I’m still trying to understand ABREFED so keep that in mind as I openly speculate about this, new to me, party.

It wants to use the Swiss model or something like it.

My first thought is why the Swiss model? Sounds like some Euro dreaming to me, something like someone from Europe moves to Canada and says, “Hey it was better at home”. I have no idea what the history is but I suspect others might think that is the Swiss connection.

So I read this in the blog:

The European Union and the United States should consider the successful freedom model of Swiss confederation government rather than the failed top down examples of other nations and empires. Few would question that Switzerland is the most secure, stable, and freedom-oriented nation in the world but it is time to ask what is so unique about the Swiss.

Of course we should consider it, what it does well, what parts might work for us and what we can learn from it. I’m not so sure we should use it as a template because Canada is unique. To the question what is different about the Swiss the answer given is:

The answer is there is nothing particularly different about the nation or its people. They like to work hard, play hard and provide a good life for their families. So do the citizens of most other nations when given the opportunity.

I would not agree with that at all. Switzerland has a very different history than Canada. They are a much smaller country, bordering no superpowers, and have very few cultures and really only three of any significance, German French and Italian.

Hugely different is Canada, with 4 times the population, many more cultures of major significance, many more languages, many more variations in climate, geography, and history.  It does not look like the Swiss would have any solutions that would address any of our issues.

Then the post has this:

The term "Willensnation" is a Swiss concept of national growth and expansion by attraction through the voluntary association of neighboring principalities, cities, and individuals. This makes Switzerland a nation created by acts of free will rather than force. Growth by attraction of those willing to be part of the Helvetian Confederation rather than war and invasion have served the Swiss well over the last few hundred years of peace and prosperity.

Ok now I’m listening but again Canada is nothing like Switzerland. In the case of Canada the neighboring principalities (provinces) all have different backgrounds. Two of them Upper and Lower Canada, formed to be Canada, then added other independent colonies, who then created other principalities (including AB) to fund and serve the purpose of the original members of Canada.

This is what I see to be the failing of the idea. An idea that at first look appears good really doesn’t get beyond general issues, like people should have more power. It does not address Canadian issues. The blog post makes no attempt to address these issues other than how they would relate to the USA.

Sure the idea of devolving power from Ottawa is similar and needed in Canada but I fail to see how the other ideas would fit the Canadian model.

A new model of governance needs to take into account several things including:

The fact that the principalities include various Nations, some who think they are Canada, some that are provinces, some would be regions and some that currently have no physical territory or only small pieces of territory.

We are already in a confederation and in Canadian fashion would prefer to evolve from that rather than in American fashion have a dramatic break or revolution. We do need to change that confederation but we are not Switzerland. 

Unlike Switzerland having official languages in regions in which there are no or very few speakers is going to be divisive. The idea that, like the Swiss model, every language that comprises 1% or more of the population achieves equal official status is not going to be accepted and will result in many more official languages than the mere 4 that Switzerland has.

These issues are not addressed yet many U.S. issues are.

To be frank (hopefully not offensive) It appears this ideal is being pitched to Americans and some Canadians, with a weak knowledge of Canadian history think it might apply here. I applaud the effort but believe we need a made in Canada solution and this is clearly not it.

Then again I may stand to be corrected as I've just started to look at this party.