Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.06.1967, Blaðsíða 15

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.06.1967, Blaðsíða 15
LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, FIMMTUDAGINN 1. JÚNÍ 1967 15 come them on the basis of | equality with the rest of us. There is another subject to which I should refer — the subject of education. I can see the value of leaving primary education with the municipa- lities or other local organiza- tions of the provinces and secondary education with the provinces, but the subject of higher education is not ex- clusively a provincial matter. The whole of Canada is inter- ested in it. We need it for the efficient use of our manpower in the development of our country. The possibility of giving the Parliament of Can- ada jurisdiction in the field of higher education should be explored. But much can be done by the central authority in the field of higher educa- tion without any amendment of the British North America Act. A federal Department of Education for the advance- ment of higher education would be within its compet- ence. That would be an ex- citing project. I urge these changes in our Constitution in order to strengthen the legislative power of the Parliament of Canada. I believe in a strong central government. I am a centralist. I do not look at Canada as an aggregation of provinces. I think of her as a strong nation with a single- ness of purpose for the wel- fare of her people from which she cannot be deflected. Can- ada has the requirements for greatness in the wealth of her resources and the quality and strength of her people. Allt that is needed is a reso- lute determina'tion to fulfil the purpose for which she is so well fitted. I believe that there is over- whelming support in Canada for a strong central govern- ment. With the exception of Quebec, and possibly another province, the provinces of Canada are not deeply con- cerned with provincial rights and provincial autonomy as such. Their principal anxiety is that they should have the financial means with which to discharge the responsibili- ties that the present constitu- tion casts on them. The people of Canada would welcome the possibility of Canada being a strong nation. I realize that there is strong objection in the Province of Quebec to the centralization of legislative power which I have suggested. Quebec ar- dently believes in provincial autonomy and is not satisfied with the present distribution of legislative powers. There is an intensity of feeling that the province should have the larg- est possible amount of juris- diction to deal with her own affairs. The revolution that has taken place in the pro- vince has greatly increased this feeling. It is not good for Canada that this important province should be unhappy in her pre- sent position. For my part, I am convinced that the status of Quebec in our Confedera- tion scheme is not the same as that of the other provinces and that it is in the best inter- ests of Canada that the parti- cular status of Quebec should be recognized. It follows that Quebec should be exempt from the application of the amendments that I have sug- gested, if she so desires. I ap- preciate that it will not be easy to reconcile the desire of the great majority of the peo- ple of Canada for a strong central government with the desire of Quebec for the larg- est amount of jurisdiction to deal with her own affairs that is consistent with national considerations, but I believe that it would be possible to work out a bi-federal arrange- ment that would meet the particular desire of Quebec and, at the same time, leave the rest of Canada free to de- velop the strong central gov- ernment that is necessary if Canada is to fulfil her national purpose. The recognition of the parti- cular status of Quebec is not a concession to Quebec. It is a necessary step towards the development of Canada as a strong nation. The decentra- lization of legislative power in the case of Quebec and the centralization of it for the rest of the country must go hand in hand. Each is the “quid pro quo” that the one should be willing to pay to the other. Nor does the recognition of a particular status for Quebec imply separatism on her part or associate statehood or dual nationality. It is a basic con- cept of our Confederation scheme that our provinces have no separate entities of their own. They are all pro- vinces of Canada. It is the only entity. The bi-federal arrangement which I suggest envisages a single Canada in which the distribution of legislative powers is different in the case of Quebec from that which is desired by the rest of Canada. I am optimistic enough to hope that if this suggested arrangement is worked out the time will come when the value of a strong central gov- ernment will be so apparent that we shall see the begin- ning of an era of “opting in”, instead of “opting out”. I have one other comment to make. I am convinced that the terms “Canadien” and “Canadian” are not synony- mous terms. The “Canadien” is a French Canadian and the term is not applicable to any- one else, whereas the term “Canadian” is applicable to anyone, whatever his ethnic origin may be, and could in- clude a “Canadien”. There is a further fact. The French Canadians do not constitute an ethnic group in the same sense as that of the Canadians of foreign origins. They are not of foreign origin. It may, therefore, not be possible for them to bridge the gap be- tween themselves and the other components of the Ca- nadian nation as completely as the Canadians of foreign origin have been able to do. Indeed, the likelihood is that they will not wish to bridge the gap and that the French Canadian will remain a “Canadien”. If it should develop that the French Canadians wish to maintain the difference be- tween themselves and the other