Exactly. Some cynics have said that Separatism is not really the ideal that is being pursued but is merely a bargaining position on the continuum of getting the most out of Federalism for Quebec. By the same token, one could cynically observe that the perpetrators of Adscam are merely using the threat of Separatism in order to justify the bilking of public funds. If the people of Quebec really want a separate state, we have no moral or legal right to stop them. In fact, we have an obligation to hold the door on their way out. Moreover, by facing a reality that involves Separation, it would remove the cynicism and those that benefit from cynicism from the equation.

I have no problem holding the door for them. Just so long as they don't try to move out and take all the furnishings.

In a way, I would welcome Quebec leaving Canada. Think how much faster it would be to get to Kingston from the Island ...

Just hone you canning skills, Nils, as if there is a new deal and Ontario wants to pull money back, your winters are going to be pretty cold until they create a motor that runs on silt.

Frig 'em. If we totalled up all the money that has been pissed away trying desperately to keep Quebec in a deal that was good for them in the first bloody place, we'd have enough to build everyone in Atlantic Canada his or her own goddamn windmill.

That is not my point. It is not Quebec's money I am talking about. If there is a restructuring after a separation, you can bet there will be imposed Maritime Union and other rationalizations if equalization were to continue as is.

Ehh, I'm just cynical enough to believe it's all posturing and negotiating and empty threats. My sister used to threaten to run away from home all the time, till my mother got tired of it and hauled out a suitcase and said "Take what you've bought, but leave anything that got bought for you."

I say we make the same offer, and predict that the conversation will end with "OK, then. Shut up about wanting to leave. It's become tiresome. Now, let's turn our attention to important things."

And if not, we deal with it like we'd deal with anything else.

Oh, I agree. I think there will be no separation at all. But if there ever were, prepare to send your property taxes cheque to Box 1100 Moncton, the new capital of Maritimia.

From the CTV interview Alfonso, er, Martin, er, Alfonso says:

"I was in charge of the department where the program was.

Whenever I found that there was some problems...
I was the one who called the internal audit.
I was the one who made all the changes.
I was the one who put it in Communications Canada where the Auditor General says was the right thing to do.
I did everything I could. When I was aware I acted.

Now, whatever the commision is finding out and I agree that it is not right and it is outrageous for me. I have to say that I learned the same time you learned that all these things took place."

They must have the same communications advisors.

Wouldn't it be Truro, aka The Hub?!

Time to design a new flag, Alan!

Before I moved to Kingston, I was originally going to call this blog "The Maritime Union" and for a year owned the URL www.maritimeunion.com which was snatched up up by some big marine outfit, MARITIME ACTIVITY REPORTS INC., of New York, NY, when the year lapsed.<p>Based soley on that extraordinary expertise, I think rather than Moncton and rather than Truro I would actually prefer a Brazilia sort of new city on concrete adorned with artworks of quesitonable quality out in the fields somewhere around Amherst (but not on the Marshes). Most actual bureaucratization in my Maritimia would occur in the current capials as branch plant HQs answerable to the OZ-like...nay...Ozymandias-like voice of the naybobs and chieftans of what I now dub Tantramar City.

PS - I have a pal from Truro with the middle name "Hubert" who we refer to as "the Hube of Nova Scotia". At somepoint someone said of him that he was "very gangly in his huberty." That one brings the housedown amongst his friend-deriders.

Hear, hear! If people want to go, let 'em. Then we can pull out the army, the federal bureaucracy, stop the dairy quota, stop transfer payments -- it's a win-win situation!

I'd prefer to keep our nation from sea to distant sea, but I can deal with it if people -- by democratic and <i>fair</i> means -- choose otherwise.

But then we would replace those government expenditures with good trade and commerce and provide much the same economic relationship.

Oh my gawd! You can't say that! It might lead to the nation and/or the liberal party of canada being torn apart!

I am preparing my policy statement on this pressing issue. Perhaps after it is done Don will recognize what one is so he will understand that the Tories have none.

Alan: to Box 1100 Moncton, the new capital of Maritimia.

Mike: Wouldn't it be Truro, aka The Hub?!

There are rumours that everybody is moving out of Truro nowadays. You didn't hear that from me.

That'll be the rush to grab land in the new Tantramar City.

That'll be the rush to grab land in the new Tantramar City.

I've placed my bets on Brookfield City. It has a Esso, drycleaner, pharmacy, grocerystore and a bakery right in its center.

And a Hortons. What more can you ask for?

Brookfield has a Timmies?!?! Good lord. It was about 12 houses when I was last there.

Brookfield has a Timmies?!?! Good lord. It was about 12 houses when I was last there.

I blame Tim's for the morning traffic congestion in Brookfield City.

In the new Tantramar City, perfect planning will ensure access to Tims is universal but maintains the freedom of passage thoughout the wide boulevards.

In the new Tantramar City, perfect planning will ensure access to Tims is universal but maintains the freedom of passage thoughout the wide boulevards.

That's a party platform I'd vote on.

Brookfield also has a most pleasant golf course. Where I first broke 100, not that that's happened too often.

Perhaps it would be a good spot for the Maritimia Philatelic Center or maybe the Mint.

Perhaps it would be a good spot for the Maritimia Philatelic Center or maybe the Mint.

We need someone to write us a new provincial (national?) anthem then too. 'Farewell to Nova Scotia' wouldn't cut it anymore. I was thinking of something modern, in the order of '<strike>Cleveland</strike>Brookfield Rocks'.