Path: utzoo!lsuc!sickkids!dptcdc!tmsoft!ead
From: ead@tmsoft.uucp (Elizabeth Doucette)
Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Re: What does it mean to be a Canadian?
Message-ID: <1989Aug1.000245.5246@tmsoft.uucp>
Date: 1 Aug 89 00:02:45 GMT
References: <615662921.9256@myrias.uucp> <568@UALTAVM.BITNET> <609@philmtl.philips.ca> <1458@apss.apss.ab.ca> <1989Jul27.235845.24886@tmsoft.uucp> <1034@jtsv16.UUCP>
Reply-To: ead@tmsoft.UUCP (Elizabeth Doucette)
Followup-To: can.general
Distribution: can
Organization: EAD MoneyHealth Inc, Toronto, Canada
Lines: 92

In article <1034@jtsv16.UUCP> brian@jtsv16.jts.com (Brian A. Jarvis) writes:
>In article <1989Jul27.235845.24886@tmsoft.uucp> ead@tmsoft.UUCP (Elizabeth Doucette) writes:
>>In article <1458@apss.apss.ab.ca> jhp@apss.ab.ca (Herb Presley,
>>Emergency Planning Officer) writes: 

>>> ...

>>>If you really want to know what it means to be a Canadian, get in your car
>>>sometime and travel the Canadian highway system.  [...]

>>You said it very well.  I have visited every province and hope someday
>>to get to the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.  We really have a
>>beautiful country.  The problem is, most people don't appreciate it.
>> [...]

>OK, I agreed down to here.

>>Maybe we can start a discussion on what it means to be a Canadian, to
>>each person.  Do we care?  What are we willing to do about it?  How
>>many people would rather sit on their butts, watch American
>>television, or rent American movies, or listen to American sports and
>>go to the U.S. to buy cheaper clothes or other goods, rather than
>>support their own economy.

>I don't see the connection here.  I don't think being Canadian has anything
>to do with watching politically correct TV programs or sports events.
>Given a choice between food on my table and culture on my television, I
>choose the food every time.  No one yet has convinced me that millions spent
>by the CBC and other agencies on TV programs or movies benefitted Canada
>more than direct social spending already in place.

You have told me what being a Canadian does not mean to you.  What
does it mean to you to be a Canadian?  I just threw out some
questions. 
 
>As for going to the U.S. to buy, damn right I will.  And it has *NOTHING*
>to do with a [un]willingness to support Canadian industry; if we can't
>compete, then pack up your bags and find an industry where we *can* compete.
>I have no sympathy for textile industries or grape farmers; if we can't
>do it well enough to keep our markets within the U.S. and Canada, then we
>shouldn't be doing it.

Thank you for expressing your opinion.  I think the majority of the
population agrees with you.  
  
>>Are we willing to start our own businesses and work long hours to make
>>it work?  Or, do we all want to work for a company where we can work
>>35 hours a week, get lots of vacation and full benefits.  (Our economy
>>will not be healthy this way).  Of course I realize that a lot of
>>people work long hours, but a lot of people don't.

>Back into agreement mode again.  Yep, precious few are willing to take
>risks involved in starting one's own business, but then again, look at
>the geographic distribution of the population.  The best chance for a
>business to succeed is in large market areas ie. large cities.  The
>large cities usually aren't the ones with the major unemployment problems,
>at least, not compared to the rural areas  ie. rural NFLD vs.
>St John's, Kirkland Lake vs. Toronto and so on.

This if often true but not always true.  As an example, it is possible
to do computer consulting from a small town.  The design and writing
of the software doesn't have to be done on site.  I have a relative
with a graphic arts business.  He does his design in a small town and
commutes to the city to make the presentations.  I have a financial
planning business which I intend to eventually move to the Maritimes.
I can fly in when necessary and discuss issues on the phone at other
times.
 
>>  How many people
>>are angry at the number of immigrants who buy up real estate?  I'm not
>>talking about the billionaires from Hong Kong who already have money.
>>I'm talking about immigrants who bust their asses, working very long
>>hours here in Canada, to make a better life for their families.  Is it
>>realistic to be angry at someone who does something that we are too
>>lazy to do ourselves?

>No sympathy for the angry residents here;  for every purchase, there was
>a seller.  If Canadians don't want to sell land/companies/resources to
>foreigners, THEN DON'T SELL!  God, trying to get that through some
>people is absolutely impossible.

I obviously didn't phrase this very well.  I was complementing
immigrants who come into a strange country, learn the language, start
their own businesses, work very hard and buy up real estate with their
profits.  I say good for them.  My point was that I've heard Canadians
(who are not new immigrants) complain about X (pick a culture) buying
up "OUR" country.  They complain because they were too lazy to work
that hard themselves.

>Brian

Elizabeth