Topically speaking, outside Quebec we accept everyone as they are, even if they don't speak English. And besides Brits kind of are part of our 'we'.
If Quebec separated...
- Thread starter westmanguy
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Topically speaking, outside Quebec we accept everyone as they are, even if they don't speak English. And besides Brits kind of are part of our 'we'.
I have no idea how many Americans would want Quebec in their country. I have a feeling many Americans don't even know where Quebec is...
That being said, The Quebec separation threat would be a non-starter were it to become an American state. There would be zero tolerance for such an idea. The American Civil War put that issue to rest. To quote Tony Soprano, once you're a part of this family....there's no getting out.
As far as language goes, it's a state matter, so Quebec would be free to do what they wanted...the only problem being other states and the federal government would deal in English only.
I could actually see there not being the huge problem that the rest of Canada faces with Quebec, because there would be clear rules on what could and couldn't go on, and that would be the end of it.
Kind of like a difficult child who will walk all over a permissive parent....but respects and actually craves limits and a firm hand sometimes...
If it is a vote of what I would like to happen I voted for "Quebec will seperate and the rest of the nation will stay intact" because I can't predict the future but I can make an opinion of what would be nice. 
Quebec just keeps on whining and the government just keeps giving them bribes. I'd like some of that bribe money, screw Quebec leaving, let us British Columbians say we are going to leave!
Quebec just keeps on whining and the government just keeps giving them bribes. I'd like some of that bribe money, screw Quebec leaving, let us British Columbians say we are going to leave!
"
Hmm, sounds like I've heard that one before. Kind of like, "Ja, mein Fuhrer, die juden frage!"
What's Quebec's new name gonna be I wonder? "Das Vaderland?", "Die Viertes Reich?"
See, we western rednecks (pardon the obvious pun), love the first nation's members of our communities. If there were a complaint, of which there are few, then it would be to placate to a status of a "distinct society" and therefore somehow eligible for some sort of special treatment, or willful waste of Canadian taxpayer's dollars.
You want to leave so bad? Let me show you the door.
Hmm, actually just accidentally happened upon it. Pissed me off enough to speak my mind. Still a free country right? Um, and if it's so dead, why were you reading it? As long as we still have to hear everything in both english and french in every already too long IVR system for every national conglomerate, this idea will never die. Besides, I haven't met a frenchman either Francaise ou Quebecois, who gives up that easy.
Lastly, If you had read what I was referring to, was more the initial implication that all Quebecers were racist. This I do not believe to be true, anymore than if I were to say all westerners hate easterners. It's a free big country, and people move back and forth all the time. This is great if you ask me. It is just the occasional idiot whose word choice, or choice of grammatical structure could be a little more thought out. Say the phrase, "The native question" to yourself, and tell me it doesn't send a shiver down your spine. Believe me, speaking as someone who was born and raised in the "old country", you hear people start talking like that, and don't say anything about it, we are going to have problems down the road. Ecouter? I love my adopted country, and it just ticks me off whenever people from within besmear our good, wholesome, patriotic, Canadian name.
Lastly, If you had read what I was referring to, was more the initial implication that all Quebecers were racist. This I do not believe to be true, anymore than if I were to say all westerners hate easterners. It's a free big country, and people move back and forth all the time. This is great if you ask me. It is just the occasional idiot whose word choice, or choice of grammatical structure could be a little more thought out. Say the phrase, "The native question" to yourself, and tell me it doesn't send a shiver down your spine. Believe me, speaking as someone who was born and raised in the "old country", you hear people start talking like that, and don't say anything about it, we are going to have problems down the road. Ecouter? I love my adopted country, and it just ticks me off whenever people from within besmear our good, wholesome, patriotic, Canadian name.
Separatist Québecois believe that once they separate they'll be able to spend all their tax dollars on themselves because they claim they put into Canada much more than they get.
The Québécois population will never vote for it because they know that any potential cost savings will be eaten up, and then some, by all the "national" things Quebec would have to create. After all, it takes a good deal of dough to open Embassies, create a diplomatic core, and establish a military... and that is just for starters. At present, Quebec shares the cost for these things. If it were separate, they be 100% accountable for their own.
The main reasons that Quebec will never go its own way:
1. It will no longer be part of the G-8,
2. It will have to renegociate its membership in NAFTA, and given how energy-hungry the US is, there would be intense pressure for the province to fire-sell it's hydro-electric exports, and
3. It would then be surrounded on its other three borders by territories who would have no reason whatsoever (with the possible exception of Acadians) to act to preserve the French language. Quebec would become just anothe export market for all things cultural in English... even from Canada.
The Québécois population will never vote for it because they know that any potential cost savings will be eaten up, and then some, by all the "national" things Quebec would have to create. After all, it takes a good deal of dough to open Embassies, create a diplomatic core, and establish a military... and that is just for starters. At present, Quebec shares the cost for these things. If it were separate, they be 100% accountable for their own.
The main reasons that Quebec will never go its own way:
1. It will no longer be part of the G-8,
2. It will have to renegociate its membership in NAFTA, and given how energy-hungry the US is, there would be intense pressure for the province to fire-sell it's hydro-electric exports, and
3. It would then be surrounded on its other three borders by territories who would have no reason whatsoever (with the possible exception of Acadians) to act to preserve the French language. Quebec would become just anothe export market for all things cultural in English... even from Canada.
