haha..I hope that at least he is genuine in his opinion and isn't just saying this to get speaking engagements offers for high $$$ in different cities throughout N.America
Wouldn't that be Canada only? I doubt anyone in Chicago/Texas/California cares about regionalism in Canadian politics...
Ignatieff was drawing parallels with the Scottish Independence movement that has taken hold here in the UK. Interestingly there are some parallels between Quebec and Scotland's 'interest' in independence or devolution as they call it in Westminster.
He really seems to like the sound of his own voice no?
Ignatieff was drawing parallels with the Scottish Independence movement that has taken hold here in the UK. Interestingly there are some parallels between Quebec and Scotland's 'interest' in independence or devolution as they call it in Westminster.
He really seems to like the sound of his own voice no?
He spent the 80s and 90s as a TV presenter in the UK. He loves to be on camera and hearing his own voice and looking at his hair.
Threads about Quebec really bring out the best in CalgaryPuck.
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The sphincter-tightening moment of 9/11 made everyone crowd back together., holding hands inside the safe structure of Canada. Independence went to the back burner.
There will always be a persistent 25% in Quebec who will push for it. You really don't notice the histrionics until it crosses the 40% threshold and its been a long time since that happened.
The difference from the 80's or even 90's through to today is Quebec is looking more like an economic backwater within Confederation, largely supplanted by a dynamic west.
There is still political power there but it looks more like Russia - economicaly irrelevant but they have nuclear bombs so you have to pay attention when they wave their arms.
Frankly, Quebec has never needed Canada more than it does now. The moment for separation has probably passed.
Forever is a long-time though. Ignatieff could be right that some day it might happen.
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“Nothing is inevitable in politics, and its my fervent hope that separatists are defeated and that Canada survives and prospers as a united country speaking both French and English,” he replied.
“Yes, of course, a ‘yes’ vote by the Scots would have (an) impact on Canada and Quebec, but again, we’re not there yet, and 2014 is a ways away.”
...
Ignatieff, describing the United Kingdom as one of the oldest multinational states in the world, said a ‘yes’ vote for independence in Scotland will have reverberations around the world.
“I think if Scotland goes independent a lot of other smaller nations in Europe will start accelerating their quest for independence,” singling out national minorities in Spain and Belgium.
Nothing that he said seems offensive to the degree that people are getting worked up about on here. The guy is a very intelligent man who was interviewed regarding his opinion on the subject and he gave it in a straight forward manner. I don't think it would happen because of how well Quebec is generally treated but I don't begrudge him for having the opinion that he does.
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It shouldn't even be an option for them to seperate, Quebec is part of Canada and the land belongs to this nation. You don't see any states in the U.S. threatening to seperate and if they did how fast do you think the government and the miltary would quash that? As a nation Canada needs to make it very clear that Quebec belongs to Canada, there is no option to seperate.
When a large part of your economic wellbeing is basically predicated on receiving wellfare checks from the federal government I really doubt that your going anywhere.
I think that the smartest thing to do is call their bluff if they threaten to seperate, I would believe that Quebec would back down in the face of becoming a third world nation, or losing thier voter support because they can no longer afford their lavish social programs.
Plus there's the whole massive land mass that would happen due to the Natives desire to stay in Canada instead of seceding with Quebec, they would lose almost all of their resource base upon seperation.
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Originally Posted by Article “Nothing is inevitable in politics, and its my fervent hope that separatists are defeated and that Canada survives and prospers as a united country speaking both French and English,” he replied.
“Yes, of course, a ‘yes’ vote by the Scots would have (an) impact on Canada and Quebec, but again, we’re not there yet, and 2014 is a ways away.” ...
Ignatieff, describing the United Kingdom as one of the oldest multinational states in the world, said a ‘yes’ vote for independence in Scotland will have reverberations around the world. “I think if Scotland goes independent a lot of other smaller nations in Europe will start accelerating their quest for independence,” singling out national minorities in Spain and Belgium.
Nothing that he said seems offensive to the degree that people are getting worked up about on here. The guy is a very intelligent man who was interviewed regarding his opinion on the subject and he gave it in a straight forward manner. I don't think it would happen because of how well Quebec is generally treated but I don't begrudge him for having the opinion that he does.
As long as we're cherry picking from the article..
Quote:
He also said Quebec and the rest of Canada have little to say to each other and that the two already are “almost” separate countries.
Quote:
The only area where “the union still holds together” is in fiscal and monetary policy, he said.
“But the problem here is we don’t have anything to say to each other any more,” he added. “There’s a kind of contract of mutual indifference which is very striking for someone of my generation.”
Quote:
“Now effectively . . . we’re almost two separate countries. Although Quebec does not have sovereignty it acts domestically almost as if it did, and that I think has produced this strange reality that I don’t think most Canadians I’m thinking of are happy about.”
I basically disagree with every statement that Ignatief has made here... and for him to make public statements like these to a foreign audience, with his status of former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, is unconscionable.
As long as we're cherry picking from the article..
I basically disagree with every statement that Ignatief has made here... and for him to make public statements like these to a foreign audience, with his status of former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, is unconscionable.
Having grown up in Quebec, I can honestly say that everything he said there is true. Flying a Canadian flag there is almost dangerous and they truly do believe that they're their own country (their politicians often refer to Quebec as a nation).
For the time I went to school in Quebec, the only history I learned about was Quebec history and you never learned about the transfer payments made to the province (from what I remember, anyway). I left after grade 7, and when I found out what was in the curriculum out west I was shocked with how much I'd missed.
Flying a Canadian flag there is almost dangerous and they truly do believe that they're their own country (their politicians often refer to Quebec as a nation).
They are a nation if you look at the definition of "nation":
"A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, or history.[1] In this definition, a nation has no physical borders."
People are listening to Ignatieff now? No one heard a thing he said as leader of the Liberals unless the CPC put it in a commercial!
Its funny though, he isn't saying anything that people out west have felt and thought for years. We do operate as two separate countries at this point in some ways. I have the impression that if these exact same comments were made by someone like Preston Manning they would be welcomed here in Alberta and agreed with heartily. The medium is the message I suppose.
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People are listening to Ignatieff now? No one heard a thing he said as leader of the Liberals unless the CPC put it in a commercial!
Its funny though, he isn't saying anything that people out west have felt and thought for years. We do operate as two separate countries at this point in some ways. I have the impression that if these exact same comments were made by someone like Preston Manning they would be welcomed here in Alberta and agreed with heartily. The medium is the message I suppose.
Oh come on... if Preston Manning said that there would be an unholy uproar from the Liberal Party of Canada and its members.
