Compromise Of 1850 Essay, Research Paper

Clinton Jolts Canadians With a Plea On Federalism

In Ottawa, Canadians on both sides of the nation’s deep linguistic divide say they were stunned by President Clinton’s unexpectedly passionate appeal for national unity and federalism.

President Clinton traveled to the point of separatism in North America and without once mentioning Quebec nationalism argued that the United States and Canada are among the most fortunate countries in the world because there’s so much diversity. American leaders traditionally sidestep the separatist aspirations of many Quebecers, the central political quandary of Canada for the last three decades. In turn, Canadians put extraordinary weight on the words of the president of the United States, the nation that dominates Canada’s foreign trade and investment. President Clinton made a powerful argument in favor of federalism, which he describes as the political regime of the future. But his message on merits of federalism went much further, questioning even the usefulness of the nationalist projects in the era of globalization. Quebec’s separatists sought to make the best of the speech noting that President Clinton had praised the European Union, a relationship they see as a model for future ties between an independent Quebec and English Canada. Separatists also noted that after the speech President Clinton met with Quebec’s Premier, Lucien Bouchard, the first such meeting between an American president and the separatist Premier.

After President Clinton’s visit Canadians were stunned from the unexpected passionate appeal for national unity and federalism.