In May 1980, with a Quebec sovereignty referendum five days away, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau made a bet. At the Paul Sauvé Arena, he staked his political credibility on a single phrase. “If the answer to the referendum question is NO,” he told the crowd, “we have all said that this NO will be interpreted as a mandate to change the Constitution, to renew federalism.” It was a last-minute brand for the federalist side — a rallying cry designed to give Quebec voters a reason to stay. The strategy worked.
A quarter of a century later, “renewed” federalism became “open” federalism. Stephen Harper’s version promised to respect provincial jurisdiction and resolve the fiscal imbalance. It was a different sales pitch, but with the same underlying move to rebrand the federation to make it seem responsive and worth defending.
Not sure how shitting on virtually all of Canada will unify us.
