Re: [OT] Pro-Palestinians in Toronto CELEBRATE Iranian bombs falling on Israel

The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> wrote:

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:35:28 -0000 (UTC), Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com>:

The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> wrote:

I'm pretty sure that was true though government in the US has always
been more fragmented than in Canada due to there being many more
states than Canadian provinces.

No. It's federalism, not fragmentation. Canada isn't a voluntary
federation like the United States.

Fair enough - though you might think differently if you knew the
history of British Columbia, my home province.

I stand corrected. Your province voluntarily federated with the Dominion
of Canada. Of course the price was construction of the Canadian Pacific
Railroad on that useless all-Canada route instead of heading toward St.
Paul to get to Chicago, which is what would have happened if they'd
federated with the United States instead.

Got the same impression
when I visited the PEI Legislature back in 2004. The difference
between BC and PEI is that BC started small (population-wise) and
became relatively big (at least by Canadian standards) at 5 m vs PEI
which started small and remained small (population roughly 130k) - one
grew, the other really didn't. Land size wasn't really a factor in BC
as 90+% of the population is within 100 miles of Vancouver (which
happens to be the largest Canadian port not only on the west coast but
in Canada - and larger than #2, #3, #4, and #5 combined at least in
terms of annual tonnage moved)

Ok. I just read the brief political history of Prince Edward Island on
its Wikipedia page. Federation into the Dominion of Canada wasn't
desired on the terms offered and they remained a colony and briefly
explored federation with the United States. Basically, they had a series
of financial scandals, starting with all of its land having been gifted
to political supporters of George III who intended to run the place
under feudal law. They were all bought out over close to a century. Then
they had an unaffordable debt for railroad construction.

They joined Canada and not the United States not as a voluntary
association of equals nor in the best interest of both parties, but
having been bought out. This is comparable to the purchases of Louisiana
and Alaska by the United States and not voluntary federation.

It set the stage for bailing Newfoundland out and its joining Canada,
which was not voluntary in any way.