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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, May 23, 1980
Page 13
ON THE WORLD SCENE
CANADA: POLITICAL CRISIS DEFUSED, BUT MEANWHILE, OUT ON THE PLAINS...
In a resounding manner--58% to 42%--the concept of ''sovereignty-associa
tion" was defeated by the voters of Quebec. Not only the English-speak
ing minority, but a majority of Francophones as well, rejected the first
stage-of-separation policy of the Parti Quebecois. Of the 57 electoral
districts in Quebec that have a population of 90% or more French speakers,
45% voted against the referendum. Thus, PQ Premier and "Yes" forces
champion Rene Levesque was unable to claim a moral victory, or that French
speakers had been cheated out of victory.
This does not mean there is clear sailing ahead for Canada by any means.
In fact, Canada's future seems more clouded than ever. Words and phrases
such as "breathing room," "last chance for Canada," and ''reserved federal
ism" fill the air. But what kind of change? No one seems to know. How
much more decentralization, if that's the change needed, will keep Quebec
happy--or resource-rich Alberta? How would greater provincial control
affect the economically declining status of the Maritimes, dependent as
they are on help from Ottawa?
The referendum battle has left its scars too. Canada's house is divided
as never before. As Prime Minister Trudeau said: "We've all lost a bit
in this." Levesque's concession speech was hardly a concession. He
insisted that Quebec would become a sovereign state someday. "It will
come," he stressed, "and we will be there for it. But I confess I am in
a bad situation to say exactly how or when."
The Big Drought?
The referendum issue has tended to override what could be an even bigger
crisis brewing not only in Canada, but in the northern tier of the U.S.
Plains States--drought.
The grain belt provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and even Alberta are
in the grips of a dry spell that could be disastrous unless alleviated
in two to three weeks. Parts of Saskatchewan, it is reported, have not
had appreciable precipitation for nearly 90 days. Yesterday, according
to Mr. Charles Bryce, the temperature in Regina was nudging 100 degrees.
On May 20, 1979 snow was on the ground. Weather forecasts show no relief
in sight.
Smaller towns have begun to ration water. In most places the wheat has
just come up. But if no rain falls by June 10 at the latest, it could
be a disaster. Canada's agriculture minister, Eugene Whelan, has urged
everyone in the country to pray for rain. An announcement concerning
this will go from our Vancouver office to all the brethren this Pentecost.
So watch this budding crisis. Significantly, weather conditions in
Australia have been equally critical in nearly all of that island-conti
nent's growing areas. And look what the eruption of Mt. St. Helens did
to localized agricultural and logging operations in Washington. If more
of the Cascade range should "pop off'' and spew acidic ash far and wide
across the plains...the mind boggles!
Much of the world depends upon grain exports from the U.S., Canada and
Australia. The propects of a world hunger crisis are thus brought much
·closer.
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau