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The friendly neighbor Ameri–
cans take for granted is facing
her most serious cha/lenge ever
as a nation. A t stake is the eco–
nomic well-being and military
security ofnot only Canada but
ofal/ North America.
e
anadian Prime Minister
Pierre Elliotl Trudeau may
soon be facing the sternest
test of his ten years in office. He is
expected to call for general elec–
tions later this year, and his popu–
larity, recent polls reveal, has been
slipping. His chief opponent, Pro–
gressive Conservatíve leader Joe
Clark from Alberta, is, on the other
hand, gaining somewhat after a
slow start. The 39-year-old M
r.
Clark has projected a positive im–
age in recent parliamentary ses–
síons, which are now televised.
Mr. Trudeau's Liberal Party is
losing favor mainly because of
Canada's falteríng economy. The
Canadian dollar has now slipped to
U.S. $.89 (its lowest leve) since the
early years of the Great Depres–
sion) from a high of U.S. $ 1.03 a
year and a half ago. Unem–
ployment hovers at a stubborn 8.5
percent, inflation at 9.5 percent.
Real lssue-Separatlsm
Yet despite the country's eco–
nomic doldrums, the contest could
be decided on the overriding issue
of separatism (the threatened inde–
pendence of the predominantly
French-speaking province of Que–
bec). Trudeau, an avowed federalist,
is the political archrival of Quebec
Premier René Lévesque, the leader
of the separatist
Parti Québécois
which was stunningly swept into
power on NQvember 15, 1976. Until
now, Trudeau, who is three-quarters
French Canadian , has enjoyed
widespread support even from
6
Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau
English-speaking Canadians as the
best man to hold Canada together.
But there is a discernible counter–
vailing mood too: that the fate of
the country can't be left to two
Quebeckers, with Canada's pre–
dominan! British stock Jeft standing
in the background.
However the national elections
turn out , the life-and-death show–
down over Canada's future may not
befar off.
Which cause wiU prevail- Cana–
dian unity or Quebec nationhood?
And ifQuebec pulJsout, what is likely
to be its future a long with that of the
rest ofCanada? What about the mas–
sive network oftradeand investments
between Canada and the United
States? How would an independent
Quebec, occupying a strategic chunk
of North America, affect continental
defense arrangements?
These are all mighty big questions
and we may not have long to find
out the answers. Premier Lévesque
has promised to hold a referendum