Comments on: Oh no, here we go again: Quebec to separate by 2010 according to ex-premier Landry http://infreemation.net/oh-no-here-we-go-again-quebec-to-separate-by-2010-according-to-ex-premier-landry/ information superconductor Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:30:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Anonymous http://infreemation.net/oh-no-here-we-go-again-quebec-to-separate-by-2010-according-to-ex-premier-landry/#comment-20 Anonymous Wed, 04 May 2005 19:13:00 +0000 http://www.nudecybot.net/?p=27#comment-20 I agree and disagree in many ways to your statements. I agree that the idea of Quebec separatism may be potentially harmful to the Canadian federation. However, given the regionalism that this country has it doesn't seem too farfetched. Many regions in this country can successfully separate and remain economical. Canada is made up of a very loose confederation of provinces that represent regions that may not necessarily be economically impacted by one another. A good example I have is Alberta. Decisions made in the United States affect Alberta's economy much more than decisions made in Ottawa. If Western Canada separated we would be arguably more financially set than Eastern Canada. But what keeps us from going? The fact that we feel patriotism for this country. Quebec is a unique case because it's that very real patriotism that has been established far before the English patriotism in Canada. Quebecois feel cheated, feel anglocized, and above all, feel that the English control their "country". Those are understandable fears that I feel English speaking inhabitants across Canada don't understand. Quebecois don't generally feel contempt for Canada, but feel that they need to protect themselves from the 300 million English speaking inhabitants that surround them in the rest of Canada and the United States. I do agree with your statements that Quebec separatism is more of an emotional cry than a logical one. Quebec (I feel, although I'm no economist), would be in a fairly tough situation with investment leaving to a more politcally stable environment. I think that if Quebec were to separate the trading ties would be so close with Canada, they would be more of a sovereign province. I don't feel that the rest of Canada would view Quebec as a national entity. In either situation, this is a touchy subject to all Canadians. Personally, I think Quebec holds many of the answers that the rest of Canada needs. Quebec's fear of being anglocized is the same fear most Canadians have of being Americanized. I like how Quebecois media and industries have been "masters in their own house". I don't think that English Canadians should view the Quiet Revolution as anti-Canadian, but rather view the call for seperatism as a smaller microcosm of the real fears in Canadian society. We are a country defined in contrast with our American neighbours, yet we must unite so many different regions. Canadian nationalism compeletely contradicts itself in this respect. We must feel a similar cause in order to not feel "American", yet we are a nation made up of so many different backgrounds. Quebecois are different from Newfoundlanders, who are different from Western Canadians. However, if we can somehow create a national identity based on the grassroots organizations and institutions (as I feel Quebec has done a good job at doing), I feel we can finally become a secure nation. Will the cause of Quebec separation ever die? Of course not. As long as French Canadians see the difference between them and English Canadians they will always question their place in confederation, and will always question why they aren't independent. Is Quebec separatism wrong? I don't feel the concept is wrong. Traditionally Quebec was a conquered nation, and has always felt indepedent from English Canada. I feel as long as most Quebecois think logically, and truly know that many English Canadians (including myself) see them as fellow countrymen, the threat of separatism may never evolve into le nation du Quebec. So I say, let Quebecois sing "mon pays", and let the rest of Canada learn a lesson from our French brothers and sisters. I agree and disagree in many ways to your statements. I agree that the idea of Quebec separatism may be potentially harmful to the Canadian federation. However, given the regionalism that this country has it doesn’t seem too farfetched. Many regions in this country can successfully separate and remain economical. Canada is made up of a very loose confederation of provinces that represent regions that may not necessarily be economically impacted by one another. A good example I have is Alberta. Decisions made in the United States affect Alberta’s economy much more than decisions made in Ottawa. If Western Canada separated we would be arguably more financially set than Eastern Canada. But what keeps us from going? The fact that we feel patriotism for this country. Quebec is a unique case because it’s that very real patriotism that has been established far before the English patriotism in Canada. Quebecois feel cheated, feel anglocized, and above all, feel that the English control their “country”. Those are understandable fears that I feel English speaking inhabitants across Canada don’t understand. Quebecois don’t generally feel contempt for Canada, but feel that they need to protect themselves from the 300 million English speaking inhabitants that surround them in the rest of Canada and the United States.

I do agree with your statements that Quebec separatism is more of an emotional cry than a logical one. Quebec (I feel, although I’m no economist), would be in a fairly tough situation with investment leaving to a more politcally stable environment. I think that if Quebec were to separate the trading ties would be so close with Canada, they would be more of a sovereign province. I don’t feel that the rest of Canada would view Quebec as a national entity.

In either situation, this is a touchy subject to all Canadians. Personally, I think Quebec holds many of the answers that the rest of Canada needs. Quebec’s fear of being anglocized is the same fear most Canadians have of being Americanized. I like how Quebecois media and industries have been “masters in their own house”. I don’t think that English Canadians should view the Quiet Revolution as anti-Canadian, but rather view the call for seperatism as a smaller microcosm of the real fears in Canadian society. We are a country defined in contrast with our American neighbours, yet we must unite so many different regions. Canadian nationalism compeletely contradicts itself in this respect. We must feel a similar cause in order to not feel “American”, yet we are a nation made up of so many different backgrounds. Quebecois are different from Newfoundlanders, who are different from Western Canadians. However, if we can somehow create a national identity based on the grassroots organizations and institutions (as I feel Quebec has done a good job at doing), I feel we can finally become a secure nation.

Will the cause of Quebec separation ever die? Of course not. As long as French Canadians see the difference between them and English Canadians they will always question their place in confederation, and will always question why they aren’t independent. Is Quebec separatism wrong? I don’t feel the concept is wrong. Traditionally Quebec was a conquered nation, and has always felt indepedent from English Canada. I feel as long as most Quebecois think logically, and truly know that many English Canadians (including myself) see them as fellow countrymen, the threat of separatism may never evolve into le nation du Quebec. So I say, let Quebecois sing “mon pays”, and let the rest of Canada learn a lesson from our French brothers and sisters.

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