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Leon you are mistaken, slavery did existed in Canada as well as other parts of the British Empire. It was never as big in Canada as it was in the Southern US for reasons of climate and we abolished it early (1833).

From the artical: Slavery and Early Migration of Africans in Canada



Slavery in Canada

For more information on this little talked about, dark piece of Canadian history do a Google search on "Slavery in Canada".

   

Thank you, Polemarch1, for your informative correction of my overstatement, Your ancestors didn't own slaves. I might know a thing or two about Canada, but there's much that I still don't know. I really appreciate the information and I stand corrected.

My basic point remains. Slavery in Canada seems to have had a negligible impact upon the development of Canadian democracy. The continuation of that institution in America beyond our supposedly glorious rebellion against the Crown to rid us from tyranny betrays one of the many foundations of American hypocracy. How is it that a "tyrannical" British Empire would get rid of such an institution 30 years before "democratic" America? Let's not forget that Canada was the destination of slaves escaping with the help of the Underground Railroad. I don't want to overstate the position of the Monarchy as a force for social progress, but the moral virtue of nobless oblige does work sometimes. Didn't Queen Victoria weep when she read Uncle Tom's Cabin, and its depiction of the cruelties of slavery in the US?

All that I'm saying is that somehow you folks have gotten it right, and thank God you're there. Perhaps the Monarchy has faded into the hinterland of Canadian political consciousness, but please don't forget how it continues to serve you. In practice, your constitutional monarchy is far more democratic than the United States with all of its sanctified slop about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Is there a Canadian version of Guantanamo with its absence of due process? In addition, the Monarchy doesn't seem to interfere with your political system. You have organized political parties that actually stand for more than just variations on a budget-slashing fiscal conservative theme. You have more than two realistic possibilities, in many cases. The way your political parties function in your parliamentary system is more orderly and predictable. So far, no matter who controls the Canadian State, there are no absolute moves to dismantle its social welfare and health functions. And here's a tangential leap for you... Could you even imagine someone with George W. Bush's character and intellectual refinement getting elected as leader of a major Canadian political party and retaining his position? Could someone like Bush become Prime Minister?

   

Leon just where do you get off saying Albertans are just a bunch of , and I quote"American fifth columnists" Lately I have been reading on this site thast Albertans are latent Americans and I am getting just a tad testy over this. For the most part we are conservative I am not mind you. I dont think I have ever met an Albertan who wanted to be a yank. where I am from we are all pro Canadians in the cities there probably are people(buisness me) who want to but the majority of us dont.
So please do not go assuming we want to be Americans

   

Exactly Blubs.. I haver no intention of nor want to be an American, but this stems not from a dislike for American or thuer ways or what ever. its because I was born a Canadian, and have lived a very good life here and am, Proud to be a Canadian..just because I dont want to be something else doesnt mean I dont like or respect that something else, but expresses my enjoyment and love fpor what I am now..

   

Well said R.H.!!! I agree completely.

   

To me the concept of royalty is better left to societies like that of Saudi Arabia and not in a modern constituional democratic state.

I firmly believe the Americans did well to rid themselves of the Monarchy, the colonial misuse of their blood and treasure and of British notions of classism when they tossed out the King. Also in that realizing after their victory that they would determinedly stand on their own two feet instead of having their fortunes tied to a foreign power that's been slowly sinking into obscurity since 1870 or so.

Leon56:

Your appraisal of Canada seems to owe more to the glossed over likes of Michael Moore than of personal experience or indepth knowledge, tell me if I'm wrong.

   

You aren't too far from wrong Rosco,he hit it right on the head in most respects.Contrary to what the U.S. was supposed to be,we are a class society and are exhibiting all the signs of an unchecked empire.Even if occassionaly benevolent in our international dealings,we are still arrogant and unprincipled in our actions abroad.Add to it, we are lead by a man who has less intelligence than my penis,and is certainly not as good looking.

   

Every society is a class society, even in {maybe especially} communist examples. The difference is that in a society like that of the U.S. it's relatively easy to gain social rank and you aren't limited to the social class you were born into for the rest of your life regardless of your life's achievements, as you are in Britain. Canadian society falls somewhere bewteen that of the U.S. and Britain in this aspect.

   

Right on RH wish I had a way with words. You expressed exactly how I feel.

   

Yea, I mean, now a days the Queen is just a figurehead. And as Royal Canadian Air Farce put it, the Governer General is the Wal-Mart Greeter of Canada.

Anyone think they could pinpoint the exact time the US turned from the "Land of the free and home of the Brave" into the twisted corporate government that now runs it?

   

Blubs and Highlander,

I can't help what I've seen and heard since my first visit to Alberta in 1972. Never did I say that [U]all[U] Albertans are just itching to betray Canada, but I think you have some political forces in your province that can cozy up really nicely to the Yanks when the time comes. You do have some of the most right-wing politicians in all of Canada. Isn't Alberta the hometurf of the Alliance? Haven't conservatives of one stripe or another ruled your province since the 1930's? Premiere Klein made international news when he did his foreign policy grandstanding at the start of the current Iraq war, and for a moment attempted to undermine the foreign policy of the then PM Chretien. I've been to Alberta, felt the "American spirit" of the place, and subsequently read about all of our land-hungry Americans that you had that emigrated to the province in the early part of the 20th century. One important difference between these settlers and the Yanks that moved over into Upper Canada before 1812 is that they didn't have their homes burnt to the ground by invading Americans or had to fight to stay Canadian.

Throughout North America and beyond, American settlers have historically become fifth columnists in the lands they settled. Look at Texas, California and Hawaii. Perhaps you Albertans are fortunate today that you didn't have more of us come over. You see, friends, it's not that they're Americans, that's not the problem. It's ultimately the individualist, socially conservative free-marketeering values they bring.

Finally, let me share this URL with you: http://www.republicofalberta.com/ What's a foreigner like me to think about this Albertan's resolve to stay Canadian?

   

notice that most of these american settlers that came to alberta are mormon.....notice also that mormons are one of the most zealous people for spreading their religion....hence the huge influx that we saw and continue to see today

   

You say it like those are bad things.

Alberta separatism exists because Ottawa can't keep it's hands off the Alberta taxpayer's money and also because the East in general can't resist imposing it's vastly different cultural values on the province like it was some kind of colony.

I've also found there's a bit of social stigma that comes with being a Westerner in general and an Albertan in particular among "real" {read Ontarians and Quebecers} Canadians, to most of them we're just spiteful rednecks who don't know what's good for us.

   

As a Canadian who lives in Ontario,(i.e. an Eastern bastard freezing in the dark) let me say I'm sure you know what's good for you.

   

Leon I am sorry no where can I see the "American Spirit" I must be blind. You said you first visited Alberta in "72" I bet you only went to 3 places Banff Calgary and Edmonton. Come visit Aberta now go out to the rural places talk to the folks. We do not want to be Americans. I read that that website you posted. personaly I think it is full of horse crap.
As for this province being conservative we have had the social credit for yrs. Earnest Manning ran Alberta for 25 years. I personally would like to see that party start up again. Or the United Farmers that way the farmers here could probably get a break.
I dont Like Ralph Klien not one little bit. You can post all the websites you want till hell freezes over Leon about Albertans separating. And I will keep saying We do not want to be Yanks.
Sometimes we just tend to get upset over how Ottowa treats us. And the west.

   

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