8 Provinces instead of 10: Atlantic Canadian Senators to push for the merger of Nova Scotia, New Bru - Polidicks

[quote=National Post] [B]Adrian Humphreys[/B] [t]http://nationalpostnews.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/maritime-union.jpg?w=620[/t] Conservative Senators from Atlantic Canada are mounting a renewed push for a Maritime Union, proposing the merger of the three East Coast provinces into a single political entity to rescue the region’s stumbling economy. Stephen Greene of Nova Scotia, John Wallace of New Brunswick and Mike Duffy of Prince Edward Island have put together a detailed proposal for a union of their three provinces to be unveiled this weekend, including an idea for the name of the new province and the mechanics of power and representation. Mr. Greene is set to deliver a written proposal and speech in Halifax this weekend. “We’re hoping to move the ball forward and have the people in the Atlantic region, those who are thoughtful, talk about this. We need the public to demand that the political operatives here, the elected governments, start to co-operate,” said Mr. Duffy in an interview. He compared it to retail economics — big-box stores can offer lower prices because they buy in large volume. “In this highly competitive world, if we’re going to make headway, we have to be able to think big and see what we can do together, to ask, how can we put our small differences aside in order to help build a better Maritimes for our kids and their kids. “For 1.8 million people we are terribly over-governed. But the bigger part of this is working in concert, together, to try to create economic development. “How do we make our region more competitive, more attractive and more interesting? Stephen Greene is really going to lead this off,” said Mr. Duffy. Calls to Mr. Greene and Mr. Wallace were not returned before deadline Tuesday. However, even before their proposal is released, it’s generating criticism. After speaking publicly in favour of union, Mr. Duffy was criticized in the P.E.I. legislature. “I have grave concerns that one of our government representatives in Ottawa, who should have the best interest of Islanders at the top of his mind, would say such a thing,” said Robert Mitchell in the provincial legislature on Tuesday. George Webster, deputy premier, agreed, saying such comments “shocked and dismayed” him, adding: “I take great pride, and most Islanders do take great pride, in who we are as Prince Edward Islanders.” The idea of a Maritime union, however, is not new. It predates Confederation: the Charlottetown Conference in 1864 was supposed to see representatives from the three Maritime colonies discuss a union but it was reworked to accommodate what is now Ontario and Quebec. It became a grander union — Canada — and the more modest idea of a Maritime union never happened. The idea periodically gets new wind in its sails. In the 1960s a commission studied it, in the ’70s renewed debate over the Constitution sparked union talk anew. In 1996, at a conference on the idea by the Institute of Island Studies at the University of Prince Edward, it was referred to as the “always-the-bridesmaid of an idea.” The concept is experiencing a wave of renewal, said Donald Savoie, a professor of government and public administration at the University of Moncton. He has been a proponent of a union for years. “At times I have felt very lonely out there on this one. Not many were jumping on it,” he said. “Whenever there is a force that threatens the Maritimes, it sparks new interest in it, and right now it is really generating new interest and attention.” He attributes it to economic difficulties in the region. Politically, it isn’t an easy sell, said Mr. Savoie. “The three premiers are happy with their jobs. The political agenda is going to be very difficult to sell.” John Savage, the late former premier of Nova Scotia, once told Mr. Savoie that the biggest challenge he faced in promoting the province to the rest of Canada or abroad was competition from other Maritime provinces, particularly the energetic premier of neighbouring New Brunswick. “Wherever I go to sell Nova Scotia, I find that Frank McKenna was there the week before,” the then premier told him. “Can we have three premiers out hustling for three small provinces?” said Mr. Savoie. [url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/11/27/maritime-union-senators-ask-atlantic-canadians-to-think-big-and-merge-provinces/]National Post[/url][/quote] As a Central Canadian - far be it from my authority to comment on the doings of Maritimers - I think this is an excellent idea, as long as they maintain French as an official language. It would strengthen the region's standing within Confederation and it would go a long way to tackling broad regional social issues. I hope it's discussed seriously.

What would the new province be called? I think they can do better than "Maritime Union Province"

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;38626320]What would the new province be called? I think they can do better than "Maritime Union Province"[/QUOTE] MUPpets

Well, I at the very least like this idea, even if I really have no right to comment on it as a Canadian living in Ontario, but I've always wondered why the hell those three are separate provinces when their industries are relatively similar and all of them are so small. Also as a person who plays Paradox Grand Strategy Games borders like that kill me.

It sounds like many areas have a lot to gain from merging, but I don't know how a lot of the population will take it. Especially with PEI, because I think they value their "provincial sovereignty" a lot; if they were to be just another area of a province, without those same powers, they might feel angered because of their [I]lowering[/I] of national importance, in a sense.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;38626320]What would the new province be called? I think they can do better than "Maritime Union Province"[/QUOTE] Maine 2.

