APRIL 1977 FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS SPRING The systematic work ...

(e.g. ascendency of Canadian citizenship over
British subject, the quiet but intentional dropping
of the phrase "Dominion of Canada", the flag, etc.)
-- all without heed to what the country was intended
to be.
Where to from here Professor Creighton's tenuous
hope lies in the ballot box, which he recommends to
be used "to obliterate Trudeau and his Montreal
gang". Only then, in his view, will we see an end
to the promotion of the French language for political
purposes, and get on with serious problems in
the economy and foreign exchange deficits.
it still
But,
comes
if
down to the wire on the separatism
issue, Professor Creighton left no doubt
audience's
in his
mind that he would be a hard-line
negotiater.
A MAJOR D SCLAIMER
SIn
Donald Creighton, a distinguished Club Member with
more letters after his name than in it, is well
known for his controversial views, but when he
recommended that English Canadians initiate
separation and demand rigid conditions (including a
mile wide corridor down the St.Lawrence to join East
and West Canada) a distinct shudder ran through his
audience.
thanking him, Wilson Woodside commented that the
standing ovation was a tribute to a great man, giving
a great performance. He spoke of "one minor
disclaimer" but his point escapes my memory. I would
like to speak on behalf of those who would profess
a major disclaimer about the contents of this speech.
Canada has been a marriage which has survived through
many an emotional crisis for over a hundred years. I
am proud to be a Canadian. I do
do
not
not
speak
really
French.
understand
I
the French Canadians, but
I love them as a vital part of this marriage.
Paul
St.
said of this type of love, "love bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all
all
things,
things."
endures
But what happens to love when you start to catalogue
the sins of your spouse And Donald Creighton gave
us an hour long catalogue of Quebec's sins against
the rest of Canada. What happens when Itm all white,
and you re all black Donald Creighton actually
recommended an apartheid solution to the Quebec
problem. Christ teaches us to turn the other cheek.
Creighton teaches us to spit in their eye.
Many of us are confused, concerned and even angered
by a Quebec movement that we do not
I
understand.
believe and
But
pray that the great majority of us
deeply desire unity in Canada to continue. We are
at a time in our history which will try our patience