With the economic recovery in the West still showing modest growth, there is one country among the G8 that in U.S. circles is often identified as a success story. It is Canada.
There was no need for a bank bailout and the stimulus plan has worked its magic as Canada, in a relative sense, lost fewer jobs than other G8 countries. More importantly, however, the job situation in Canada has recovered to pre-recession levels compared to a 14% job recovery in the U.S. Our deficit (3% of GDP) and debt-to-GDP ratio (less than 50%) are still highly manageable. But this is only part of the story.
On July 1st, Canada will be celebrating its 144th birthday in its usual low-key manner, with little pomp. To many, it is just a picnic day with a maple leaf flag adorning the gathering. It is so typical of Canadians to acknowledge this world-admired country with very little fanfare. Yet, Canada has every reason to be more boisterous in singing its praises.
Canada is one of North America's three federations and its most decentralized. It has two official languages, French and English, and has the second largest land mass on the planet, bordering three oceans. Canada's federated states - the provinces - own their natural resources and are responsible for their development. In accordance with the constitution, education and healthcare are also provincial responsibilities.
In addition, Quebec, as a federated state within Canada, has jurisdiction over its immigration policy and the autonomy to build an international presence within its constitutional jurisdictions. It is also formally recognized as a nation within Canada.
Stable financial institutions and an innovative economy with a highly educated labour force make Canada an ideal place for investment. In the last five years, the country has negotiated eight free trade deals and has over 50 more in preparation. In the next year, Canada will likely have negotiated a trade deal with the European Union.
In addition to Canada's generally successful economy, the country has come to grips with important social issues over the years. Since the early seventies, Canada has universal healthcare and one of the highest life expectancy rates and lowest infant mortality numbers.
We have constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms, and same-sex marriage has been legal for nearly a decade. A woman's right to choose is no longer a political issue. Capital punishment was abolished in the seventies and our crime rates are among the lowest in the industrial world.
Over 50% of our population was born in another country. Canada welcomes and is known to celebrate its diversity throughout the land. Our universities are a magnet for foreign students.
This July 1st is a good time to recall that Canada has, over its history, been a model of democracy, deserving of admiration, yet humble enough to concede that it is still perfectible.
As Quebecer and Canadian, I can say without hesitation: Happy birthday, Canada!
June 29, 2011
June 23, 2011
Bonne Fête Québec!
June 24 is la Fête Nationale du Québec, Québec's National Day. What started out as festivities with a religious character in the 19th century became a statutory national holiday of a secular nature in 1977. In addition to the religious festivities including the lighting of the bonfires, June 24 was meant to be a day of unity and pride for French-speaking Quebecers. Over the years, the cultural and sometimes the political connotations overshadowed anything religious.
Throughout the years, la Fête Nationale has come to represent a symbol of pride in what the people of Québec have accomplished and the unity of purpose it has produced. Recently, la Fête Nationale has taken on a wider dimension by inviting the non-French communities of Québec to participate in the celebrations and contribute their own input to making La Fête (formerly St. Jean-Baptiste Day) a day of inclusivity and joy.
Having been raised in a French-speaking part of Montréal and being part of the only Irish-Italian family in the parish of St. Mark, I have seen the evolution of Fête Nationale. In the Fifties, it was primarily a strongly religious occasion. In the Sixties, it became more political in character, where nationalists fostered an affirmation of Québec and its future. Today, it is largely a community-based with friends, musicians and a family celebrating together what Québec has become – a proud, modern, secular and pluralistic society with an international outlook.
This will be my second year in New York City, quietly celebrating much of my roots, my identity and my home on la Fête Nationale. Québec, and specifically, the city of Montréal, was where my Italian-born father chose to live, raise a family, and build a business. It became the place of our dreams, our hopes and our possibilities to live a full and productive life. Today, as I am honoured to represent Québec in the U.S. as Delegate General, I can say to my fellow Quebecers – merci et bonne fête!
June 20, 2011
Premier Charest Promotes Plan Nord
If there is one quality that even his political opponents agree on, it is that Jean Charest is an outstanding perfomer in international settings. This was much in evidence last week as he met with investors, environmental activists, editors at Bloomberg News and spoke at the Foreign Policy Association in New York City. His message was clear : Quebec is embarking on Plan Nord, an ambitious 25-year development of the area north of the 49th parallel and we are open for business.
In both public and private meetings, the Premier outlined the project as covering a territory twice the size of Texas, ten times the size of New York State and involving a mix of public and private investments. The plan is meant to be built on the principle of sustainable development with 50% of the land protected from industrial activity and includes partnerships with First Nations communities (Inuit, Innu, Cree, Naskapi) in the territory. Economic activities will deal with energy, mining (including rare earth minerals), transportation, infrastructures, biodiversity, forestry, wildlife tourism and social housing. Plan Nord is also committed to keeping 12% of the land protected in accordance with international standards. The overall direction of the project will be handled by a state-run corporation, La Société du Plan Nord du Québec.
