Every jurisdiction comes with its own unique aspects and characteristics. No two provinces nor states do things quite the same.
This is a good thing.
Diversity in approaches to similar problems only fosters better solutions. And having separate, but unified, territories (states and provinces) can help the spread of best practices.
Looking at Canada and the United States, from the left to the east, some provinces and states stand out as similar in how they operate.
British Colombia = Washington: we’re good
British Columbia, like its Cascadian cousin, Washington, is very self-sustaining and industrious with its resources. They take care of their business and they are generally efficient in how they go about it. Waste not, want not.
Alberta = Texas: mind your business and I’ll mind mine
Alberta: the Canadian deep south. Like Texas, the people of Alberta want their space, privacy, and most of all, their freedom. Don’t tax them, don’t control’em, and you’ll be good with’em.
Ontario = New York: let’s get it
Ontario: the empire province. Like New York, if you have big plans, good work ethic, and the capital to fund it, you can make your dreams happen in Ontario. Ontario and New York are the go-getter’s capitals.
But every now and then, like quantum particles in a synchronized dance, two places can become absolutely synchronized in their (very, very, special) behaviour.
Québec and Florida, are these places
For example:
Ginette and Billy are the same people and really want to share each other’s worlds
Quebeckers that live in Florida during the winter months (Snowbirds) fit right in like alligators in the everglades – more on alligators later.
Thinking about baseball, Montréal gave Florida Jeffrey Loria almost 20 years ago. And now, Tampa is returning the favour and giving us (yes, I am forever Québecois when it comes to “Nos Amours”, the Expos) Stu Sternberg.
You see the weirdest things in both places
Florida: “I get beer with my alligator, Ginette.”
Québec: “Tiens ma bière, Billy” (As she helps track down the loose alligator roaming the streets).
Neither population can be told what to do
Florida Man: “No one tells me what to do with my urine!”
Action Man: “This is the car I want to drive, so this is the car I’m gonna drive!”
With these examples, it’s no surprise how the province of Québec and the state of Florida have handled Covid. Don’t tell anyone from these places but, it’s real. Doing something about it would be wise and following some rules might help a little?
Who am I to speak though?
I only acquired the seedlings of common sense 10 years ago when I was excommunicated from The League of Québec for the use of English.
I was such a bane on their existence, but I digress.
What does this mean for Québec?
Putting my personal blog rant aside and putting back on the CEO hat, here at TREATSANDTREATS, we have a sincere stake in getting Québec to do some of that idea-sharing mentioned at the start of this write up.
When thinking about the roll out of cannabis legislation in this country, one can see the stark differences in the approaches between Québec and the other provinces – and the ramifications of those differences.
While British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario have taken the “open to a free-market” approach, Québec has decided on a (poorly) government-run monopoly.
Québec has closed its doors to discussion (as per usual) and unilaterally overrode many of the individual rights of its citizens that are afforded by the Federal Cannabis Act. Quebeckers are once again being segregated in their access to Canadian norms and are forbidden from growing their own supply. Quebeckers are forced to purchase from government-run locations with lines that span entire city blocks and endure ridiculous wait times. To further compound the issue of access, there are only 7 locations on the island of Montréal to service over 2 million people!
This is madness.
If Québec could spread cannabis access like it does Covid, maybe then the government would get co-operation with their stay at home orders – and unchain the province from its never-ending waltz of lunacy with Florida.
Well, this has been another “do better, Quèbec” rant, unfortunately.
Stay Classy, Canada. Toi aussi, Québec (si possible).
Yannick
