Quebec separation to heat up again?

[calculoso]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...266/?hub=Canada

The time has come for a leadership race. We have not had one in almost 20 years," she (Pauline Marois) announced just before a caucus meeting."

Former PQ leader Jacques Parizeau recently suggested that Quebec simply declare its independence if the party forms the government. Landry was opposed to the idea, but it was encouraged by several PQ members, including Marois.

Just what we need...

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

A lot of bluster I think.

Every few years the PQ have to go through a public gut check to a) keep the separatists coals that get get them elected burning and B) keep the leverage on the rest of canada to get more money.

[octothorp]

Originally posted by Bend it like Bourgeois@Aug 27 2004, 11:53 AM
A lot of bluster I think.

Every few years the PQ have to go through a public gut check to a) keep the separatists coals that get get them elected burning and B) keep the leverage on the rest of canada to get more money.

that's the double-edge of the seperatist movement: as long as it is effective in getting Quebec issues onto the national agenda, they'll never get the support they need to actually seperate. I think the moderates within the party (who have no intent of actually seperating) do a masterful job of manipulating the extremists within the party and within the province, to make it seem like the seperation threat is imminent.

[Agamemnon]

I recall hoping for a Yes vote back in 1995(?) in the Quebec referendum. Don't get me wrong, I don't really care what happened in Quebec. However, at the time I was an ardent Alberta separatist (I've since wised-up).

The interesting thing about the referendum from an Albertan point of view is that if Quebec leaves confederation, what happens to all the civil/legislative institutions that have already been set up? As far as I know, all the provinces would have to renegotiate the deal of what is 'Canada', because of the amount of pro-Quebec elements in these institutions.

Thus, if Quebec split, Canada (I believe) would no longer technically exist, as Canada as the law knows it includes Quebec. Then a savvy guy like King Ralph, when asked to attend a re-constitution conference of what's left of Canada could've said "i'm doing my hair that day", and poof, free Alberta.

Anybody else thing it could've gone down that way?

[Tron_fdc]

Originally posted by Agamemnon@Aug 27 2004, 07:45 PM

Then a savvy guy like King Ralph, when asked to attend a re-constitution conference of what's left of Canada could've said "i'm doing my hair that day", and poof, free Alberta.

Anybody else thing it could've gone down that way?

No, because the more likely excuse back in '95 would have been "Sorry the Premier is nursing a hangover this morning and is wearing nothing but his underpants with a bucket of chicken resting on his chest"

[Thunderball]

I think Quebec will never leave to be honest. Its a giant cash grab for them, and its working beautifully.

That being said, if they did get 50%+1, Canada would have go back to the drawing board, you're totally right. With greedy Quebec out of the way, the odds would be very good that a Republic would be in place and then Alberta would be very happy to stay in Canada (and I'm actually a bit of a Separatist). If Alberta didn't get enough bang for their buck, we'd probably take BC, Sask, maybe Yukon and book it from Canada.