BQ will be real winner in election

[idealisttotheend]

The more I think about it the more sense a Bloc Con alliance makes. A few years ago it would be unthinkable but now under Harper it is quite thinkable.

The Cons are all for "provincial rights." This sounds simple enough but as we are already almost the most decentralized federation in the world there aren't any more rights the federal government can give up without making the country itself totally irrelevant. The Bloc is tacitly for seperation but as that is clearly not possible any time soon they will settle just as easily for simply more rights and proctecting Quebec from any more federal incursions.

Really Stephan Harper has shown previously that he had as much use for a federal government as the Bloc does. The question remains, is a vote for the Cons a vote for "Refederation" (Orwellian term for seperation or near seperation) especially given their easy willingness to team up with le Bloc?

[August1991]

The question remains, is a vote for the Cons a vote for "Refederation" (Orwellian term for seperation or near seperation) especially given their easy willingness to team up with le Bloc?

The correct term is Meech Lake which intended to reconcile the Quebec provincial government with the 1982 constitution.

I doubt that Harper would want to start a Constitution negotiation now. (Although if Senate reform were included, there could be a justification.) The BQ on the other hand would never negotiate the Constitution on terms acceptable to the Tories.

The fact of the matter is that in the current circumstances, our Constitution is almost impossible to amend on anything substantive.

The more I think about it the more sense a Bloc Con alliance makes.

There will be no alliance or coalition. Duceppe has said that he will provide support on a case-by-case basis. The only stumbling block so far is Duceppe's insistence on all that pork to be doled out to Bombardier. Harper wants to stop that kind of nonsense.

The Tories could in fact govern using Lib votes for some situations and BQ votes for others.

Lastly, the Libs might try to use this "potential coalition" as a vote-getter in Ontario. IMV, these threats don't work anymore; certainly not one predicated on Quebec independence. The BQ and the PQ are perceived as pure bluff now.

[BQSupporter]

The sponsorship mess made Quebec look like the ones that were the crooks, the Liberals made the people here look silly and easily brought. That is the way Liberals think of Quebec, they think we are easy to be bride. We in Quebec are not stupid, we now know the Liberals do not have the best interest of Quebec in there heart, only the interest to make Quebec look silly to the rest of canada and to further Liberal political interest and reward there Liberal allies.

Only the BQ will stand up for Quebec and its people and we deserve a voice in a real government that will listen to the needs of Quebec.

[August1991]

The sponsorship mess made Quebec look like the ones that were the crooks, the Liberals made the people here look silly and easily brought.

Harper has stated in English and French several times that this was not a Quebec scandal; it was a Liberal scandal.

Informed people in English Canada understand that.

The Liberals did not make people in Quebec look silly. The Liberals made themselves look like crooks.

This "Sponsorship Scandal" resembles the "Pacific Scandal" (that brought down Macdonald) and the "Customs Scandal" (that brought down King).

[caesar]

Fortunately, if a Conservative/Bloc coalition is a reality; which I doubt. It will be short lived. We will be paying for another election within 6 months at the longest.

It looks like our vote in BC will count this time. Hopefully, the idea of the Bloc being a part of our federal government will be enough to make people vote Liberal. I was leaning towards the NDP, myself; but now I do believe that I will vote Liberal. I don't particularly like or trust Paul Martin but the thought of Stephen Harper being Prime Minister scares me. He could destroy Canada and our good reputation around the world.

[August1991]

Only the BQ will stand up for Quebec and its people and we deserve a voice in a real government that will listen to the needs of Quebec.

This sadly reflects the perception of many people in Quebec who are simply unable to contemplate the NDP or the Tories as viable alternatives to the Liberal.

More fundamentally, it reflects the neverending, deep divide in Quebec between "separatists" and "federalists" with neither side able to dominate. This single issue influences virtually every other discussion. This is not healthy.

Lastly, this division in Quebec is frighteningly fantastical. Until a majority of Quebecers are prepared to vote in favour of complete sovereignty, the idea of negotiating an association with ROC is a non-starter.

When Norway left Sweden, when the Baltic states left the USSR, they did it completely and quickly. That's what sovereignty is.

[idealisttotheend]

The Tories could in fact govern using Lib votes for some situations and BQ votes for others.

I don't think this would ever work. I mean a minority government is sort of like a constant election campaign in this country. Each side constantly jockeys for position until one side thinks they have enough of an advantage to go to the polls and get a majority. Plus we have something of a two party system (with the BQ and Alliance having been offshoots of the old PCs) in this country whether we like it or not. In a parlimentary system (unlike the American system) cooperation between the 'big two' is not practical at all. It disturbs the 'brand' of the party which is what most people vote for. For the Liberals to vote with the Cons would be to give their government credibility and that would be the last thing the Liberals would want. Totally impractical.

