Liberal recognition of Quebec as a Nation an albatross in the Rest of

[Ricki Bobbi]

From an SES Research poll on the topic. Link here.

In Ontario 10% of voters are more likely to vote Liberal in the next Federal election if the LPC recognizes Quebec as a nation within Canada while 54% of voters are less likely to vote Liberal.

Please, please, please pass the resolution.

The Liberals have just handed the Conservatives THE issue for the next election.

[Topaz]

I, for one, don't believe that's true. I don't believe Quebec is a nation, its one of the provinces of Canada and I don't believe the Bloc, should be seating in Ottawa, since they don't believe Quebec is a province of Canada! Quebec has the Liberals, the Conservatives, the NDPs and the Bloc representing the interests of it! Why? Why should any province have more representation than the others? Just think of the difference in Parliament, if the Bloc weren't there and how the voting would go and the end results!

[August1991]

Bluster.

Canadian history is one of compromise. Radical or strongly-held positions rarely last for long. We inevitably are forced to accomodate others.

[bradco]

I, for one, don't believe that's true. I don't believe Quebec is a nation, its one of the provinces of Canada and I don't believe the Bloc, should be seating in Ottawa, since they don't believe Quebec is a province of Canada! Quebec has the Liberals, the Conservatives, the NDPs and the Bloc representing the interests of it! Why? Why should any province have more representation than the others? Just think of the difference in Parliament, if the Bloc weren't there and how the voting would go and the end results!

"I don't believe Quebec is a nation"

Really? Common language, heritage, culture but not a nation? They are clearly a nation but a nation that is better off inside Canada, not out of it. Canada is a country of numerous nations and thats not something we should continue to consider as a weakness.

"I don't believe the Bloc, should be seating in Ottawa, since they don't believe Quebec is a province of Canada"

Thats great and all and quite logical....except for the fact they were democratically elected. Anyone who can be democratically elected should be able to sit in Otttawa.

"Why should any province have more representation than the others"

All provinces are free to vote as they choose

"Just think of the difference in Parliament, if the Bloc weren't there and how the voting would go and the end results!"

I agree it would be great! But its up to the people of Quebec to vote in their representatives in the way they feel is in their best interest. The success of the Bloc really shows the failure of federal parties. Recognizing Quebec as a nation is the first step in killing off the Bloc

[jdobbin]

I'm not sure what danger there is in regarding Quebec as a nation within Canada.

Is there one?

[Ricki Bobbi]

I'm not sure what danger there is in regarding Quebec as a nation within Canada.

Is there one?

There are potential implications with the interpretation of various clauses of the Constitution, the Clarity Act, a unilateral declaration of independence. On and on and on.

Nevermind the pre-occupation with the Constituion while there are other more important things to be dealt with...

[jbg]

From an SES Research poll on the topic. Link here.

In Ontario 10% of voters are more likely to vote Liberal in the next Federal election if the LPC recognizes Quebec as a nation within Canada while 54% of voters are less likely to vote Liberal. Please, please, please pass the resolution. The Liberals have just handed the Conservatives THE issue for the next election.

In the US such a resolution, properly would result in the promulgators of it swinging from a rope.

"I don't believe Quebec is a nation"

Really? Common language, heritage, culture but not a nation? They are clearly a nation but a nation that is better off inside Canada, not out of it. Canada is a country of numerous nations and thats not something we should continue to consider as a weakness.

1) Common language - You mean the English speakers that predominate from about halfway through Montreal to the ON border don't count, or the ones near Hull?

2) Ditto culture;

3) They wouldn't be self-sufficient or economically viable at anything like their current standard of living; and

4) They'd be landlocked within Canada the same way Lesotho and Botswana are.

[geoffrey]

If a community is caught up on whether they are recognized as a nation or not (something with no real world implications), they really need to get their priorities adjusted. Quebec is no more a distinct nation than Alberta, BC or Newfoundland from Canada. Get over yourselves already and deal with some real issues.

[Guest Warwick Green]

A British perspective:

Which country you live in is complicated. A country (or state) is officially a self-governing political entity, not to be confused with a nation, which is a tightly-knit group of people sharing a common culture, but there is so much devolution and intermingling going on that it is not quite clear what those definitions mean. The UK is a country, even if its Parliament may sometimes be overruled by Europe. Scotland and Wales are separate countries with their own parliaments, even though on occasion they may be overruled by Westminster. Whether England is a country is more difficult, because England is not quite ­self-governing, having Scots, Welsh and Irish MPs in our Parliament.

