Federal politicians (CPC, NDP, and Liberal) are keeping their heads down in Quebec.

[icarus]

Separation is one of these heartstring footballs that wins elections but ultimately distracts from more pressing issues such as the economy.

The Supreme Court Reference re Secession of Quebec and subsequent legal and political developments have basically watered down the significance of another referendum in Quebec.

In 1995 no one knew what would happen if Quebeckers had voted for sovereignty. Today we know that the path to independence is strewn with impediments, and any attempt to avoid them altogether is likely to be viewed by the international community as an act of bad faith. Unless the National Assembly of Quebec plays by the ground rules set down since 1995 and can successfully navigate the minefield (meaning the Government of Canada would have to grant its blessing for secession) then Quebec is unlikely to ever be an independent nation in its own right.

There's a good overview of subsequent developments here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarity_Act

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

How much would you bet?

The PQ only got 31% of the vote.... and many, many people voted PQ as a means of getting rid of Charest, not because they believe in separation. The only thing the separatists have going for them is this shooting that they can use to fan the flames.

Im not claiming they will get to a referendum or anything of the sort, but they will make it a huge issue sooner rather than later.

They will ask/demand a bunch of unrealistic things of the feds, then when they are denied said requests, will say to the people of Que. "see they treat us unfairly and as such we cannot be part of federation any longer". This, of course, will result in another groundswell of public support and away we go. Hell, the only reason the PQ exists is for one ultimate goal.

Its the MO of these guys, regardless of what banner they are hiding behind these days.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by cal_guy

PQ - 54
PLQ - 50
CAQ - 19
QS - 2

That's an incredibly narrow margin there.

If only Charest didn't lose his seat.. if he were there I'm sure he could pursue a coalition with the CAQ and form government so that Marios would never be Premier.

As it stands now.. this government cannot last more than 12 months. How is it possible to pass any sort of budget now? Expect another election around November 2013.

[Cowboy89]

Is it just me or does Pauline Marois look kinda like Bonhomme?

[SebC]

I think Quebec should have to give seperatism a test run before acutally doing it, i.e. five years prior to any referendum, there should be a moratorium on their equalization payments.

[transplant99]

Just read that the last thing Marois said before being hustled out of harms way last night was....

“We want a country, and we will have it.”

Yup...same old same old.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by SebC

I think Quebec should have to give seperatism a test run before acutally doing it, i.e. five years prior to any referendum, there should be a moratorium on their equalization payments.

It'll just mean more debt we have to pay off when they come crawling back.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by nik-

It'll just mean more debt we have to pay off when they come crawling back.

What? No... any payments foregone would be gone forever.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I would bet that within 6 months its front and center.

They'll talk about it and make a bunch of noise, but nothing will come of it. All indicators are that the separatists would lose the referendum and that the province in general doesn't even want one.

Shoot, even the economic indicators didn't suffer in the face of this election victory. It's probably just the PQ trying to appeal to their base. A base that is eroding in general, when it comes to the issue of separation. The biggest reason the PQ won is that Quebec loves to recycle it's governments, not because there is a huge resurgence in separation ideals. If the people aren't getting what they want, they vote for someone else. Protesting both in person and in the polls is a much bigger part of the culture there.

It's a contentious issue of course and us in the rest of the country is sick of it, but there is no real threat mo matter how much their premier talks about it.