government was putting too much focus on Ontario and Quebec.

Funny you should mention that. I'm actually writing a novel right now where one of the central themes is western alientation. Personally, I think it's all completely unjustified, but I grew up in a town where everyone around me thought that seperation from Canada was the most logical course of action.

On the subject of Canadian food -- one of the best Canadian foods is the saskatoon Berry, and the various jellies, syrups and pies made from it. Personally, saskatoon pie is my absolute favorite kind. Recently the British food and drug administration banned import of saskatoon product into Britain, claiming that there was no record of safe consumption of the berries in Britain (ignoring the fact that any member of the royal family who has travelled to Canada has been served them in one form or another). So you Brits out there, lobby your government! Write letters to your member of parliment! Allow the mighty saskatoon into your country again!

 

[oggbashan]

Salon.com - Kevin Berger

Nov. 4, 2004
Finally, you may want to think kind thoughts about American founding father George Washington before you recite Canada's Oath of Citizenship: " I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada."

Note the 'Queen of Canada'. That has no connection with her role as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Oath makes you Canadian, not British UK. The Queen's role is as Head of State of Canada and that role is defined as a constitutional monarchy. Your oath also applies to her heirs as ruler of Canada whoever they might be - and they could eventually be an elected President instead of the Governor-General acting as Her Majesty's representative in Canada.

Og

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Between a woman and her doctor? A man has no say? Hmmm. Not sure how I'd feel about that.

Sure Joe.

And turnabout is fair play, right?
So a woman should have the final say over whether or not you get a vasectomy.


BTW: Just received a flash from my CBF.

Saskatchewan just became the 7th province in Canada to allow same sex marriage.
A judge in Saskatoon just ruled that the current federal law is unconstitutional.

 

[SensualCealy]

Finally I can make a slight correction to the all knowing OG,
(you are a walking talking encyclopida Brittanica!)
Here in Canada we have Primeministers not Presidents. Anyone that is a Canadian citizen can become the Governor General if pointed to the position.

Her Honorable Adrianne Clarkson was a tv host for many years before given the opportunity. Many of us saw that as a great acheivement since she was someone we from this generation had seen on tv and could recognize. Not many kids these days would know what she represents.

It would be a shame if Canada segregated itself from the United Kingdom, the history in itself is who we are today.
Cealy

 

[Guest]

 

[Svenskaflicka]

From what I've been told by a Canadian woman, Sweden and Canada are very much alike - except Canada has no Swedes.


Allright, I'm moving!


(Hey, I'm a refugee from the European Union, aka USA Wannabe)

 

[McKenna]

....European Union, aka USA Wannabe)

So if the EU becomes as infamous as the USA, can we hate it, too?

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

So if the EU becomes as infamous as the USA, can we hate it, too?

Yes then we'll be United in infamy.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Sure Joe.

And turnabout is fair play, right?
So a woman should have the final say over whether or not you get a vasectomy.

What does one have to do with the other? Won't preach my viewpoint on abortion, but you lost me here. I just don't see a connection.

Q_C

 

[Lisa Denton]

Okay, first off I am Canadian, so I can make fun of myself and those who live around me. (well I can, cant I? )

Around where I live, the only ethnic Canadian food you will find is the odd Cedar plank salmon, and a Buffalo burger here and there.
Neither are found in our area unless they have a herd of Buffalo I didnt know about.

What is truly Canadian food? Salmon? Anyone in the cold water or lake areas can have salmon. Maple syrup? Anyone with a maple tree can produce that too.
So often we relate things with nations US- Apple Pie, French Canadian pea soup- Canada, who taught them how to make it?

As long as we all have food in our Tummy, what the hell does it matter where it origionates?

Skipping off to get my whale blubber ice lolly!
Cealy

You are cute and funny pass that whale blubber this way.

You all really get maple syrup out of a tree? -- And I thought I was a tree-hugger, wow.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

What does one have to do with the other? Won't preach my viewpoint on abortion, but you lost me here. I just don't see a connection. Q_C

Reverse Logic.

I don't believe anyone but that woman should be the final arbiter of whether or not she gets an abortion, any more than I believe that anyone but that man should be the final arbiter of whether or not he gets a vasectomy.

The woman's husband and the man's wife should at least have their opinion be listened to politely, but in the final analysis it is the woman's womb, and the man's scrotum.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Reverse Logic.

I don't believe anyone but that woman should be the final arbiter of whether or not she gets an abortion, any more than I believe that anyone but that man should be the final arbiter of whether or not he gets a vasectomy.

The woman's husband and the man's wife should at least have their opinion be listened to politely, but in the final analysis it is the woman's womb, and the man's scrotum.