A lot of provinces (BC, Nfld, NS among others) would probably claim to be a nation as described here.

IMO, the whole "Is Quebec a nation?" debate generates a lot of heat but very little light.

[Ricki Bobbi]

A British perspective:

Which country you live in is complicated. A country (or state) is officially a self-governing political entity, not to be confused with a nation, which is a tightly-knit group of people sharing a common culture, but there is so much devolution and intermingling going on that it is not quite clear what those definitions mean. The UK is a country, even if its Parliament may sometimes be overruled by Europe. Scotland and Wales are separate countries with their own parliaments, even though on occasion they may be overruled by Westminster. Whether England is a country is more difficult, because England is not quite ­self-governing, having Scots, Welsh and Irish MPs in our Parliament.

A lot of provinces (BC, Nfld, NS among others) would probably claim to be a nation as described here.

IMO, the whole "Is Quebec a nation?" debate generates a lot of heat but very little light.

The UK is not a good model for Canada. Do the 'troubles' in Northern Ireland seem like anything we would want here in Canada?

[Ricki Bobbi]

oops double post

[Guest Warwick Green]

A British perspective:

Which country you live in is complicated. A country (or state) is officially a self-governing political entity, not to be confused with a nation, which is a tightly-knit group of people sharing a common culture, but there is so much devolution and intermingling going on that it is not quite clear what those definitions mean. The UK is a country, even if its Parliament may sometimes be overruled by Europe. Scotland and Wales are separate countries with their own parliaments, even though on occasion they may be overruled by Westminster. Whether England is a country is more difficult, because England is not quite ­self-governing, having Scots, Welsh and Irish MPs in our Parliament.

A lot of provinces (BC, Nfld, NS among others) would probably claim to be a nation as described here.

IMO, the whole "Is Quebec a nation?" debate generates a lot of heat but very little light.

The UK is not a good model for Canada. Do the 'troubles' in Northern Ireland seem like anything we would want here in Canada?

I'm not suggesting we emulate the UK. If we had UK style devolution we would end up with 11 "countries". But the concept of nation is so loosey-goosey as to be able to apply to just about any ethnic, cultural or linguistic group.

[Ricki Bobbi]

I'm not suggesting we emulate the UK. If we had UK style devolution we would end up with 11 "countries". But the concept of nation is so loosey-goosey as to be able to apply to just about any ethnic, cultural or linguistic group.

That is the issue with defining Quebec alone as a Nation. It is merely distinct society in other words. We all saw the vehement public denunciation of trying to introduce that term into our constitution.

[bradco]

From an SES Research poll on the topic. Link here.

In Ontario 10% of voters are more likely to vote Liberal in the next Federal election if the LPC recognizes Quebec as a nation within Canada while 54% of voters are less likely to vote Liberal. Please, please, please pass the resolution. The Liberals have just handed the Conservatives THE issue for the next election.

In the US such a resolution, properly would result in the promulgators of it swinging from a rope.

"I don't believe Quebec is a nation"

Really? Common language, heritage, culture but not a nation? They are clearly a nation but a nation that is better off inside Canada, not out of it. Canada is a country of numerous nations and thats not something we should continue to consider as a weakness.

1) Common language - You mean the English speakers that predominate from about halfway through Montreal to the ON border don't count, or the ones near Hull?

2) Ditto culture;

3) They wouldn't be self-sufficient or economically viable at anything like their current standard of living; and

4) They'd be landlocked within Canada the same way Lesotho and Botswana are.

1 and 2: Im speaking of the majority of Quebecois.

3 and 4: I completely agree. I dont see why recognition of nation automatically means separation though. As far as Im concerned we can recognize quite a few "nations" within Canada and I dont see that as a weakness.

[bradco]

If a community is caught up on whether they are recognized as a nation or not (something with no real world implications), they really need to get their priorities adjusted. Quebec is no more a distinct nation than Alberta, BC or Newfoundland from Canada. Get over yourselves already and deal with some real issues.

I agree. I think one of the most distinct places Ive been in Canada is St.Johns.

So lets recognize everyone has distinct, including Quebec, and get on with the real issues

[Ricki Bobbi]

I agree. I think one of the most distinct places Ive been in Canada is St.Johns.

So lets recognize everyone has distinct, including Quebec, and get on with the real issues

That is more than fine with me. I believe most Canadians would agree with you. That's why it is a good thing for the Liberals to get hung up on. The Conservatives would be more than happy if that were the main focus of the election...