Our National Emblem, and national colours,
belongs to all Canadians not to any particular political party.
Respect for French Canada begins with
recognition, not rhetoric. We champion the cause of
adding blue to our national colours, to recognize the French Fact in Canada
thereby symbolizing our linguistic duality.
We have also been after Team Canada, over the
past 9 years, to remove the meaningless black from our national uniforms and
replace it with the blue. After last
year's World Cup, where we made numerous appearances, and this year's Juniors'
Tournament in Winnipeg, one of Team Canada's officials has told us that the
issue has been addressed. We are
keeping our fingers crossed.
On Sunday March 13th. We participated in the
181st. St. Patrick's Parade in Montreal.
In the words of a former separatist, who
watched the parade a few years ago:
"I was very pleased to find out the blue
represented the French population in Canada. I felt a feeling of acceptance
within the Canadian context I had never felt before, and I must say it was
wonderful.
The flag is a wonderful idea, although I'm
afraid it won't be as warmly accepted within the rest of Canada where the unity
issue isn't as prevalent. In which case people won't find a new version of the
national flag necessary.
This flag obtaining status as the official
Canadian standard, combined with a constitution ensuring the promotion and
protection of the French language and French language rights in all provinces
would unite the peoples of Canada in a way our politicians in parliament
couldn't even begin to imagine".
While the red and blue colours represent our two official languages
under which our multicultural diversity falls under, the Maple Leaf in the
Canadian Duality Flag is redefined to represent our great land, its vast
territories and resources, and notably the First Nations who are one with the
land.
The country is ripe for this renewal. Easterners, who have a strong French culture
presence, think it is a great
idea. Quebecers would love it. Ontario would follow. And quite frankly, of the 3 flags flying in
Alberta, though they back the duality theme, they are real happy to shed the
Liberal colours and add the blue. The
same can be said of the Saskatchewan farmers whom we met on Parliament Hill
approximately 5 years ago when they protested against the grain deal. They were happy to bring a Duality Flag back
home and fly it on their ranch. They
asked us for one, we did not offer it.
Should the issue be raised and put on the
table, parties will certainly have to endorse it, or lose the support of French
Canada. And those that champion this
issue will win that support.
National Unity
At the close of the Liberal convention in
Ottawa, March 6th., Prime Minister Martin took a low shot at his opponents, the
Conservatives, as a party that would divide the country. "I refuse to believe," Martin
said, "that the future of this country belongs to those who would divide
us, rich and poor, East and West, English and French".
While out of politics for a short time in
April 1998, Mr. Harper said in a speech "Governing requires a conservative
temperament. This temperament includes
a respect for tradition, a penchant for incremental change and a strong sense
of honourable compromise. The clear
need in the area of national unity is to bring together both East and West as
well as English and French. It is only
by bringing together those different perspectives of the country that we hope
to truly unite it".
Mr. Harper has stayed fairly consistent
throughout, even as Leader of the Conservative Party. Will he prove the Prime Minister wrong?
March 15,2005
Our 11th. consecutive St. Patrick's Parade
(181th.) on Sunday, March 13th., was another stunning success. Thousands cheered as our float and marching
group made its way down Ste. Catherine Street before 250,000 people. We were near the end of the parade line-up
which leaves a lasting impression on people.
As our flag-decorated bus and huge flag,
carried on poles, sailed down Ste. Catherine St., many thumbs up signs, cheers
and bravos were seen and heard. On one
corner, some in the crowd broke out signing 'O Canada'. One man said that ours was the best thing he
saw in the whole parade. Another wanted
to contribute to our cause but we told him it was alright. Still he insisted on giving us something so
he dropped a loonie in our pocket. He
was very pleased and felt proud.
Recognition and identity............so
simple.
A recent poll showed that "the majority
of French Canadians felt that English Canadians thought French Canadians were
inferior to them". No recognition,
no equal status.
Identity instills pride and pride builds
nations.
It's overtime for the blue.
Resolution:
"Promote Canadian unity in two
ways: First, by adding blue to our
National Colours to recognize the French Fact in Canada by symbolizing our
linguistic duality. (Our multicultural
diversity falls under our two official languages whereby the red and blue
colours would represent English-speaking and French-speaking Canada
respectively). Secondly, to redefine
our Maple Leaf to symbolize our great country, its vast territories and natural
resources, and notably, the First Nations, who are one with the land".
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