Canadian Federalist Party

Cultural Sovereignty

Summary:

Canada's original tri-culture, (First Nations, Francophone and Anglophone), has evolved into a global cultural heterogeneity. This has spawned a huge diversity of heritage, values and lifestyles with many points of conflict. The CFP believes that the essence of multi-culturalism will breed cultural strife within Canada unless a common national basis of secular values and beliefs is adopted. Canada needs a constitutional ammendment now, which consists of a Canadian Charter of Heritage, Values, Loyalty and Responsibilities that supercedes individual rights and freedoms as specified in the Canadian Charter of Rights.

Article 5: Principles Of The Party

5.1.11 We believe that Canada has been woven together by threads of accommodation, both powerful and fragile -- powerful in what they support, fragile in that the passions of division are a constant threat. Never believe that Canada has a right to eternally exist. It exists because we as Canadians will it to exist. This existence is easily endangered by those who stoke the divisions of region versus region, immigrant versus non-immigrant, aboriginal versus non-aboriginal, and rich versus poor.

5.1.14 We believe asymmetrical federalism is the genius of Canadian confederation and the reason our diverse regions have worked together to create the best country on earth.

5.1.15 We believe that the provinces are inherently different, and their jurisdictions should reflect this. We believe devolving more powers to the provinces would weaken our nation. We need fewer provincial barriers, not more. We need more ties that bind us, not fewer.

Cultural Sovereignty

(We need a new "Canadian" cultural vision and guidelines to counteract increasing internal and externally influenced factions.)

Canada’s cultural heritage is the heritage of its’ peoples. Thus, long before we established this country, there were cultural groups living within our boundaries whose descendants form a part of our cultural mosaic. Similarly, long before we became a country, there were peoples living in many cultures all over the world who would eventually settle in Canada.

Once Canada’s boundaries and political systems became established, we became one nation of many cultures. Originally, tribal systems and alliances evolved. By 1608, French immigrants established their colonial political system and then later following the transfer of the colonies to England in 1763, the English established their political systems. Finally, in 1867 a Federal-Provincial system was established.

Since then, there has been varying amounts of friction between the rights of the French speaking cultures and the English speaking cultures. Also, native rights and entitlements have been in dispute. By the 21st. century, we have been experiencing demands from many more immigrant cultures than just those of our founding peoples.

Consequently, from coast to coast, Canada is being rendered into a seemingly endless array of factions. We have many seeds of disunity and few remaining seeds of unification.

The CFP believes that Canada must firmly replant our seeds of unification. If we do not all second our personal cultural priority to our emerging Canadian cultural identity, then our great nation will no longer exist for our great grand children.

Charles De Gaulle had a vision for France that would lead to a more profound sovereignty in economics and culture for his nation. Canada’s Quebec separatists share such a vision for Quebec.

But, many separatists may not realize that most of the non-separatists in Quebec and across Canada, want Quebec to have a meaningful level of sovereignty within Canada. Many of the “non-French culture” peoples of Quebec and Canada, feel a spiritual bond with our French brothers and sisters. The francophone culture has arteries running throughout Canada.

The challenge for Canada is to not only sustain the French culture, but also to sustain the whole world of cultures living here. Canada has changed enormously since 1867. Solutions devised in 1867 will not work in the Canada of this century. We need a new cultural vision for Canada.

The CFP believes that some noble values as well as some ignoble ones may have stimulated Quebec separatist motivation. Also, the complex perceptions and perspectives of the separatist mindset may not be easily included in a grand vision for Canada. This vision requires an acceptance and sharing of Canada with many cultures. A national francophone culture could exist across our country, but the separatist appears to want a mono-cultural nation within Canada. The CFP does not believe that such a mono-cultural vision is compatible with the multi-cultural vision acceptable to the majority of Canadian Quebecois and the rest of Canadians.

The CFP respects our cultural heritage, but it also respects Canada’s need to create a new cultural heritage. Some of our past cultural perspectives must be modified to accommodate our new cultural reality. We must restore our faith in Canada’s ability to achieve sovereignty from the foreign dominance now prevalent in not only our economy but also our culture.

The CFP appeals to a part of the separatist spirit, as we want sovereignty for Canada, not just Quebec. Canada is not Canada without Quebec. Canada needs Quebec to achieve our rightful heritage and our rightful sovereignty. Vivre le Canada libre!

Canada is the foremost country where diverse cultures have agreed to accomodate each other and to share this country's heritage in peace and harmony.

Show Your Support

Join Us