Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.06.1967, Page 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.