[Dr Caleb]

Corporate shill.<br /> <br /> http://www.nupge.ca/news_2007/n26fe07a.htm

[Dr Caleb]

You do know ViveLeCanada is about a soverign, strong Canada, right?<br /> <br /> You're pretty close to recieving the kind of reception that Quebec and Alberta seperatists get.

[Wraun]

Just one big dysfunctional family. That's Canada! We've got the oldest child - QC, the favourite one - you know who you are, the black sheep - BC, the one who got a spankin - AB, the quiet one - MB, the neglected one - SK, the quadruplets - maritimes and the 3 adopted ones. <br /> So the oldest one has shown the rest of them that if you threaten to run away from home enough, Mom & Dad will cave in and you get to kinda run your own life. You brag to the neighbours that you've got Mom & Dad wrapped around your finger and you pretty much do what you want. You even call yourself 'a grown-up'. <br /> Now the quadruplets have seen this going on all their lives and are starting in on it too eh?<br /> <br /> GO TO YOUR ROOM!

[atlanticaparty]

[QUOTE BY= Dr Caleb] Corporate shill.<br /> [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> For record, the Atlantica Party is completely independent. We are not affiliated with nor receive funding from any corporations, special interest groups, other political parties, or any level of government. And never will.<br /> <br /> Just so we are clear, we are NOT associated with AIMS nor the Atlantica Trade Zone project.<br /> <br /> We are unaffiliated private citizens trying (apparently without your help) to better the Common Good.

[atlanticaparty]

[QUOTE BY= Dr Caleb] You do know ViveLeCanada is about a soverign, strong Canada, right?<br /> <br /> You're pretty close to recieving the kind of reception that Quebec and Alberta seperatists get.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> As a mod you are free to do what you like.<br /> <br /> Buy why does asking a provocative question intended to create a debate on Atlantic Canada's economic prospects engender such a rebuke?<br /> <br /> Where within the policies of the AP have we mentioned seperatism? We are committed to working within a strong, sovereign Canada. <br /> <br /> Check the website, www.atlanticaparty.ca and get the facts.

[Dr Caleb]

[QUOTE BY= atlanticaparty]<br /> Where within the policies of the AP have we mentioned seperatism? We are committed to working within a strong, sovereign Canada. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Funny, by your first post, you ask the question "Can Atlantic Canada be prosperous as part of Canada?". That pretty much sums up the direction you want to take this thread. Mulroney mentioned no hint of NAFTA or GST when he was elected ethier. Political parties are only required to disclose campaign funding *after* they gain status as a federally recognized party.<br /> <br /> I've heard that question from too many groups wishing autonomy, or threatening it at least to follow Quebec's lead and gain some concessions from the Feds.<br /> <br /> You are of course, free to persue that goal if you wish. But just a warning that the people here will draw and quarter any hint of seperatists they encounter. You can try to tell me what you think we want to hear, but your goal was revealed by your question "Can Atlantic Canada be prosperous as part of Canada?". Meaning, to the well tuned debator, "Atlantic Canada can be more prosperous independent from Canada".<br /> <br /> Carry on.

[atlanticaparty]

Why did you say we were corporate shills?

[atlanticaparty]

[QUOTE BY= Dr Caleb] [QUOTE BY= atlanticaparty]<br /> Where within the policies of the AP have we mentioned seperatism? We are committed to working within a strong, sovereign Canada. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Funny, by your first post, you ask the question "Can Atlantic Canada be prosperous as part of Canada?". That pretty much sums up the direction you want to take this thread. Mulroney mentioned no hint of NAFTA or GST when he was elected ethier. Political parties are only required to disclose campaign funding *after* they gain status as a federally recognized party.<br /> <br /> I've heard that question from too many groups wishing autonomy, or threatening it at least to follow Quebec's lead and gain some concessions from the Feds.<br /> <br /> You are of course, free to persue that goal if you wish. But just a warning that the people here will draw and quarter any hint of seperatists they encounter. You can try to tell me what you think we want to hear, but your goal was revealed by your question "Can Atlantic Canada be prosperous as part of Canada?". Meaning, to the well tuned debator, "Atlantic Canada can be more prosperous independent from Canada".<br /> <br /> Carry on.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> No.<br /> <br /> Perhaps a better question is "How can Atlantic Canada become prosperous given national economic policy?"

[rearguard]

[quote]Perhaps a better question is "How can Atlantic Canada become prosperous given national economic policy?"[/quote]<br /> <br /> An even better question: "How can *any* province (except of course the Chosen Ones) become prosperous given national economic policy?"<br /> <br /> If I may add to DC's concerns, why should anyone vote for a national party that's clearly regional in scope?<br />

[atlanticaparty]

We are a provincial party working in the four provinces of Atlantic Canada.

[Marcarc]

Posting the question serves many purposes, obviously people here don't have nearly the problems mentioned because few people responded.<br /> <br /> The question is apt, and nobody needs to apologize for what others think it may imply. <br /> <br /> Independance is obviously crazy, the region would be destitute without the federal government. That doesn't mean there isn't a point to be made that it was the feds that made it destitute in the first place.<br /> <br /> From what I've seen of the Atlantica Party they have similar themes as this website, just an unfortunate name. I've seen Atlantica's 'pitch' at various websites trying to drum up interest, but in reality, I've simply never seen many maritimers here. <br /> <br /> The reasons 'why' to support a regional party are pretty clear from canadian politics. The BQ is regional, and the Reform was regional, and both helped those regions get representation in the house. HEck, the liberals are regional now.<br /> <br /> In Canada you have the NC's supporting the west (generally), you have the liberals supporting Ontario, and the BQ supporting Quebec. In the maritimes you have three national parties, none of which are particularly concerned with the specific needs of the maritimes, which have unique problems-except for Manitoba in some cases. <br /> <br /> Having a regional party would at least provide a single voice, which would be very strong in minority governments or when Canadians finally get the system of representation they are demanding. New Brunswick, for example, gets a federal 'handout' which is about the equivalent of the Capital Cost Allowance that is given to the Tar Sands industry each year. So claims that NB is a drag on the economy certainly doesn't make sense, especially when you consider that that 1.6 billion it gets has to yet deduct the amount that NBers are paying into the federal system. So with the new federal investment in the TTC, New Brunswickers are also putting money into that project, something that benefits them not at all.<br /> <br /> So there is nothing wrong with the question. CAN it prosper within Canada? I would say 'no', and all you have to do is look at history and representation to come to that answer. That's like saying "Can I ever get promoted in this job"-it certainly doesn't imply that you are going to quit. I think the number of people in the maritimes that would vote for separation could be counted on one hand. However, if somebody wants to bring up maritime secession go ahead, I remember the ones about Quebec were among the most interesting debates going on here. And I seem to recall that the Quebecer in question held up to the tar and feathering quite well.

[rearguard]

[QUOTE BY= atlanticaparty] We are a provincial party working in the four provinces of Atlantic Canada.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Thanks for clearing that one up. The website did not indicate clearly that the party was provincial or federal, or perhaps it was staring right at me but I missed it?<br /> <br />

[atlanticaparty]

Thank you Marcarc, that is our position on regionalism.<br /> <br /> Again for the record no where in our speeches, policy, chat rooms, in the media has the Atlantica Party ever advocated separation.<br /> <br /> rearguard, thanks for the feedback we will update the website to make it clearer.