Harper in Quebec

I have to tell you that my wife and our son took the Greyhound down to Calgary so that they can make it to a cousin's wedding. Our employers had graciously decided not to allow us to take as much time as we had hoped. So while my family is off to southern Alberta for a few days, I remain here in Edmonton with little but a few movies and my computer to keep me company.
Paul Martin has been crying bloody murder over Stephen Harper's pledge to allow greater autonomy for Quebec, and perhaps a greater presence on the world stage. What this means apart from greater domestic responsibilities, is perhaps a greater say for Quebec in a variety of issues of global importance. Paul Martin staunchly defends that Canada needs to speak with a single united voice. But in a nation of so many different voices, can we really accomplish anything by continuing to silence them?
I think it's important to understand a little bit more of the history of this kind of situation. It is my understanding that when Canada was founded, there was a division of responsibilities and jurisdictions between the federal and provincial governments. Let's not forget that the leaders of the days were still a little wary of democracy, often citing the American Civil War as a failure and as evidence for the need of a strong central government. When the separation of powers occurred, Canada was a young country and was still largely unsettled. Over the years, the costs for various social programs balooned and the provinces were overwhelmed with the enormous costs of providing the services expected of them, particularly in the have-not areas of the country. It was when they asked the federal government for much needed support that Ottawa started to get her hands dirty with provincial matters, so to speak. Nowadays, we live in a time where Ottawa is dictating policy in a number of policy areas and some of the provinces feel that they should be able to decide how to run their own house without Ottawa telling them what to do.
I'm not a fan of big government. I am immensely grateful for the services that they provide for me and for my loved ones, but I've become more concerned when governments seem to be increasingly concerned with creating larger bureaucracies instead of working toward solving the problems that often plague the system. We know, for instance, that the Health system needs fixing. I'm sorry, but simply throwing $41 Billion dollars at health-care isn't going to fix anything. I want to have access to health-care when I need it, or someone in my family, but I think the government needs to recognize that we might just have to accept that some big changes need to be made. I think that in a lot of ways, that involves allowing the provinces, whose responsibility health is, to decide how they want to go about running the show.
I think that for Quebec and for all provinces, Ottawa needs to sit back and let them choose. They understand their own needs better than the huge bureauracies in the capital .
I welcome Harper's proposal because I really believe that it will be good for Canada. It allows for greater opportunities to share ideas and discuss the challenges. Martin's 'united voice' will not be reached without accomodating the diversity of this country. And let's face it: a little less Ottawa in anyone's lives is never a bad idea.