What does he mean?

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Does "open federalism," as Mr. Harper calls it, mean the weakening of federal authority and its ability to respond to national issues such as finance and social universality, or does it mean more participation of the provinces in decision making on the national level? I would agree with the latter, and fight vehemently the former.

I tend to believe that Mr. Harper et al, based upon past comments and the strong "reform" base of the membership of the Conservative Party, that the goal is 10 autonomous states, basically, a watering down to the lowest denominator of federal powers versus provincial. Give all the provinces what Quebec demands, and, voila, we have national unity. But at what cost both economically and socially?

Chris Schnurr

Windsor, Ont.