components of the Ca- nadian nation, those of Brit- ish origin and those of origins that are neither British nor French, and if the people of Quebec feel a loyalty to Que- bec rather than to Canada this fact should not be a dis- turbing one. It is consistent with the basic policy of our country that all its people are free to develop as they desire. For my part, I see no reason why the fact that there are differences between French Canadians and other Cana- dians and that such differ- ences are likely to continue should stand in the way of fulfilling Canada’s national purpose of being an example for less fortunately situated countries to follow of an or- derly and free society in which all its people, regard- less of their differences, have played a worthy part, based on regard for the individual, without any attempt to force them into a common or a particular mould and a society which will not only guarantee to each of its individuals free- dom to develop his talents as he may choose and safeguard him from arbitrary action on the part of the state, but will also, at the same time, estab- lish the social, economic, edu- cational and cultural condi- tions that will enable the indi- vidual to enjoy the freedom to which he is entitled in a manner befitting the dignity of man. Notwithstanding the .differences to which I have ■referred, Canada can build such a society. This is the ■kind of society that she should rbuild. This should be the shape of Canada in her second century. THE PAN-AMERICAN GAMES . fxtsAES A highlight of Canada’s Centennial year will be the Pan-American Games held in Winnipeg and nearby towns, July 23rd to August 6th. The first Pan-American Games took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1951. Since then they have been held four times in other South American and in U. S.A. cities. Modelled on the Olympic Games, the the Pan-Am Games serve to foster goodwill and closer relations between the nations of the Western Hemisphere as well as providing- their athletes with additional international competition equally spaced between each Olympiad. 79 61 JULY22TO AUGUST7 This great sports festival is taking place in Canada for the first time. It was fitting that our sports-minded City of Winnipeg should be chosen to host this event, which promises to be the largest yet, preliminary entries having already topped the 3,600 mark. The 23 sports on the Games calendar will be at the following places: Track and field at the new University of Manitoba stadium, which features a “Tartan” running track impervious to weather. Baseball at the Winnipeg Baseball Stadium and at Portage and Carmen. It is rumoured that Fidel Castro will follow his Cuban team to Winnipeg. Basketball and Volleyball will be played on a special flooring at the Arena. Canoeing and rowing on the southernmost 3 miles of the new 63 million dollar Floodway of Greater Winnipeg. Cycling at the new velodrome built across from the Arena. Cross country events in the Whiteshell Forest Reserve. Diving, swimming and waler polo at the new Olympic size pool, the largest indoor pool in Canada. Equestrian evenls at the new Bird’s Hill Provincial Park. Field Hockey at Assiniboine Park. Fencing at the Highlander Curling Club. Soccer at Alexander Park and the Winnipeg Stadium. Gymnastics and judo at S’t. James Centenary Arena. Shooling — rifle, pistol and skeet at the new Miller Road Ranges and Winnipeg Trap and Skeet Club. Tennis at the Winnipeg Canoe Club, bringing together players of Davis Cup calibre. Yachting facilities are being developed at the historic village of Gimli on Lake Winnipeg. When completed they may match those of other world regattas, placing Gimli in the forefront for future yachting events and pleasure sailing. There will be four classes of competition and competitors will sail identical boats provided for the events — Finn, Snipe, Lightning and Flying Dutchman. For the two week period of the Games, Winnipeg will be the the sports centre of the world — the “Site of Excitement”. Opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the Winnipeg Stadium. EVENTS IN ICELANDIC-AMERICAN HISTORY Continued from page 12. 1895 Almanak O. S. Thorgeirson commences publication. 1896 Sigtryggur Jonasson is elected to the Manitoba legislature. 1897 Icelandic settlement at Winnipegosis, Manitoba, commences. 1898 Some Icelanders go to the Klondike. 1898 Icelandic settlement at Swan River commences. 1898 Freyja commences publication. 1899 Icelandic settlement at Brown, Manitoba, commences. 1899 Magnus Smith wins the Canadian Chess Championship. 1901 The Icelandic Unitarian Association is formed. 1901 Ardal (Arborg) settlement commences. 1901 Icelandic instruction at Wesley College in Winnipeg com- mences. 1901 The Icelandic Students Society in Winnipeg formed. 1905 Miss Mary Anderson is the first woman of Icelandic origin to graduate from the University of Manitoba. 1906—1907. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, as ethnologist in the Canadian Arctic, spends a year living with the Eskimos. 1909 The new Theology movement breaks with the Lutheran Synod. 1911 Skuli Johnson is selected Rhodes Scholar. 1913 Skjaldborg Congregation is formed. 1913 The Jon Bjarnason Academy is founded. 1913 The Tabernacle Church on Victor Street is built. 1913 Vilhjalmur Stefansson commands a Canadian Arctic Expe- dition. 1915 The Betel Old Folks Home at Gimli is founded. 1915 Hon. Thos. H. Johnson is appointed Minister of Public works in the Norris cabinet, in Manitoba. 1916 The Jon Sigurdsson Chapter, I.O.D.E., is founded. 1918 Voröld begins publication in Winnipeg. 1919 The Icelandic National League is founded. 1920 The “Falcons” of Winnipeg win the Canadian and the Olympic games hockey championship. Confributed by W. Krisijanson.

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