As a Nova Scotia, I'm kinda meh on the whole idea.

As an Ontarian I can't really comment on this a whole lot, but I find the idea interesting, though think there'll be resistance from the citizens. Too often are the maritimes forgotten on the national scale of things, I wonder if this'll make people notice them more, or if it'll just be one province being somewhat forgotten instead of three.

You Ontario guys realize you're allowed to comment? You don't have to be so nice not to state one :v:

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;38633428]You Ontario guys realize you're allowed to comment? You don't have to be so nice not to state one :v:[/QUOTE] Sorry.

I'll still see Cape Breton as a separate province.

They should call it new France and make this their flag [img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSLF7fqLjGo/T9uI2V8CqLI/AAAAAAAAAyY/ySN17feWAfo/s1600/white_flag.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=zzzz;38633536]They should call it new France and make this their flag [img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSLF7fqLjGo/T9uI2V8CqLI/AAAAAAAAAyY/ySN17feWAfo/s1600/white_flag.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] what's that have to do with this were you just waiting to make a jab at france

[QUOTE=zzzz;38633536]They should call it new France and make this their flag [img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSLF7fqLjGo/T9uI2V8CqLI/AAAAAAAAAyY/ySN17feWAfo/s1600/white_flag.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] what does france have to do with anything? [editline]29th November 2012[/editline] seriously where did that joke even come from? did u just say "canada is in the same hemisphere as france a joke about them is totally relevant!"

[QUOTE=zzzz;38633536]They should call it new France and make this their flag [img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSLF7fqLjGo/T9uI2V8CqLI/AAAAAAAAAyY/ySN17feWAfo/s1600/white_flag.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] There hasn't been a major French influence there since the British forced all the Acadians down to Louisiana. If anything they should all unite under Nova Scotia's name and make this their flag: [img]http://www.theweescottishshop.co.uk/ekmps/shops/sgold_09/images/womens-100-pure-wool-kilt-2-tartans-available-1091-p.jpg[/img]

I remember something similar a few years back about some sort of Atlantica project. Though that might have been a New England-Atlantic Canada version of baby NAFTA or something Either way, this is an interesting topic. I'm curious how being one entity would Maritime representation in the Senate, though. The East currently has a pretty high representation in the Senate as it is, and that's something that could well change with something as big as a tri-provincial merger [QUOTE=MIPS;38633502]I'll still see Cape Breton as a separate province.[/QUOTE] So does Cape Breton, you're good.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38633577]what does france have to do with anything? [editline]29th November 2012[/editline] seriously where did that joke even come from? did u just say "canada is in the same hemisphere as france a joke about them is totally relevant!"[/QUOTE] are you not getting the joke?

[QUOTE=laserguided;38634117]are you not getting the joke?[/QUOTE] i dont get what this thread has to do with france

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;38626320]What would the new province be called? I think they can do better than "Maritime Union Province"[/QUOTE] New Edward Nova Prince Brunswick Scotia Island

I don't like this idea. The problem is that despite what it may look like, I don't think we're ready for mergers. The largest problem I think is NB's bilingualism. NB will want that carried over and I know that NS, PEI, and NFLD will all say no to that. (We're not talking about Claire or other French areas of NS here, they would say yes for sure.) NFLD wouldn't really want to part with all their oil money to share amongst the provinces, not to mention our cultural diversity, it doesn't look like it, but I'd say we're pretty different. Where would the capital be, there would be a huge debate on that (even though it really would be Halifax in the end.) It's too much hassle, and I like what we have going on right now, our provinces are great!

[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;38634422]I don't like this idea. The problem is that despite what it may look like, I don't think we're ready for mergers. The largest problem I think is NB's bilingualism. NB will want that carried over and I know that NS, PEI, and NFLD will all say no to that. (We're not talking about Claire or other French areas of NS here, they would say yes for sure.) NFLD wouldn't really want to part with [B]all their oil money to share amongst the provinces[/B], not to mention our [B]cultural diversity[/B], it doesn't look like it, but I'd say we're pretty different. Where would the capital be, there would be a huge debate on that (even though it really would be Halifax in the end.) It's too much hassle, and I like what we have going on right now, our provinces are great![/QUOTE] Isn't (the bolded) kinda the point of doing this? To share the economy and culture and shit?

