Absolutely not. Canada's balkanized enough as it is.
Well I would hardy deem Canada as a balkanized state.
Canada shares nothing in common with real Balkanized states like former Yugoslavia.
For starters our country has 2 main languages. English is the language of the majority in 8 provinces, French is the language of the majority in 1 province, and 1 province has both languages fluently spoken. The populations in the 3 territories are able to function with their own culture and language while being able to do so in English as well. So there are basically 2 main languages and cultures in Canada. In Yugoslavia, there were at least 6 main distinct languages spoken by majorities in different regions and 6 different cultures. Canada is pretty homogeneous when it comes to language and culture even with minority groups present as they tend to blend in nicely and preserve their cultures at the same time.
There were also at least 3 main religions in Yugoslavia which practically opposed each other. Here in Canada on the other hand, the majority are either catholic or protestant. Besides, Canada is a secular state so religion is not an issue. Also, the majority of people in different provinces in Canada don't dislike people from other provinces. The only reason there are certain quarrels in Canada between provinces is because of the centralized federal government that cannot please everyone.
Also, Yugoslavia was run with a communist system which is not the case in Canada.
We are not a balkanized state at all.
In Canada, people of different regions have different issues and priorities. They have been arguing amongst themselves because they have been played against each other by the federal government. The federal government wants to control everything and by doing so, cannot address all the regional issues..
All Canadians regardless of where they are from need defense, a strong economy, currency, banks, good public health care, and a clean environment. Only these things should be controlled by Ottawa because these are all common needs and priorities. The way it is now, Canada is like a "big house" where all the provinces have to fight to get the "best room". Canada should instead be like an "apartment complex" where each province decides what happens in its "own apartment" and the federal government acts as the administration of the "complex" providing needs common to all provinces.
All the rest of the powers should be in the hands of the provinces. The problem is that we know that each region is unique but we let Ottawa run the country as if we're all the same. That is what makes us clash. Additionally, we would not become any more balkanized because each region would run its won affairs and live peacefully. All Canadians want peace and want to live in harmony and this is exactly what would happen with a decentralized federal government. No more quarrels because of language, no more Western Canadians feeling alienated, and no more Quebec referendums. It would be great.
I can understand people being skeptical or even dead against the idea of decentralizing the federal government because it's perfectly normal.
People are afraid of change. People are afraid to take that extra step that could change everything. Yes people are afraid until they actually experience the benefits of that change and embrace it.
