The First Sign Of Madness

By Alan Clark

    Former Canadian Alliance Nanaimo-Alberni riding president Len Melman and the author of the book "Republic of Canada", William (Ken) Wallace, rolled into Alberta today to publicize their new western-based political party and to speak at a public meeting in Calgary. The two men are proposing that Canada's political system be reformed and that the British parliamentary system be abandoned and replaced with an American-style republic. While I wouldn't dispute the need for yet another federal political party, I had to question why another "reform party"? "Preston abandoned the Reform's original principles" said Mr. Melman, and now the CA is "going nowhere". Mr. Wallace added  - "Stephen Harper isn't even a joke. The media doesn't even pay any attention to him."

    Mr. Melman say's that the Reform/CA has been a "complete waste of 15 years" but in over half an hour, neither Mr. Melman nor Mr. Wallace could quite put a finger on exactly what their new "Republican Party of Canada" would do differently. "Some people might call it sedition" said Mr. Wallace. When asked if he was proposing a political party or a revolution, he responded "well, maybe a few fist-fights". Mr. Melman is a little more succinct - "We intend to build a federal political party, gain strength and then obtain the power necessary to install a new republican style constitution". As to how the new party could be more successful at reforming the Canadian Constitution than it's Reform/Alliance predecessor he said "we'll convince Ontario and Quebec that they'd rather live in a free republic." He later conceded "it'll be a tough sell."

    Perhaps these two old gentlemen are the next contenders in Ottawa. I hope not. I have long since tired of watching western Canadians do the same thing over and over, as Einstein said, each time expecting a different result. In my view, if Ontario wanted a change in the fundamental characteristic of the country, we'd have had it by now. If Quebec wanted an American-style Senate, we'd have it by now.  If a concerted effort from a vast group of committed westerners was all that is required, then the Reform party would have already accomplished all that we sent them to Ottawa to do.

    The fact is, the Reform/Canadian Alliance has failed completely and the Republican Party of Canada seems determined to follow the exact same path. "The first sign of madness" is what Mr. Einstein called it. I call it yet another group of well-intentioned neophytes begging for Ontario and Quebec's authorization to create something that we are quite capable of creating for ourselves. If we want a new constitution and a free country, we just create it ourselves. We don't need Ontario or Quebec's permission. Why is that so hard for the older generation to accept?