PM declares Quebec nation 'within Canada'

Republican_Man · **Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:34 pm**

Technically, the Quebecois are a nation, but we don't need to get into technical terms here.

But yes, I agree. This is insane...

CJ Cregg · Commodore Joined: 05 Oct 2002 Posts: 1254

Republican_Man · **Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:17 pm**

Valathous · **Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:51 pm**

They've already had 2 referendums. Both times they voted to remain in Canada.

First one was back in the 80s and it was a 60%-40% outcome. The next was 1995, I believe with a 50.8 -49.2 outcome. Something like that.

But more recently I believe that they're more willing to stay in the country.

*Edit*

I hope that this move by Harper was just to appeal to some of the separatists that the government is acknowledging their distinct society. Possibly a strategy to calm some of them down.

On that note...

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2mSJj3sMW0 <

Hitchhiker · **Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:15 pm**

The problem is that most people misinterpret the meaning of the word nation.

I will admit that my first reaction was this: That's stupid! Quebec isn't a nation! Look, either you're nation or you're not, and Quebec isn't a nation.

But some part of me knew I was wrong, or at least suspected it. So I trundled over to Wikipedia and looked up what a nation actually was, because believe it or not, but I didn't know--and I doubt many people do know the difference between nation and country. I draw your attention to the ambiguity in usage section.

After reading the article, I've changed my opinion. Quebec certainly does fit the definition of a nation; it has a very distinct and rich culture that has existed throughout all of Canada's history; the Qu�b�cois are indeed a people. If more people understood what the definition of a nation was, maybe this wouldn't be such an issue.

Now as if that wasn't shocking, I will now make the revelation that I particularly agree with Stephen Harper on this issue!

At least, this is what I think: Quebec should be nation, since it fits the definition. It should not, however, be politically independent from Canada. In other words, Quebec is not a sovereign country. I like you, Quebec. Why go?

The issue of Quebec sovereignty, unfortunately, is hard to separate from the issue of Quebec nationalism. Nationalism is a really complicated concept that causes a lot of inconveniences on any side of the debates. I respect that Quebec has a strong culture, but I don't think that it would benefit either the rest of Canada or Quebec for Quebec to become its own country. Look at Nunavut: the Inuit have their own culture too (well, okay, what's left of it after we suppressed it for a century or so...), but should they separate? No. Politically, we are stronger as a cohesive body.

Republican_Man · **Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:37 pm**

Tach, that's exactly what I meant when I said that the Quebecois are a nation - because they are a nation within a state. I just wasn't planning on getting into it because it's so detailed. Plus CJ Cregg didn't want me to either, lol, so I decided against it.

But yes, you are correct. Nation and state are two entirely different things. Nation has been an incredibly misused term.

Did he use it in that context, then? If so, then I wholeheartedly agree with him.

LightningBoy · **Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:20 am**

I wish Quebec would split from Canada.

It'd be a great economic help, and would mean nothing but good, for Western Canada.

Valathous · **Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:33 am**

... No it wouldn't. A large portion of Canada's economy is in Quebec, especially Montreal (business) and northern Quebec (hydro, maple syrup (lol) and forestry). Western Canada relies on softwood lumber, which we're screwed out of our proper NAFTA right of no tariffs anyways, and the oil from Alberta.

Quebec separating would be horrible. The west does nothing but whine no matter what, anyways. They try to build up their economy but don't even put enough thought into it to build housing developments so people leave soon after they get there, (That's right Edmonton! I'm pointing at you). The west needs to smarten up and then things will go better for them.

Montreal is far more important to Canada than Vancouver, IMO.

As Pierre Elliot Trudeau once said: "If you Westerners think you're so smart why don't you try running the country?"

The only economic help that would come of this would be to the USA as the Canadian dollar takes a nose-dive. And on one more note, it would separate the Atlantic and Maritime provinces from Canada, too, with Quebec being in the middle of them. All together it makes no sense.

I'm from Quebec, la belle province, originally and as far as I'm concerned, separation is the worst thing they could do.