Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
Many people in Quebec view the Bloc as a "pro-Quebec" regional party, not necessarily the "anti-Canada" separatist party the rest of us see them as.
Here's a quote from a member of another forum I visit regarding the Bloc. For context, it's important to note that he's an anglophone and not even from Quebec originally.
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I agree. The Bloc is a regional party with its particular region's interests at heart. The fact the region is very identifiable, and coupled with the topic of separation, provides them a focus and rallying point that other regional parties would be unable to attain. Separation, although discussed as the overall goal of the party, is merely the big stick pulled out now and again to bring a patriotic brand of interest and support back to the party.
So long as they're able to maintain the regional-specific aspects of language and culture (a mere offshoot of language), they'll be able to maintain support that translates to a national scale due to the nature of Canada's electoral system. For those same reasons, other regions (read: Alberta) will find it extremely difficult to cultivate a regional-interests-only party and have any national impact. (The Reform party started in the West, but I don't believe it was intended to be a regional party.)
All in all, Quebec's got something that works for them (and only them.) If it ain't broke, don't fix it!