Canada Day is an appropriate time to reflect on the state of Confederation. Conservative Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald was instrumental in bringing together the three colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Canada to form the Dominion of Canada on July 1st, 1867. Sir John A. wanted a strong central government, much like the unitary government of the United Kingdom, but in the end settled for a compromise that created the system we have today: a federal system of two levels of government, one provincial, one national, each having different sets of responsibilities.

In 1867, the bulk of responsibilities rested with Ottawa. However, since then, the arrival of large cities, and public programs like healthcare and education, has steadily increased provincial responsibilities, presenting a challenge to the idea of a strong, central government. This erosion of Ottawa’s power, combined with resurgent Quebec nationalism and increasing Western alienation, presented challenges to national unity in the 70`s, 80`s and 90`s.

Once again, we may be entering dangerous territory. Support for separatist parties, the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois, is at an all time high. There is only one reason for this: sponsorship corruption has enraged Quebecers. Before it all became public, the Bloc was on its way out of Parliament and on their way to losing official party status in the election. But then the scandal broke, revealing how millions of dollars went to Liberal Party operatives, millions more to Liberal friendly ad firms for contracts of dubious value, and the rest to chintzy golf balls and the like.

The irony of this whole affair is that the very sponsorship program that was supposed to combat separatism, has actually increased support for it. As Liberal Party numbers in Quebec have plummeted, so has support for federalism. This is why it is so important that the current government be replaced in the next election: for the sake of national unity. The longer the Liberal government is in power, the greater the damage to the cause of federalism in Quebec; they are an utterly discredited force for federalism. Quebecers need to realize that their choice is not simply between Liberals and separatists. There is a third option: they can vote for the other federal party, the Conservative Party, just like they did en masse in 1958, 1984 and 1988. And Canadians in the rest of the country, especially those in Ontario, need to see through Liberal misinformation about the Tories. When Ontarians see the Conservatives as a government-in-waiting, Quebecers will do the same. I fear what will happen to the cause of federalism if this government is re-elected. I worry it will lead to rising Quebec separatism, another referendum and rising Western alienation. Only by electing a Conservative government will we be able to restore Quebecer's faith in their federal institutions, and at the same time address Western alienation. I and my fellow Conservatives will fight to restore this trust, and ensure that Sir John A’s 138 year old dream of a strong and united Canada never dies.