Provincial Rights Canadian Issue

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30190, 23 July 1963, Page 5

Provincial Rights Canadian Issue

{From MELVIN SUFRIN, N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent] TORONTO, July 16. French Canada’s traditional distrust of anything that smacks of centralisation has raised problems -for the Prime Minister, Mr Pearson. The distrust is so strong that it overrides the fact that Mr Pearson, and Quebec’s Premier, Mr Jean Lesage, are both heads of Liberal Governments.

When Mr Pearson was campaigning for the Federal Election in April one of his promises was to set up a fund for loans to municipalties. It’s function would be to provide money for capital projects that otherwise might have to be delayed. In this way it would help overcome Canada’s unemployment. Last Friday Mr Lesage sent Mr Pearson a blunt letter saying the proposed Federal loan fund was a serious threat to provincial autonomy. Mr Lesage declared that if Mr Pearson were to go ahead Quebec would consider it a breach of "your promise to govern with absolute respect for rights of provinces.” Premiers To Confer Even before receiving Mr Lesage’s letter, Mr Pearson had announced legislation was being held up and that provincial Premiers were being invited to conference later this month to discuss the fund.

Premiers of nine other predominantly - English - speaking provinces are generally displeased with Quebec’s stand because their cities and towns are impatiently awaiting a chance to dip into the loan fund.

Unless a fund is set up within the next few months it will be too late to help create new jobs during the coming winter months when unemployment is at it’s worst. Recognising this fact Mr

Pearson announced on Monday night that, regardless of the outcome of the meeting with the Premiers. the Government will proceed with legislation to set up a 400-million dollars fund immediately after. Jealous Quebec

The jealousy with which Quebec guards its rights also stands as a potential block to a Federal Government plan to streamline Canada’s old-age pension legislation by bringing in the new contributory scheme.

It also promises difficulty for Mr Pearson's proposed National Development Council which* would help stimulate the economic development of depressed areas. Quebec’s population of more than five million, most of them Frenchspeaking. are about 30 per cent, of Canada’s population. Unreasoning Fear At times, the Provincial Governments have displayed what appears to many in English-speaking Canada to be an unreasoning fear that its culture, language and traditions are in danger of being over-run.

It is with this fear in mind that Mr Pearson has called the Federal Provincial conference to seek ways of strengthening Canadian unity and promoting its role as a bicultural nation. There are indications that some English-speaking Cana-

dians are becoming tired of Quebec’s suspicious attitude. A few days ago Alberta’s Premier, Mr Ernest Manning, wrote to Mr Pearson saying the idea of a duel English and French culture was “unrealistic and impracticable” anywhere outside Quebec Itself. Close Colleagues During the 1950’s Mr Pear, son and Mr Lesage were colleagues in the Liberal Cabinet in Ottawa and it was generally expected that in their new roles they would work closely together. To many, it appeared that Mr Lesage might move back to Ottawa, eventually, as Mr Pearson’s successor. It came as a shock therefore when Mr Lesage decided to emulate earlier Quebec Premiers and fight the central Government's plan. Mr Lesage’s stated view is that if Ottawa can afford money for projects such as municipal loans it means the Federal Government is taking a larger share of taxation than it should. He wants the Federal Government either to vacate tax fields in favour of provinces or, at least, turn over money to Provincial Governments so they can administer the projects. Political Future The Federal Government in the past hag often bowed to Quebec’s feelings and made special arrangements to let the province handle distribution of money such as

Federal aid to universities: but its view is that many schemes can be run efficiently only if they are under central control.

Mr Lesage may be genuinely concerned algout provincial rights. There is another possible element, however.

Police in Quebec have crushed terrorists who favoured armed revolt as a means of turning Quebec into an independent nation but there is still strong separatist feeling in the province. Mr Lesage may feel that unless he succeeds In projecting the image of his Government as champion of provincial rights its political future will be in danger.