Fortunately, if a Conservative/Bloc coalition is a reality; which I doubt. It will be short lived. We will be paying for another election within 6 months at the longest.

I agree but only if the Cons get more seats than the Liberals and don't form a coalition with the Bloc. From what I've seen the NDP and the Liberals have almost agreed to work together already so we can count NDP and Liberal votes in the same column. Furthermore I don't think there is any chance of the Liberals working with the Cons on much of anything or having Liberal backbenchers back up the Cons at the expense of their own party. Therefore with a Conservative government having more seats than the Liberals but not a majority all it would be able to pass would be bills the Bloc agreed with, creating a de facto coalition if not a real one and the Bloc would probably defeat the Cons on the first bill they disagreed with. The Liberals (with NDP support) however could also pass anything the Bloc agreed with but would be vieing to defeat the Cons on the first confidence motion they could find so they could get back a majority. Only in a coalition would the government survive unless the BQ just wants to walk between the Libs and the Cons and pick which bills they like and that would be what was passed.

The same would hold true for a Liberal minority though unless the NDP can pull off enough seats to make the combined total higher than the Cons and BQ. SInce the Liberals can't work with the Bloc for the reasons August stated then either would be unstable and we'll probably be having elections until we can get a majority one or the other.

More fundamentally, it reflects the neverending, deep divide in Quebec between "separatists" and "federalists" with neither side able to dominate. This single issue influences virtually every other discussion. This is not healthy.

Solution: amend the Clarity act to make it possible to hold a referendum on soverignty only once every x number of years. That might keep the issue quiet for awhile and let us get on to more productive pursuiits vis a vie making the county work.

[maplesyrup]

Le BQ's goal is independence for Quebec.

Now why would a BQ supporter be pushing so hard for Harper?

Because Le BQ sees their best opportunity to achieve their aim of Quebec independence is with Harper.

I don't think Canadians will fall into this trap.

[BQSupporter]

Maple that is a LIE and im sick of you spreading LIES about the BQ on this website. IF you are going to slander the BQ get your Liberal talking points right and stop the LIES. Seperation is not an issue in this election, it is only the Liberals bring it up to try to slander the BQ.

Maple stop telling your Liberal LIES about the BQ on this website. Your post are offend filled with such LIES and I hope that those that read your post know that you tell LIES.

[caesar]

At least the Liberals would not join a party in a coalition government that's main aim is to have Quebec separate from Canada. One that does not have any interest in Federal Government decisions involving the majority of Canada, which is outside of Quebec. This is a Federal election and we should be electing people who are entrusted to make decisions affecting all of Canada.

If such a coalition does gain power; we will be facing another election in a very short time.

[BQSupporter]

What nonsense! What are you Liberals afraid of that if the BQ as a voice in a government we will finally find out how much money you have stolen from the people of Quebec and Canada? That Liberal Ministers in Quebec have benifited from public money. That we will find out that Martin and the Liberals spent all the money in the E.I program. That the Liberals have used Quebec and the Federal government as there own personally slush fund. That the Liberals have misued and ruined are Healthcare system.

What are the Liberals so afraid of?

[August1991]

Maple Syrup: Le BQ's goal is independence for Quebec.

BQS: Maple that is a LIE and im sick of you spreading LIES about the BQ on this website.

I know you neither personally. I have disagreed with Maple Syrup often. I may disagree, but MS' posts are honest. To my knowledge, MS is not a liar.

BQSupporter, I want satisfaction.

[playfullfellow]

What are the Liberals so afraid of?

I think you are right the Liberals are afraid of another party coming to power. The scandals and wasted moeny is much deeper than we are allowed to be told. What exactly I do not know but I get the feeling that the Liberals are very desparate here. There appears to be more of a hidden agenda coming from the Liberals than any other party.

As for the BQ being the winner in the next election, well yeah, they will be. They quite possibly can hold the balance of power in Ottawa but the real question should "what effect will this have on the rest of Canada"? The BQ's seperatist agenda is of no secret to anyone can read or hear. I fear that any bills sent to parliment that does not directly benefit Quebec would be quashed. If the BQ's goal was for Quebec to have more provincial powers, then I would not have so much of a problem but Quebec already has more powers than any other province. Where will this lead us? To chaos whether we have a Liberal or Conservative minority government. The world will view us as an unstable country and our financial markets will get a real kick in the butt. Yeah, the BQ will win alright when our financial stability as a country slides and the payouts end. They will start to use this as a reason to start talking seperation again. Right now Canada is fairly stable and the economy is doing ok so why rock the boat when everyone is able to keep their heads above water.