Stand up

Northern Ontario lost its voice. Northern Ontario residents are not equal citizens in Canada. Northern Ontario needs a new political movement, and a new spirit.

Repetition focuses on this persistent problem. Its been stated here in this blag more than once. However, some readers might forget. For a long time, this place, this person advocates strongly, passionately for an independent Northern Ontario.

Importance comes from the symbolism of neglect and patronizing attitude demonstrated by southern Ontario government and people. The arbitrary decision to cancel the spring bear hunt demonstrated that callous attitude. The loss of political power in all political parties and caucus symbolizes that fact. Promises made by the provincial government to replace the lost income to the business people involved in that tourist sector never ever materialized.

The economic incompetence of the central governments ruling Northern Ontario wrecked its economy. The woods industry wrecked. The tourist industry wrecked. The electrical supply wrecked. The education system wrecked.

Symbolizing this enslavement of Northern Ontario emerges from its favorite recreation which is Curling. Participation of Northern Ontario people in curling surpasses any other Canadian region yet the elitist sports associations of curling located in the very distant urban centres wish to deprive Northern Ontario curlers of their chartered rights.

Northern Ontario curling memberships went to pay for the growth of curling in Canada. Now when NOnt is down economically those same curling associations are going to deprive it of this recognition and its right to contest for the Brier Tankard.

If NOnt curlers really had any stones, if this happened all of these curling associations must cede themselves from the central curling associations. Since there is still enough curlers in NOnt more than all the European Associations, they should demand the right to compete in the world curling championship, even if it must compete as association for a country like Jamaica or Turks and Caicos or Nuuk.

The loss of curling rights only symbolizes the dilemma confronting peoples of Northern Ontario face. It matters little whether they possess a First Nation or a European heritage, this effects all equally. And it is important that the urban area, the rural area, and the First Nation communities recognize this increasing discrimination from other Canadians. It is time to take control of those rights.