Tories defend interests of Quebec nationalists: PM

[Leafless]

Conservative leader Stephen Harper swung back into Quebec for the second time in 10 days and aimed directly at Bloc Québécois support in a separatist stronghold, reaching out directly to the nationalists that once helped vote past Conservative governments into power.

"We recognize that when you are part of a nation, it's absolutely normal to be nationalist," Harper told a rally here.

Here is absolute proof that Canadian politics is totally dysfunctional by having the PM of Canada defend and entertain Quebec nationalist at the expense of majority political interest.

Selling out the political interest of the ROC to achieve a next to impossible political goal is immature, irresponsible and wreckless.

http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/501162

[M.Dancer]

Sorry, which political interest was sold out?

[Leafless]

Sorry, which political interest was sold out?

Mr. Harper as PM is interfering with majority cultural beliefs of Canadians by trying to buy Quebec nationalist votes which directly conflict with the majority cultural beliefs of the rest of Canada including their political ideologies.

[Moonbox]

and how does accepting Quebec Nationalism affect you specifically?

Is this maybe kind of like Liberal pandering to urban ethnic voters and immigrants?

Yeah I thought so.

[M.Dancer]

Mr. Harper as PM is interfering with majority cultural beliefs of Canadians by trying to buy Quebec nationalist votes which directly conflict with the majority cultural beliefs of the rest of Canada including their political ideologies.

Which majority cultural beliefs are you refering to that would be affected by the "de facto" Quebec nation and how are they in conflict?

[Leafless]

and how does accepting Quebec Nationalism affect you specifically?

Since when do foreign political ideologies dominate Canada?

We are not a united country and Harpers actions only verify this by recognizing Quebec as a distinct society.

Harper is representative of a totalitarian government fostering political actions that are not representative of the majority of Canadians.

This is proven by the fact Canadians have rejected Quebec as a distinct society.

[M.Dancer]

This is proven by the fact Canadians have rejected Quebec as a distinct society.

Really? When?

[capricorn]

We are not a united country and Harpers actions only verify this by recognizing Quebec as a distinct society.

Wrong. By virtue of the decline of the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois in Quebec, the country is more united. L. Ian MacDonald wrote an excellent piece in the Montreal Gazette about the impact of the Quebec Nation resolution.

In November 2006, Gilles Duceppe served notice of a motion to recognize "the Quebec nation." His intent was clearly mischievous - to sow discord among Liberals on an issue they would be debating at their leadership convention the following week, and to embarrass the Conservatives into voting against it on the floor of the House of Commons.

It was purely a tactical manoeuvre. What Duceppe didn't count on was that Stephen Harper loves tactics. It's the part of the game, the chessboard part, he loves above all. The very next day, Nov. 22, the prime minister introduced his own motion, recognizing that Quebecers "form a nation within a united Canada."

When he explained it to his caucus that Wednesday morning, there wasn't a dissenting voice - and this in the party of John Diefenbaker's One Canada and Preston Manning's western Reform movement. Harper's Quebec MPs and senators were jubilant, as was Jean Charest when the premier was consulted by phone. Over the lunch hour that day, Harper worked on the language of the resolution with interim Liberal leader Bill Graham, and also obtained the agreement of the NDP's Jack Layton.

---

It's not a constitutional amendment. It's not in the preamble of the constitution. It's not even statute law. It's just a resolution of the House. As Harper himself said then: "It's not a legal text. It's simply a declaration of recognition and reconciliation."

It has turned out to be just that, for French- and English-speaking Quebecers alike, a kind of permission slip to close the books on the wounds and slights of another era. To the immense relief of all.

That Harper did this, as an Albertan, was a kind of Nixon in China thing. No prime minister from Quebec could ever have proposed it, knowing the furor it would have caused in the rest of Canada.

---

It is too early to say where this will end on election day, but it clearly has the Bloc headed in the wrong direction. And when this chapter is written, it will begin with the resolution on the Quebecois nation, as a turning point in our political history.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/colu...c74d5d2&p=1

If you'd look at this impartially, you'd realize there has been a vast improvement in the relations between Quebec and the ROC. Whether you're prepared to admit it or not, Harper was instrumental in bringing this about.

[guyser]

If you'd look at this impartially,

And the sun will rise in the west tomorrow morning.

[Topaz]

The 4.4 Billion Harper gave Quebec, I hope he get his money worth in votes but I heard few people from Quebec on Cpac say they were separatist but they are voting NDP!! I think we are going to see more orange than ever before, even Quebecers don't trust Harper!!

[Moonbox]

Since when do foreign political ideologies dominate Canada?

We are not a united country and Harpers actions only verify this by recognizing Quebec as a distinct society.

Harper is representative of a totalitarian government fostering political actions that are not representative of the majority of Canadians.