Ummm....

I see the parallel, or at least that you see it as one. Many wouldn't agree, given that the scrotum produces sperm that would only belong to him, and the womb carries a child that would be both parent's responsibility. Everyone has the right to their own viewpoint.
Later,

Q_C

 

[oggbashan]

Finally I can make a slight correction to the all knowing OG,
(you are a walking talking encyclopida Brittanica!)
Here in Canada we have Primeministers not Presidents. Anyone that is a Canadian citizen can become the Governor General if pointed to the position.

Cealy

My fault in not expressing myself clearly. I know Canada has a Prime Minister.

What I was suggesting was that IF Canada were to become a republic they would have to replace the Queen as Head of State by an elected President.

The President would replace the Governor General because the President would be the Canadian Head of State and resident in Canada.

Og

 

[Svenskaflicka]

So if the EU becomes as infamous as the USA, can we hate it, too?

You may start hating it immediately. I do.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Ummm....

I see the parallel, or at least that you see it as one. Many wouldn't agree, given that the scrotum produces sperm that would only belong to him, and the womb carries a child that would be both parent's responsibility. Everyone has the right to their own viewpoint.
Later,

Q_C

That's one way of seeing it. But bearing a fetus, giving birth, and, if they choose to do so, breast-feeding, is a woman's work. Requesting that a woman keep a baby she doesn't want to keep is still a much larger and more demanding thing to do than to ask a man to have a vasectomy he doesn't really want.

Both are violation of integrity(sp?), but the first has more consequences.

 

[Boota]

I don't want to move to Canada just to flee the Bush Regime. I want to follow this new American tradition and help to enforce a regime change as soon as possible. I want to participate in taking my country back from the religious fascists. I want American values to once again reflect true American values. Constitutional values. On November 2nd fear and bigotry ruled the day. This HAS to be changed. The idea of discrimation as a national mandate bothers me deeply. I can imagine nothing more un-American than what Bush's base really voted for. The proposed gay marriage ban is what put Bush over the top, drawing in people who otherwise would have likely voted for Kerry. (There were several of them in my family.) The religious right has an inappropriate amount of control in American politics. Welcome to the Theocratic States of America.

Not true?

Not yet. But we're on the way.

Bush will likely be able to name up to four Supreme Court justices. The Republicans hold control of the House and Senate and will likely steamroll over any opposition to Bush's appointments. Say goodbye to our freedoms. Roe v. Wade will only be one of the first on the chopping block. That temporary Patriot Act? I see it as permanent and expanding. The First Amendment is already on the ropes. Just wait.

I wonder what we'll call the American version of the Gestapo?

 

[Xelebes]

Xel said,

The Reform Party merged roughly with the Progressive Conservatives (the Tories) to unite against the Liberals (Grits). The party is now known as the Conservative Party.

That's right. That's why I fuzzed the title issue by saing 'the newly minted Reform party.' Couldn't remember the new friggin name.

It seems you agree though, with my main point, that this new 'right' Conservative party is NOT under control of the religious right. (And the power of the RR was likely *diminished* in the merger you speak of.) I.e., There's likely a big difference between an Alberta "Conservative" *on average* and, say, a Texas Republican. The latter is almost guaranteed--as least in public--to show him/herself as 'evangelical' and/or 'born again.'

You haven't been to Red Deer. Oh boy.

But yeah, there is quite a strong Southern Baptist influence here - which is different from the normal Baptist and while it may not be as strong as the US, the influence does make Alberta look like Holy Roller country, especially in the Central and Southern part of the province.

 

[Xelebes]

On the subject of Canadian food -- one of the best Canadian foods is the saskatoon Berry, and the various jellies, syrups and pies made from it. Personally, saskatoon pie is my absolute favorite kind. Recently the British food and drug administration banned import of saskatoon product into Britain, claiming that there was no record of safe consumption of the berries in Britain (ignoring the fact that any member of the royal family who has travelled to Canada has been served them in one form or another). So you Brits out there, lobby your government! Write letters to your member of parliment! Allow the mighty saskatoon into your country again!

Saskatoons and chokecherries. Yeah.

Oh, and bakeapples and gooseberries. Can't forget the great foods of Newfoundland!

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

The Divided States: A Modest Proposal
by Gwynne Dyer

November 3, 2004


Looking at that extraordinary electoral map of the United States
with all the liberal, quiche-eating, Kerry-supporting states of the
north-east and the west coast coloured Democratic blue while the
"heartland" and the south were solid Republican red, the solution to the
problem suddenly occurred to me. "Blueland" should join Canada.

