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Article: The crown princes line up: Canada. (political discord in Canada as federal parties consider their response to yet another secession drive in Quebec)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- March 21, 1998
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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OTTAWA
THE prime minister, Jean Chretien, and his supporters could fairly have burst into "Happy Days Are Here Again" as Canada's federal Liberal Party opened its two-yearly convention in Ottawa on March 19th. The economy is doing fine. The federal Parliament is firmly under control. Yet it took no ear to the ground to catch rumblings of unease.
Why? The economic signs are green indeed. Last month the finance minister, Paul Martin, brought in a balanced budget, Canada's first for 28 years. Unemployment has fallen to 8.6%, the lowest in eight years. The Canadian dollar has recovered from the worst of its Asian jitters, although the New York bond-raters are yet ...