Hidden agenda

[fellowtraveller]

BTW, how much he the Tories know about the torturing??

Everything.

Ultimately, the government is responsible for everything producd by CBC TV.

[fellowtraveller]

I think it's safe to say that separation is all but off the agenda.

The Bloc Quebecois has rejected one of their founding principles?

When-exactly- did that happen?

[Evening Star]

The CPC's are not the Tories of Sir John A MacDonald's day

Or even of Mulroney's day, let alone Joe Clark's!

[segnosaur]

Are Quebecers voting for them simply because they like their leanings on other issues and think that they are strong advocates for Quebec's interests within Canada?

It doesn't matter exactly why Quebec voters are supporting them. The important issue is "how does the rest of Canada view the Bloc".

I'm honestly not sure what the point of a separatist federal party even is, beyond spite: Only a provincial government in QC can call a referendum on separatism, right? (And that does not appear to be on the agenda of QC's provincial leaders.)

They can act to block legislation that may be good for "the majority of Canada" but disagrees with their own agenda.

They can use the house of commons as a forum to raise false issues that can be used to increase support for the cause of separation.

[segnosaur]

In all sincerity when was the last time the BLOC even raised the specter of separatism?

Ummm... how about over the summer?

From: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Duceppe+tells+world+another+referendum+coming/3144364/story.html

The international community should brace for another referendum on Quebec sovereignty that will finally allow the province to become a country, said Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe in a newly released letter that was distributed around the world....“As I am sure you are aware, Quebec is a nation in its own right,” Duceppe wrote in the English version of the letter, dated June 9, 2010. “There is a strong political movement to make Quebec a sovereign country, free to levy its own taxes, make all of its own laws and conduct its own international relations. This desire for freedom, which pushes millions of Quebecers toward independence, is a strong political force.”

[Evening Star]

It doesn't matter exactly why Quebec voters are supporting them. The important issue is "how does the rest of Canada view the Bloc".

It does matter if one wants to understand federal politics, considering how well-represented Quebec is in the House. It is also just a matter that is curious to me and that makes a difference to how I view the Bloc, as a voter in the ROC.

They can act to block legislation that may be good for "the majority of Canada" but disagrees with their own agenda.

They can use the house of commons as a forum to raise false issues that can be used to increase support for the cause of separation.

These would more or less fall into what I would categorize as "spite". When has the Bloc even does these things though?

[segnosaur]

...the BLOC is the real sticking issue for most people, and on this I agree. What I don't like is this it flies in the face of democracy and shakes the very foundation of our country rhetoric most anti-coalition folks spout off about.

Ummm... how exactly does "anti-separatist belief" fly in the face of democracy? In a free society, you are allowed to discuss any issues you want, and allocate your vote to whatever criteria you feel is acceptable. Why is it 'anti-democratic' if I choose to use as my criteria a willingness to support a party seeking to break up the country?

With no majority in site for any party I think we have to consider the possibility of some type of coalition, there was no dreaded "public backlash" in AU or the UK so I dare say most folks here would hardly take note, or would forget soon after.

I rather suspect that none of the parties involved in the australia or UK coalitions had, as part of their platform, the desire to see their country break up.

[ToadBrother]

And in that case, I would have no problem with the Liberals and NDP trying to form a government - but ONLY if combined, they had more seats that the Conservatives. The BLOC is an abberation to a coalition government and will never be accepted by the ROC as a legitimate government. It may be technically legal but if the GG allowed it, there would be outrage across the country and it would form a clear path to a Conservative majority government in the follow-on election. We've been through all this before.....but I agree that if the NDP and Liberals outnumber the Conservatives, they would have the right to try to form a minority government if the Conservatives were defeated in the house or the PM resigned,

Well, at least you've stopped calling it a coupe. That's what we went through before, bullcrap for Tories and their supporters.

And if it's strictly legal to prorogue Parliament to escape being turfed by Parliament, I'm wondering why the line in the sand on the Bloc. The compartmentalization of Tories is phenomenal, almost as amazing as the sheer ignorance of our constitution that most of them have. No wonder they hate all those elites, those elites actually know how our system works.

[ToadBrother]

Ummm... how about over the summer?

From: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Duceppe+tells+world+another+referendum+coming/3144364/story.html

The international community should brace for another referendum on Quebec sovereignty that will finally allow the province to become a country, said Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe in a newly released letter that was distributed around the world....“As I am sure you are aware, Quebec is a nation in its own right,” Duceppe wrote in the English version of the letter, dated June 9, 2010. “There is a strong political movement to make Quebec a sovereign country, free to levy its own taxes, make all of its own laws and conduct its own international relations. This desire for freedom, which pushes millions of Quebecers toward independence, is a strong political force.”

All talk. There's no appetite for it. Even with a lot of the cards in the Separatists' favor, they still couldn't cross the line in 1995. It's no better for them now.