Bob Rae has the right approach to Quebec

gerryhatrick · November 16, 2006

Bob Rae has the right approach to Quebec
NORMAN SPECTOR

Globe and Mail November 15 2006

A wise Quebecker of my acquaintance, who has had considerable experience in federal-provincial relations, maintains that

we only run into trouble in this country when French- and English-speaking Canadians are talking about the same thing at the same time.

By that standard, we should be heartened that the 25th anniversary of Pierre Trudeau's constitutional agreement with nine provinces — infamously known in Quebec as the night of the long knives — went unreported in English Canada earlier this month. As did the 15th anniversary (in 2002) of Brian Mulroney's attempt to secure the agreement of Quebec's National Assembly to that Constitution, the Meech Lake accord.

snip

Outside Quebec, Mr. Ignatieff has done himself considerable damage by reinforcing the image of a gaffe-prone academic who's detached from Canada. Now, in full retreat, he has also alienated Quebeckers by stating (in an article on this page last week) that his support for the nation notion does not necessarily mean constitutional reform — and definitely does not mean any special status or powers.

The debate has also damaged Stéphane Dion. Mr. Dion has been taken off his game plan of focusing on the environment to erase memories in Quebec of past battles. More recently, he has back-pedalled on support for the term “nation” and now suggests that Quebec be “respected” as a “national group.”

Only Bob Rae has come up with a formulation that can save the Liberal Party, and Canada,

...

read the rest---> http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...y/National/home

The more I hear about Bob Rae the more I look forward to seeing him in action. I don't think there's any question he'll be the next Liberal leader, unless Frank McKena shows up.

gerryhatrick · November 16, 2006

From the article:

Only Bob Rae has come up with a formulation that can save the Liberal Party, and Canada, from the mess Mr. Ignatieff has created. In saying he does:
“not have a problem with the fact that many Québécois feel themselves part of a ‘nation' in the sense of a community of interest affected by a shared history, language, culture and geography,”

he has removed the principal objections to the definitions advanced by his rivals.

More important, he has come up with a responsible position that mirrors that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who's repeatedly stated he has no problem with Quebeckers calling their provincial legislature the National Assembly.

Excellent analysis.

geoffrey · November 16, 2006

I want a nation too!

Quebec doesn't deserve anything special. If the constitutional arrangement isn't equitable, then this isn't a real country.

Like I said though, Bob isn't going to win. The Liberals know that Ontario is extremely bitter towards him (know anyone that likes Rae?) and that's where they need seats. Not only that, but the seats they need are in the 905, where no one is voting for Bob Rae.

Kennedy, the only candidate to have appeal to the 905, will win.

hiti · November 16, 2006

Hmmmmmmmmmm! Seems like the Conservatives are desperate for Bob Rae to win. They can attack him on his Ontario record whereas they haven't a chance against any of the other candidates for leader of the Liberal party.

Rae is not going to win.

geoffrey · November 16, 2006

Hmmmmmmmmmm! Seems like the Conservatives are desperate for Bob Rae to win. They can attack him on his Ontario record whereas they haven't a chance against any of the other candidates for leader of the Liberal party.
Rae is not going to win.

Gerry is living in his socialist paradise, where an NDP candidate gets elected.... oops! I mean a Liberal.

Anyways, Ontario has tons of seats open for pickup from the right candidate, and tons of seats to lose if they elected a socialist (I demonstrated a number of seats that'd likely go CPC if an NDP... oops! I did it again, if Bob Rae were to be elected). Who better to put in there than a national uniter like Kennedy that is hugely popular with Ontarians for rebuilding their education system after Rae and Harris damaged it (and he did, it's the one thing I credit McGuinty's government for).

I wonder who they'll pick? I think this is the first time many Liberals see success as a non-Quebec issue. Why not run a screw Quebec, we'll take the rest campaign. Where can they pick up in Quebec, maybe a couple seats? Not enough to justify Rae.

hiti · November 16, 2006

I hope they pick Kennedy or Dion. Both have momentum whereas Iggnatif and Rae seem to have stalled. I don't think of Dion as a Quebecer and his English is getting pretty good. Plus both are brilliant politicians who have proven that they work for Canadians and Canada.

Both are excellent speakers and one won't find their audience falling asleep as happens in Harper's speeches. Both are can-do politicians that will be great for the country and will repair our international image.

kimmy · November 16, 2006

Hiti raises a good point. It seems to me that Norman Spector is about the last person who has the Liberal Party's best interests at heart.

Spector probably hopes that the Liberals pick Bob Rae for the same reason that Oilers fans hope that Jamie McLennan gets to start more games for the Flames this season.

-k