Canada is Not "Broken"
:arrow: Canada is Not a Broken Nation
I would vehemently oppose the assertion that Canada is "broken." It has some domestic issues going on, as does any other nation of its type on Earth. I would submit that Canada is quite operative as it is, but that it could certainly use improvement in various areas; perhaps one could say that Canada, rather than being broken, has some glitches that need to be "tweaked" in order to improve the performance of the nation as a whole.
Québec is a Province of Canada, and Quebeckers are subjects of the Crown¹, as are citizens of each and every other Province, and of the three Territories. There is a place for Québec in Canada as a strong voice, and as a strong Province, hosting much of the nation's population. It is an important Province for the economy of Canada, and for our culture; Québec is an important part of our heritage, as Québec is more than anything else Canadian. Even if recognized as being "distinct" in one or more ways, what Province in Canada wouldn't assert the very same?
:arrow: "Canada is in a Stronger Position?"
I would think that Canada and Québec, in terms of the sovereigntist issue, are no stronger than the other. If the Legislature of the Province of Québec passes a referendum on the issue of separation, then the Government of Canada knows, clearly, where the current population of the Province stands.
Such a referendum, however, is not binding — the House of Commons, the Senate, the Governor General, the Legislatures of the Provinces and, depending in the situation, perhaps even the Queen of Canada, have a role to play whenever such a "showdown" occurs.
The debate would likely be heated — as it should. We would be talking about removing one of the founding Provinces from this great Confederation (yes, I know that some would disagree with the assertion that this Confederation is "great," but this is my whole-hearted opinion). If the House of Commons should consent to the separation, then the debate in the Senate should be no less vigorous.
If this event were to politicize the Office of the Governor General, or to pull the Queen of Canada into the affairs of the Ministry, then so be it — such an issue would, in my opinion, warrant the involvement of our Head of State. This would, after all, be the biggest crisis in the history of Canada. Every resource at our disposal should be exhausted in attempting to convince the citizens of Québec that their place in this world is, and should be, as a Province of Canada.
:arrow: The Showdown
When push comes to shove, and Quebeckers are determined to become a sovereign nation even after exhaustive debate and discussion, then what are we to do? Is the Government going to force Québec to continue to sit as a Province of Canada, against the wishes of its people? Or would we, ourselves, feel bound to the people of Québec, to respect the decision they make on the matter, and to consent to such a separation notwithstanding our subjective opposition?
Are we going to risk an American-style "declaration of independence," where we could irrepairably damage the relationship between Québec and the rest of Canada? If Québec should separate, are we going to foster some sort of partnership on the world stage?
I ask what would become of both a Canada ... and a Québec ... ?
:?: Footnote
¹ By Crown, I refer to the three components of Parliament.
:arrow: Canada is Not a Broken Nation
I would vehemently oppose the assertion that Canada is "broken." It has some domestic issues going on, as does any other nation of its type on Earth. I would submit that Canada is quite operative as it is, but that it could certainly use improvement in various areas; perhaps one could say that Canada, rather than being broken, has some glitches that need to be "tweaked" in order to improve the performance of the nation as a whole.
Québec is a Province of Canada, and Quebeckers are subjects of the Crown¹, as are citizens of each and every other Province, and of the three Territories. There is a place for Québec in Canada as a strong voice, and as a strong Province, hosting much of the nation's population. It is an important Province for the economy of Canada, and for our culture; Québec is an important part of our heritage, as Québec is more than anything else Canadian. Even if recognized as being "distinct" in one or more ways, what Province in Canada wouldn't assert the very same?
:arrow: "Canada is in a Stronger Position?"
I would think that Canada and Québec, in terms of the sovereigntist issue, are no stronger than the other. If the Legislature of the Province of Québec passes a referendum on the issue of separation, then the Government of Canada knows, clearly, where the current population of the Province stands.
Such a referendum, however, is not binding — the House of Commons, the Senate, the Governor General, the Legislatures of the Provinces and, depending in the situation, perhaps even the Queen of Canada, have a role to play whenever such a "showdown" occurs.
The debate would likely be heated — as it should. We would be talking about removing one of the founding Provinces from this great Confederation (yes, I know that some would disagree with the assertion that this Confederation is "great," but this is my whole-hearted opinion). If the House of Commons should consent to the separation, then the debate in the Senate should be no less vigorous.
If this event were to politicize the Office of the Governor General, or to pull the Queen of Canada into the affairs of the Ministry, then so be it — such an issue would, in my opinion, warrant the involvement of our Head of State. This would, after all, be the biggest crisis in the history of Canada. Every resource at our disposal should be exhausted in attempting to convince the citizens of Québec that their place in this world is, and should be, as a Province of Canada.
:arrow: The Showdown
When push comes to shove, and Quebeckers are determined to become a sovereign nation even after exhaustive debate and discussion, then what are we to do? Is the Government going to force Québec to continue to sit as a Province of Canada, against the wishes of its people? Or would we, ourselves, feel bound to the people of Québec, to respect the decision they make on the matter, and to consent to such a separation notwithstanding our subjective opposition?
Are we going to risk an American-style "declaration of independence," where we could irrepairably damage the relationship between Québec and the rest of Canada? If Québec should separate, are we going to foster some sort of partnership on the world stage?
I ask what would become of both a Canada ... and a Québec ... ?
:?: Footnote
¹ By Crown, I refer to the three components of Parliament.