As a Quebecker of Scottish ancestry, I would like to see the Maritimes join Quebec following independence. I understand this is highly improbable but I believe this option should be considered just as seriously. Both share a common Celtic heritage that is more and more foreign to the rest of Canada. Quebec has the merit of fighting for its heritage, while Canada is slowly drowning its own heritage in blind multiculturalism. No offence but statistics show that pretty soon being Canadian will mean being Pakistani or Chinese, indifferent to when or how this land was first setlled, by pioneering French, Irish and Scots. There are things that bond people stronger than language, common traditions, relation to the land, music, shared hardship, etc. An english-speaking New Brunswicker of Irish ancestry has a hundred times more in common with a french-speaking Quebecker than with another english-speaking Canadian from BC of Chinese or Indu descent. These things matter more than than people will admit to themselves, they're the glue that gives a country a common identity. People of Irish, Scottish or French descent (most of which came from Brittany) are Celtic brothers that can work together to defend what they hold in common. Maybe one day folks in the Maritimes will realize their heritage had more chance of lasting by staying with Quebec than staying with Canada.
Canada, Quebec, the east and west are better off together. I believe a civil war would begin with northern natives resisting Quebec as they attempt to remain a part of Canada.
I'm pro-Quebec independence, so is all of my family, friends and most blue collar workers, artists and intellectuals here. If you believe any different it's a sign your media coverage on the matter is slightly distorted. If you want to get it over soon, vote liberal, a little later, vote conservative. The same cycle is happening again, just like in the 80s, conservatives get in after those nasty Quebec-crushing liberals are out, some regions of Quebec warm up to Canada, get to have important ministers, money, apparent recognition, etc. then things sour again and folks get more demanding, then the liberals again, then another negative reaction and a fresh stride for independence. There's no way out of it, well actually there's one. Minoritize folks of french-ancestry in Quebec with massive english-speaking immigration. Immigrants are naturally prone to vote liberal here. Good picks for assured federalist immigrants are Italians, Greeks, Indus, Pakistanis, Philipinos, Jamaicans, etc. Bad picks (more prone to support independence) are Hispanics, Portugese, Marocan, sub-saharan Africans. By the way I'm of Scottish descent and also support Scottish independence. I would also vote for Quebec to give honorary citizenship to every Tibetan, in a show of solidarity to their cause, which is even more more hopeless than Feds here wants us to believe ours is.
I think it would be terrific for Québécois to form their own country and I could see them benefiting enormously from independence. They would then be free to pursue their own foreign policy, trade relations, immigration, and many other areas which they differ in views and opinions from other people in this country. Considerable negotiations would have to take place in terms of debt and infrastructure that the Dominion of Canada owns in the now current province though. But Quebec could either purchase the infrastructure or just let Canada keep ownership of it. After all it is not uncommon for foreign governments to own property in other nations.
I would probably even support my province leaving. The first steps though would be to follow Quebec to gain control of areas that the Dominion government controls. I know there is talk of creating an Alberta Pension Plan and gaining further control over immigration and even other areas. However as Quebec has seen these measures only go so far. You can only dissolve so much power to a province before it is not even a province any more but another nation. I suppose that wouldn't be a bad concept either creating a union of independent nation states. Even then though it still might be better to manage our nation totally independent from other ones. Either way there are many solutions to look at but one thing I believe is certain is that I do not think the status quo is going to survive into the next century.
I would probably even support my province leaving. The first steps though would be to follow Quebec to gain control of areas that the Dominion government controls. I know there is talk of creating an Alberta Pension Plan and gaining further control over immigration and even other areas. However as Quebec has seen these measures only go so far. You can only dissolve so much power to a province before it is not even a province any more but another nation. I suppose that wouldn't be a bad concept either creating a union of independent nation states. Even then though it still might be better to manage our nation totally independent from other ones. Either way there are many solutions to look at but one thing I believe is certain is that I do not think the status quo is going to survive into the next century.
I'm an anglo Quebecer and if Quebec separates, I propose that Canada's capital is moved from Ottawa to Victoria BC. Other good options would be Vancouver or Calgary. This would reflect the country's new balance. The capital has moved before, before Ottawa there were other cities. True the costs would be significant but it would be worth it. A commission could be set up to oversee the move. Significant buildings that have special heritage value, like the Parliament building and the Supreme court building would benefit from a special relocation fund. They would basically be carefully de-constructed, transported and rebuilt faithfully as they were (like the Abu Simbel temple in Egypt was moved). Of course it would be cheaper to build new buildings for these institutions but keeping these could be worth it, it would work to unite the country in a collective project and give it a sense of continuity. Other less significant buildings, like the PM's house or the Canada Post building would simply be put to sale. New buildings would be built or bought in Victoria. Costs for relocating foreign embassies would be at each country's expenses. As for civil workers and private businesses catering to them (hotels, real estate groups, etc.) any opportunity lost here would pop up in Victoria. Basically there would be a drop in the market for the Ottawa region and local city pressure groups would scream injustice but for the long-term sake of the country these should ignored, or compensated symbolically. Of course there are capital cities in other countries that are at a rock's throw from their neighbors, but it wouldn't be healthy here. Ottawa is too QC-oriented. The new Canada's balance of power wouldn't be there anymore. The two founding nations myth would have to be recast, the new emphasis would be rebalanced on Canada's British heritage, just like Australia, it would be turned towards the future, the West, the Pacific and its rising Asian partners.
Why?
The USA supports freedom for Kosovo, worked hard to dismantle the Soviet empire, fought for South Vietnam's separation, and has helped many achieve their independence. Therefore, to be consistent it is altogether fitting for the USA to support Quebec's freedom, assuming the movement gets majority support there.