What autopilot? I'm saying we have bent over backwards to please Quebec and it's never enough. If they go ... they go completely. Businesses who work in English and trade in English aren't going to burden themselves with whichever version of french is indigenous to the region. It's time Quebec realized Canada doesn't revolve around it either.
@ Colpy:
No one outside of Quebec voted for the Bloc:
So what? because they are the elected representatives from Quebec they have no place in our government? With an Attitude like that they have every right to seperate.
The government represents the whole country, even Quebec. And if Quebec wants to be run by the Bloc the government and the people of Canada need to respect their right to vote for the candidate of their choice, even if we don't agree with them.
And they voted for Marxists. So we have an alliance of Socialists, Centre-Left and Marxists (who between them received most of the vote) versus a right wing party in direct conflict with all of their beliefs.
So about 2/3rds of the country voted to put the country on a very left wing track, if the Conservatives want to move in a different direction than it is the responsibility of the other parties to form a Coalition.
It is their elected duty to represent their constituents to the best of their ability.
Thats democracy, and its the way it should be.
Yes they will, if there is money to be made. I think its time we in Canada remembered that English isn't spoken the world over, but business is perfectly capable of keeping the economy chugging.
Add to that the improved ties Quebec would have in trading with both the EU and the entire west coast of Africa (basically a colony of France and one of the fast growing sources for raw materials)
And of course, in 15 years English will be one of those "burdensome" languages Mandarin and Hindi speakers occassionally learn.
Telus has a deal in the works with the Quebec government and if they want to pick up on Bell's woes they will speak the language.
A Canadian company will likely accommodate them ... until it's time to move on. How many headquarters have already done that? Oh ... the US will gladly step in to take any dollar in the province ... but it won't be speaking some oddball version of French to them.
The issue there isn't speaking french, there are many massive corproations that speak french from (France, Belgium, the Swiss, Half of Africa, much of the polynesians and of Course Quebec)
And there are massive corperations that speak english (the UK, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and half of Africa)
Neither group is likely to hold their HQ's in Canada either way. Not due to language, but due to Geography. Its Switzerland or France for the French (through with the EU HQ in Brussels belgium is becoming a good target) and the US or UK for english HQ's.
Why would any of them locate in Quebec if they've structure and market in Europe? Quebec workers aren't about to offer any kind of savings over making product close to the market. Headquarters to which I refer are the likes of Canadian Pacific, Air Canada, Canadian National ... just to name some local guys. It will only be a short time before le bon homme realized the moneymen screwed 'em. I'm betting civil war breaks out in Quebec within a decade of divorce.
Any party that promotes french only and will not allow English signs, for example, is scum, and not worthy to be part of the parlament of Canada.
Oh I see what you mean, bloated unviable state supported Canadian Monopolies (Defacto and dejure). I hate to point it out, but there will then be an equivalent bloated unviable state supported monopoly in Quebec.
Laws on Air Carriers internationally mean there will be an Air Quebec, there will be a Quebec rail if the east coast wants anything from train (you know, to and from the harbours)
Real companies aren't any more or less likely to be in Quebec before or after it seperates, nor will they be more or less likely to be in Canada as a whole.
Then don't vote for em. Its a democracy, people you don't like can still be elected.