The response and media coverage were most encouraging. As one environmentalist said, this is the last large development project in North America and we must get it right. The Premier said it will be a model for sustainable development to the rest of the world and invited environmentalists to be part of the process.
My first meeting with Jean Charest occurred when he was the federal minister of the environment and I was chief of staff to Premier Bourassa. It was clear then that environment was a central part of his political thinking and commitment. Over his political career, Jean Charest has had a fascination for northern Canada. No premier has travelled as much in Quebec’s north and enjoyed visiting it. Plan Nord is a culmination of his vision to develop the north based on principles of sustainable development. He has since enlarged his approach to include the need to build sustainable communities for the local population.
His first international foray to promote Plan Nord was appropriately in New York City. This office has been at Rockefeller Center for over 70 years, the oldest international presence for Quebec. It was clear when he left that Plan Nord will become a major focus for developing Quebec for the next generation, and the international community is most welcome.
In both public and private meetings, the Premier outlined the project as covering a territory twice the size of Texas, ten times the size of New York State and involving a mix of public and private investments. The plan is meant to be built on the principle of sustainable development with 50% of the land protected from industrial activity and includes partnerships with First Nations communities (Inuit, Innu, Cree, Naskapi) in the territory. Economic activities will deal with energy, mining (including rare earth minerals), transportation, infrastructures, biodiversity, forestry, wildlife tourism and social housing. Plan Nord is also committed to keeping 12% of the land protected in accordance with international standards. The overall direction of the project will be handled by a state-run corporation, La Société du Plan Nord du Québec.
The response and media coverage were most encouraging. As one environmentalist said, this is the last large development project in North America and we must get it right. The Premier said it will be a model for sustainable development to the rest of the world and invited environmentalists to be part of the process.
My first meeting with Jean Charest occurred when he was the federal minister of the environment and I was chief of staff to Premier Bourassa. It was clear then that environment was a central part of his political thinking and commitment. Over his political career, Jean Charest has had a fascination for northern Canada. No premier has travelled as much in Quebec’s north and enjoyed visiting it. Plan Nord is a culmination of his vision to develop the north based on principles of sustainable development. He has since enlarged his approach to include the need to build sustainable communities for the local population.
His first international foray to promote Plan Nord was appropriately in New York City. This office has been at Rockefeller Center for over 70 years, the oldest international presence for Quebec. It was clear when he left that Plan Nord will become a major focus for developing Quebec for the next generation, and the international community is most welcome.
Québec and Canada: A New Federalism
Posted at Americas Quarterly on June 17, 2011
The conversation on the need to tackle the U.S. deficit and debt issues as well as the debate on same-sex marriage that is recognized by some individual states, brings to the forefront the way the American federal system is functioning. Looking at how the model works here and elsewhere may actually help in finding solutions to current problems.
Federalism is the common trait within North American nations. While defined as the establishment of two or three levels of government—a central entity and subnational (or federated) state—the application of federalism differs from country to country.
The principal rationale for adopting the federal form of government is to reconcile diversity and identity with a desire for unity within a nation-state. While no one can claim that a federation is a superior form of government, it has shown in many instances to be flexible and innovative when associated with a strong democratic political culture. Some of the most prominent federal countries outside North America—Australia, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, India, and Brazil—have demonstrated a capacity for stability and growth.
This being said, many federations have had to undergo transformations to accommodate new realities. While some have been of the constitutional variety, most changes are of the administrative kind. The creative tensions inherent in a federal structure can best be dealt with when combined with healthy and intense political discourse and debate. A study of the Canada and Quebec model, while still very much perfectible, is a good case in point.
In recent decades, Quebec has had a democratic sovereignty movement that has forced a showdown between province and country on two occasions (1980 and 1995). Despite these legitimate inherent tensions, Quebec has over the years attempted to make the federal connection more productive and more responsive to its goals and needs. After all, it was the challenge inherent to Quebec when it advocated a federal structure at the birth of the Canadian nation.
Administrative agreements on immigration (1978 and 1991), manpower training (1997), healthcare funding (2004), reform and participation in international forums (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Organization of American States and UNESCO) have created a modern form of asymmetrical federalism that has fostered Quebec’s identity and has not put into question Canadian unity.
Quebec was also the originator of the Council of the Federation which has allowed greater cooperation and coordination among Canada’s federated states and with the federal government. Finally, Quebec has obtained formal recognition as a nation within Canada, and now has an international presence in areas of its jurisdiction (economic development, culture and immigration) as well as those it shares with the central government.
These are illustrations about how the federal idea can evolve and accommodate the desire for change and adaptation. They can serve as model to other countries engaged in reconciling conflicting identities and agendas, or in dealing with how the relationship within existing federal countries can be reformed.