This is proven by the fact Canadians have rejected Quebec as a distinct society.

Answering my question with another question and then some nonsense rhetoric about evil Harper and his dictatorship leads one to believe that you are just blowing hot air and have no idea what you're talking about.

I'll ask the question again.

How does recognizing Quebec Nationalism make ANY difference to you or me or anyone else?

[Leafless]

Which majority cultural beliefs are you refering to that would be affected by the "de facto" Quebec nation and how are they in conflict?

Any province in Canada can claim 'nation status' as a nation within Canada.

'Nation status within Canada' means nothing.

Multiculturalism which Quebec is part of is destroying Canada.

Quebec's differs from the rest of Canada relating to its adhereing to Quebec provincial nationalism rather than Canadian nationalism.

Quebec first, Canada second is unacceptable.

Canada's language of commerce is the free flowing, freely chosen English language used by the majority of Canadians throughout Canada.

Quebec's minority language French is being improperly and unfairly propagated by forces of federal, provincial and municipal government by utilizing laws that have never been debated on a national or provincial or municipal scale or approved by referendum in Quebec or outside of Quebec.

[M.Dancer]

Any province in Canada can claim 'nation status' as a nation within Canada.

'Nation status within Canada' means nothing.

Multiculturalism which Quebec is part of is destroying Canada.

Quebec's differs from the rest of Canada relating to its adhereing to Quebec provincial nationalism rather than Canadian nationalism.

Quebec first, Canada second is unacceptable.

Canada's language of commerce is the free flowing, freely chosen English language used by the majority of Canadians throughout Canada.

Quebec's minority language French is being improperly and unfairly propagated by forces of federal, provincial and municipal government by utilizing laws that have never been debated on a national or provincial or municipal scale or approved by referendum in Quebec or outside of Quebec.

I rerally didn't think my question was that hard....

[capricorn]

I think we are going to see more orange than ever before, even Quebecers don't trust Harper!!

I see you haven't bothered looking at the polls that someone kindly brought to your attention. It is the Conservatives who are statistically tied with the Bloc in Quebec, not the NDP.

[M.Dancer]

The 4.4 Billion Harper gave Quebec, I hope he get his money worth in votes but I heard few people from Quebec on Cpac say they were separatist but they are voting NDP!! I think we are going to see more orange than ever before, even Quebecers don't trust Harper!!

http://www.electionprediction.org/2007_fed/p_24pq.html

The NDP will resume their traditional status of being a Quebec Free political party....

[Leafless]

Really? When?

With the failure of the Charlottetown Accord resulting with 'no' special staus for Quebec'.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...753C1A964958260

[Smallc]

http://www.electionprediction.org/2007_fed/p_24pq.html

The NDP will resume their traditional status of being a Quebec Free political party....

Doesn't it say its too close to call?

[Who's Doing What?]

and how does accepting Quebec Nationalism affect you specifically?

Is this maybe kind of like Liberal pandering to urban ethnic voters and immigrants?

Yeah I thought so.

And how would Quebec leaving Canada affect everyone?

[CANADIEN]

Since when do foreign political ideologies dominate Canada?

We are not a united country and Harpers actions only verify this by recognizing Quebec as a distinct society.

Harper is representative of a totalitarian government fostering political actions that are not representative of the majority of Canadians.

This is proven by the fact Canadians have rejected Quebec as a distinct society.

We have to admire the wonderful logic. Quebec as a society is foreign to Canada but not distinct from it.

[CANADIEN]

I rerally didn't think my question was that hard....

It is not... to others.

[August1991]

Here is absolute proof that Canadian politics is totally dysfunctional by having the PM of Canada defend and entertain Quebec nationalist at the expense of majority political interest.

Is it wrong if the Prime Minister of Canada defends the specific interests of Quebec within a united Canada?

[CANADIEN]

Is it wrong if the Prime Minister of Canada defends the specific interests of Quebec within a united Canada?

You forget... Quebec should not be part of Canada, or so claims Leafless.

[M.Dancer]

With the failure of the Charlottetown Accord resulting with 'no' special staus for Quebec'.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...753C1A964958260

Oh so you think the Charletown accord was just about Distinct society? You mean it didn't have anything to do with the federal governments responsibilities towards: health care and education, the elimination of provincial trade barriers or aboriginal self government or the elected senate?

And perhaps you might be inclined to explain why, if in your mind the accord was just about Distinct Society, why it did not pass in Quebec but had overwhelming support in PEI?

Edited September 19, 2008 by M.Dancer

[M.Dancer]

Doesn't it say its too close to call?

It does....and too close in this election means no to the NDP.

[Leafless]

Is it wrong if the Prime Minister of Canada defends the specific interests of Quebec within a united Canada?

Yes it is wrong.

A PM defending Quebec nationalism is denouncing Canada as a country.