It is getting harder and harder for the two tribes of Americans to
understand or even tolerate each other. Once again, as in 2000, the
country is divided with almost mathematical precision into two halves, one
of which adores President George W. Bush while the other literally loathes
him. And it goes far deeper than mere personalities or even the old
left-right split; the clash now is about social norms and fundamental
values on which few are willing to compromise.

Opinions on the foreign issues that seemed to dominate the election
- the war in Iraq and the "war on terror" - just mapped onto that existing
cultural division. People who go to church regularly and oppose abortion
and gay marriage were also far more likely to believe that US troops had
found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that Saddam Hussein had
somehow sponsored the terrorists of 9/11, so they voted for Mr Bush.
People who don't, didn't.

"Irreconcilable" is the word that springs to mind. Two separate
populations have evolved in the United States, and they are increasingly
unhappy even about living together. One sub-species, homo canadiensis,
thinks medicare is a good idea, would rather send peace-keepers than
bombers, and longs for the wimpy, wispy liberalism enjoyed by their
Canadian neighbours to the north. The other breed, homo iraniensis,
prefers the full-blooded religious certainties and the militant political
slogans - "Death to...(fill in the blank)" - that play such a large and
fulfilling part in Iranian public life.

It is sheer cruelty to force these two populations to go on living
together, especially since US political life has lost its centre and now
pits these two irreconcilable opposites directly against each other in a
winner-takes-all election every four years. Since the pseudo-Iranians
slightly outnumber the proto-Canadians, the obvious solution is for the
latter group actually to go to Canada - and indeed, I have lost count of
the number of American friends who have told me that if George W. Bush wins
again, they are going to move to Canada.

There are problems with this solution, however. A mass migration
northwards would leave large chunks of the United States virtually empty,
and the parts of Canada where people can live in any comfort are pretty
full already. Besides, the winters up there really are fairly severe, and
I'm not sure that Californians would be up to it. And then, looking at the
two-colour map of the electoral outcome, the solution hit me. You don't
have to move the people; just move the border.

It would all join up just fine: the parts of the US inhabited by
homo canadiensis all lie along the Canadian border or next to other states
that do (although the blue bit dangles down a long, long way in the case of
the Washington-Oregon-California strip fondly known as the Left Coast).
True, the United States would lose its whole Pacific coast, but we could
probably arrange for an American free port in, say, Tijuana. And lots of
Canadians could move to a warmer clime without actually having to leave
their country.

At the global level, everybody else would be quite happy with a
bigger Canada and a smaller United States. That smaller US would have to
pull in its horns a bit, as it would no longer have the resources to
maintain military bases in every single country on the planet, but it would
retain enough resources to invade a country every year or so, so it
wouldn't suffer too badly from withdrawal symptoms. And the new Canadians
would be free to have abortions, enter into gay marriages, do stem-cell
research and engage in all other wickednesses that flourish in that bastion
of corrupt and Godless liberalism. They could even speak French, if they
wanted to.

No solution is perfect: there would be limp-wristed liberals
trapped in the United States and God-fearing rednecks who suddenly found
themselves in Canada, so some degree of population exchange would be
necessary. It's even possible that a few right-wing bits of Canada - parts
of Alberta, for example - might prefer to join the United States. But you
can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs, and think how happy
everybody will be when they are living exclusively among like-minded
people.

Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist whose articles
are published in 45 countries.

 

[Vincent E]

The most rip-roaringly funny part about this article to me is that Canada seems to have even higher standards for prospective immigrants than the USA even under George W. Bush's immigration proposals. Just think, Canada might actually be enforcing standards to prevent an unwanted flood of immigrants from their southern border coming in and trying to take over.



Who the hell do they hink they are in enforcing such blatant human rights violations?

How dare they try and award points for incoming foreigners; they should just throw opent he doors and accept the refuse of humanity that shows up to litter their shores, place demands on their healthcare system, and increasing the pressure for bilingual education.

Open the damn doors and let everyone in regardless of their background...just like the good ol' USA.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Hold on, Vinny!

You’ve got the wrong foot in your mouth. You tore up in flame before reading the credit.

“Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.”

That would be a London, England journalist <born in Canada> writing for publication in newspapers in 45 countries, worldwide.

I know you are above troubling with silly little things like facts. In your entire rant, not one of your accusations, neither stated nor inferred, was backed by a single documented fact.

Still, you should at least trouble yourself with those petty nuisances enough to find out at whom you are so pissed.

 

[Pure]

Hi Xel,

yeah, we've got our 'pockets' of the religious right. But the weekend papers carried a number. Born again's in Canada, 10%; in the US 25% [or more].

no, I haven't been to Red Deer. nor Timmins, either!

 

[Xelebes]

Wait.... you're Canadian right?

*squints at N.E. of US*