In addition, with the push for democratic reforms sweeping certain parts of the world such as the movements in the Arab Spring, the promise of the federal idea becomes even more appealing in providing a formula to make emerging democratic regimes more functional. After all, there are numerous examples of success to draw from throughout the world.
Federalism is the common trait within North American nations. While defined as the establishment of two or three levels of government—a central entity and subnational (or federated) state—the application of federalism differs from country to country.
The principal rationale for adopting the federal form of government is to reconcile diversity and identity with a desire for unity within a nation-state. While no one can claim that a federation is a superior form of government, it has shown in many instances to be flexible and innovative when associated with a strong democratic political culture. Some of the most prominent federal countries outside North America—Australia, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, India, and Brazil—have demonstrated a capacity for stability and growth.
This being said, many federations have had to undergo transformations to accommodate new realities. While some have been of the constitutional variety, most changes are of the administrative kind. The creative tensions inherent in a federal structure can best be dealt with when combined with healthy and intense political discourse and debate. A study of the Canada and Quebec model, while still very much perfectible, is a good case in point.
In recent decades, Quebec has had a democratic sovereignty movement that has forced a showdown between province and country on two occasions (1980 and 1995). Despite these legitimate inherent tensions, Quebec has over the years attempted to make the federal connection more productive and more responsive to its goals and needs. After all, it was the challenge inherent to Quebec when it advocated a federal structure at the birth of the Canadian nation.
Administrative agreements on immigration (1978 and 1991), manpower training (1997), healthcare funding (2004), reform and participation in international forums (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Organization of American States and UNESCO) have created a modern form of asymmetrical federalism that has fostered Quebec’s identity and has not put into question Canadian unity.
Quebec was also the originator of the Council of the Federation which has allowed greater cooperation and coordination among Canada’s federated states and with the federal government. Finally, Quebec has obtained formal recognition as a nation within Canada, and now has an international presence in areas of its jurisdiction (economic development, culture and immigration) as well as those it shares with the central government.
These are illustrations about how the federal idea can evolve and accommodate the desire for change and adaptation. They can serve as model to other countries engaged in reconciling conflicting identities and agendas, or in dealing with how the relationship within existing federal countries can be reformed.
In addition, with the push for democratic reforms sweeping certain parts of the world such as the movements in the Arab Spring, the promise of the federal idea becomes even more appealing in providing a formula to make emerging democratic regimes more functional. After all, there are numerous examples of success to draw from throughout the world.
June 6, 2011
The Changing Face of Immigration
Living in New York City where immigration is considered the cornerstone of the city's character and growth, one cannot avoid to reflect on how immigration contributes to making communities stronger, more enriching and sustainable.
Many generations back, one point of entry was Ellis Island on the southern tip of New York. Here, many individuals with little more than their rudimentary garments sought opportunity and a better life. Few had barely enough money or possessions to sustain themselves for long, some contracted disease along the voyage but all came with hopes and dreams of this better life. Nowadays, rarely a week passes without Mayor Bloomberg reminding his fellow citizens how vital and important immigration has been to the U.S. and how New York is all the better for it.
My father arrived from Italy at Ellis Island at the age of 16. He then made his way to Canada and specifically to Montréal, Québec to start a new life. He had little education, no labor skills, no knowledge of French (the language of the majority in Québec) or English. Yet despite these handicaps, he was coming to join members of his family already settled in Montréal. He learnt French and English, gradually acquired the skill of shoemaking and eventually started a family and a business. That was immigration in the post-WW I period and continued that way into the modern post-WW II era.
Today, in Québec, immigration has a new face. True, there is still the reunification of families but today, newly arrived immigrants arrive with skills and assets that help respond to immediate economic needs. Skills, education, and fluency in the host society’s language have transformed immigration from more than a socio-economic phenomenon to one that meets the demographic needs of the welcoming society. Such is the case of Québec since the 1970's when the Ministry of Immigration was created.
From the 1970's on, Québec has fought for increased jurisdiction in determining the selection of immigrants based on its own criteria outside the family reunification portfolio (1978) to integrating them and potentially fast-tracking them to Canadian citizenship (1991). Yes, it has been 20 years since Québec negotiated a quasi- constitutional pact with the Canadian federal government - actually an administrative deal that cannot be changed without Québec's consent. Today, Québec cannot envisage a future without immigration and it has the powers to make it work.
While our early immigration influx came mostly from Europe, recent immigration has come mostly from the African continent, Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Haiti and Asia. Today's Québec regularly has 50,000 new immigrants arriving annually. Some are investors, some are students studying in a university and deciding to begin a life in Québec, and others have employment skills needed to meet labor shortages. All come to be a part of a society that not only welcomes them, but also a society that believes it enhances its growth, adds to its creativity and enriches the social fabric.
Immigration has a different face from the days of my dad's arrival and Québec now has a bigger say in who comes over, but the motivation for immigration remains the same - people come with hopes, dreams and the opportunity for a better life. We are all richer for that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