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38634148]i dont get what this thread has to do with france[/QUOTE] Time for a [B]CANADIAN HISTORY MOMENT[/B] (All you Canadians know what I am talking about) Despite what you may think, Atlantic Canada was originally inhabited by the French. These French settlers known as the Acadians we're peaceful farmers, building massive dykes for farming the very fertile land in the bay of Fundy in the 17th century. These still stand today. Some British dudes also settled in Halifax. It was a great idea for the French and the British to get in a war, The Seven Years War. The French give NS to England. The English told the Acadians, sign a pledge of allegiance to the British Crown, and they said no, they had no allegiance to either France or to Britain. So the English round up all the Acadians, put them on a boat, and send them to Louisiana. That's why it's so French down there. Some of them came back, some stayed. That's the Acadian Expulsion or Le Grand Dérangement 101! [editline]29th November 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;38634469]Isn't (the bolded) kinda the point of doing this? To share the economy and culture and shit?[/QUOTE] Newfoundland deserves all their money after the shit Harper put them through. A Conservative Premier saying that a vote for the federal party was a bad thing? That was new. Each province in Atlantic Canada is surprisingly different. I don't think it's best if we share our culture.

Would be interesting to hear more responses from Maritimers on the issue. As others have raised, there are many differences between the provinces that would need to be dealt with for such a union to occur.

[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;38634525]Time for a [B]CANADIAN HISTORY MOMENT[/B] (All you Canadians know what I am talking about) Despite what you may think, Atlantic Canada was originally inhabited by the French. These French settlers known as the Acadians we're peaceful farmers, building massive dykes for farming the very fertile land in the bay of Fundy in the 17th century. These still stand today. Some British dudes also settled in Halifax. It was a great idea for the French and the British to get in a war, The Seven Years War. The French give NS to England. The English told the Acadians, sign a pledge of allegiance to the British Crown, and they said no, they had no allegiance to either France or to Britain. So the English round up all the Acadians, put them on a boat, and send them to Louisiana. That's why it's so French down there. Some of them came back, some stayed. That's the Acadian Expulsion or Le Grand Dérangement 101! [/QUOTE] i know all this but that doesnt make every thread about canada related to france its like saying in an australia thread "oh you sure like your tea and crumpets m8 amirite!", yea, australia was colonised by the british, and they speak english in australia, but it doesnt make a stereotypical joke referencing england relevant it's just a stretch to bring up france in a thread about canada when the two countries have diverged politically, culturally, and economically.

[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;38634525]Time for a [B]CANADIAN HISTORY MOMENT[/B] (All you Canadians know what I am talking about) Despite what you may think, Atlantic Canada was originally inhabited by the French. These French settlers known as the Acadians we're peaceful farmers, building massive dykes for farming the very fertile land in the bay of Fundy in the 17th century. These still stand today. Some British dudes also settled in Halifax. It was a great idea for the French and the British to get in a war, The Seven Years War. The French give NS to England. The English told the Acadians, sign a pledge of allegiance to the British Crown, and they said no, they had no allegiance to either France or to Britain. So the English round up all the Acadians, put them on a boat, and send them to Louisiana. That's why it's so French down there. Some of them came back, some stayed. That's the Acadian Expulsion or Le Grand Dérangement 101! [/QUOTE] Just an fyi, the Seven Year's War is called the French and Indian War in the US for what ever fucked up reason.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38634628]i know all this but that doesnt make every thread about canada related to france its like saying in an australia thread "oh you sure like your tea and crumpets m8 amirite!", yea, australia was colonised by the british, and they speak english in australia, but it doesnt make a stereotypical joke referencing england relevant it's just a stretch to bring up france in a thread about canada when the two countries have diverged politically, culturally, and economically.[/QUOTE] This is the first thread I've seen where New France was referenced.

and atlantic canada wasnt originally inhabited by the french, it was inhabited by native american tribes including the iroquois and algonkin [editline]29th November 2012[/editline] but thats just me being pedantic ;)

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38633577]what does france have to do with anything? [editline]29th November 2012[/editline] seriously where did that joke even come from? did u just say "canada is in the same hemisphere as france a joke about them is totally relevant!"[/QUOTE] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_(New_France)[/url] hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm what could that area of canada have to do with the french difficult to discern i know, especially if you're completely ignorant of history and geography.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38634651]and atlantic canada wasnt originally inhabited by the french, it was inhabited by native american tribes including the iroquois and algonkin [editline]29th November 2012[/editline] but thats just me being pedantic ;)[/QUOTE] It wasn't originally inhabited by native americans including the iroquios and algonkin, it was originally inhabited by dinosaurs including the T-rex and raptors

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38634628]i know all this but that doesnt make every thread about canada related to france its like saying in an australia thread "oh you sure like your tea and crumpets m8 amirite!", yea, australia was colonised by the british, and they speak english in australia, but it doesnt make a stereotypical joke referencing england relevant it's just a stretch to bring up france in a thread about canada when the two countries have diverged politically, culturally, and economically.[/QUOTE] We still have a ludicrous things named after French stuff here, we were known as New France from the 1500-1700s (as well as half of North America, but us mostly). We still got French memorials all over here. New France is pretty synonymous in most Atlantic Canadian's heads for NS/NB (particularly the Bay of Fundy area).