Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

As witnessed by the thread asking about Canada, there are clearly some misunderstanding or questions some of you would like answered about this subject, so, as a regular guy all for it, fire away.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

What are the benefits to Quebec for separating?
What are the downsides?

For other non-Quebec Canadians what are the benefits?
What are the downsides?

Btw, im a BC Separatist. f ontario.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

What's your goddamn deal, whiner?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

Why don't you go back to France?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

Are you passionate about the language issues in Quebec. Does it piss you off to see signs in English.

If it does, don't you think you should relax a bit?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

1) Do you realize that Quebec is not economically viable by itself*?
*to e2, do you realize that BC isn't either?
(If Alberta wants to go it alone thy got a shot, everyone else would be in a *substantially* worse position than they were before).

2) Do you feel guilty being part of a movement that has been seriously detrimental to Quebec? Regardless of whether Quebec ever separates or not, it is a matter of fact that big businesses (including, but not limited to, major sport leagues) have seen Quebec as a bad place to do business given the instability and events like the FLQ crisis. Indeed, a large part of the growth of BC in recent decades has been at the cost of Quebec.

3) What do you think of the FLQ crisis?

4) Are you offended if you see a sign advertising a business and the English letters are the same size as the French ones?

5) What would you say to someone who says that referendums have been held a number of times and you've lost, it's time to move on and it's patently unfair to just keep voting on the issue until you get your way at which point you will argue that its what Quebec wants.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

Are you saying you are for it? Okay - then I definitely have some questions for you.

1) What gives any province the right to declare itself independent?

2) What about the Cree Nation living in Quebec who certainly predate all Canadians? Would you plan on displacing them? Or just make them take French lessons?

3) How do you plan on supporting yourself economically? The Bank of Canada certainly won't. What would you use for currency? If the decision is made - why would the rest of Canada support Quebec at all (economically speaking)? Would Quebec plan on taking its share of the national debt along with it?

4) The argument is often made that Quebec is unique. True. But so is Newfoundland, The Yukon, and virtually every other area of the country. That's what makes Canada so great. What makes Quebec so special that it deserves status as its own nation?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
As witnessed by the thread asking about Canada, there are clearly some misunderstanding or questions some of you would like answered about this subject, so, as a regular guy all for it, fire away.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you blame the english and "les ethniques" for all of Quebec's problems?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

The biggest benefit for me is the fact that it is an affirmation to the world that there is this piece of land in North-America that id french-speaking and really different than the rest of it. For me it is mostly for cultural reasons. I want the french fact to remain live and well and to me, the best way to ensure that is to take all of the responsibilities as a people and get our total independance from Canada. I think it will give people a bigger sense of responsibility and will create a new political landscape - i.e. left-right parties instead of separatist-federalist ones. People whom want to live here will know that things are going on in french instead of thinking that Canada is all english. I often say to english speaking folks that if Quebec was an english province in a french Canda it would already be independent.

Downside is that some of the population will get angry at first and also there will be transition costs to get things rolling in a new country, in a new constitution, etc. Tough choices creating tensions will have to be made, probably a tighter budget.

For Canadians, well, it will be good in the sense that they will have a new and friendly neighbor to talk to instead of an annoying minority impossible to satisfy. The feeling that they maintain us to their level with money won'T be there anymore, too. No more energy lost trying to accomodate Québec into the constitution.

I guess Canada will have a harder time to differenciate themselves from the US now that their biggest difference is not there anymore. No more bilinguism.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
What's your goddamn deal, whiner?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't whine. Québec federalists whine.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

Why is everyone in Canada so nice, yet everyone in Quebec such a miserable bastard?

Why would Canada want to keep Quebec?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why don't you go back to France?

[/ QUOTE ]

Why don't you go back to England?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

I guess I have to question the separatist movement because the canadian government is one of the only reason the Quebec provincial government wasn't able to completely [censored] the James Bay Cree in the latest Hydroelectric plant deal.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
Are you passionate about the language issues in Quebec. Does it piss you off to see signs in English.

If it does, don't you think you should relax a bit?

[/ QUOTE ]
It depends, I think it is normal as a majority to require at least a version in a sign in the majority language. Some people would want it exclusively in french but I think it is going too far.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

Quebec should separate. It's good if two parts of Canada preserve very different cultures. It gives Americans a wider selection of vacation options.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

How does it feel to have completely bought in to the propoganda that the Separatist movement, at the political levels, has anything at all to do with

a) Culture
b) Actually separating from Canada

when in reality it's a tool for Quebec politicians to use as a threat to get special treatment for Quebec from the rest of the country?

What industries will support Quebec were it to separate? What about the military, since most French Canadians I knew were rabidly against separation, how would you provide for national security?

Would Quebec take their fair share of the National deficit? How would the Quebec government operate without the influx of money it gets from Alberta & Ontario? How would you maintain your socialist policies at your current level of taxation without that money?

I have more, but you can start with those.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

Casque,

From a practical standpoint it would seem to me that the benefits you list are largely symbolic and the detriments would actually have a negative impact on the day to day lives of citizens.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

How do you feel aboot Triumph the Insult Comic Dog?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

What do francophones think about Harper's new stance?

For Americans:

I'm referring to the Quebec as a nation thing.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
1) Do you realize that Quebec is not economically viable by itself*?
(If Alberta wants to go it alone thy got a shot, everyone else would be in a *substantially* worse position than they were before).

[/ QUOTE ]


That claim is just riduculous. Why would Quebec be less of a viable country than, say, Sweden, Finland or Switzerland?

[ QUOTE ]

2) Do you feel guilty being part of a movement that has been seriously detrimental to Quebec? Regardless of whether Quebec ever separates or not, it is a matter of fact that big businesses (including, but not limited to, major sport leagues) have seen Quebec as a bad place to do business given the instability and events like the FLQ crisis. Indeed, a large part of the growth of BC in recent decades has been at the cost of Quebec.

[/ QUOTE ]


I don't think so at all. The thing is as french folks began to educate themselves more and starting business more and making things more in french, big businesses having always been run by anglophones bosses with french workers, did not accept that and just went away. I claim that businesses that go away because of political reasons are just english people frustrated to lose their power.

[ QUOTE ]

3) What do you think of the FLQ crisis?

[/ QUOTE ]


I thought it was an event that told a lot of how things are working in Canada. Trudeau sent in the army for a dozen guys causing trouble and in the meantime put in prison all prominent pro-independance and union leaders. Did not do anything but went to prison as political prisoners without any trial.

[ QUOTE ]

4) Are you offended if you see a sign advertising a business and the English letters are the same size as the French ones?

[/ QUOTE ]

No

[ QUOTE ]

5) What would you say to someone who says that referendums have been held a number of times and you've lost, it's time to move on and it's patently unfair to just keep voting on the issue until you get your way at which point you will argue that its what Quebec wants.

[/ QUOTE ]

Population change with time and people who voted the last time are not there anymore and new ones will vote. I don't think democracy can decide one thing at one time and settles on it for eternity.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

3) What do you think of the FLQ crisis?

[/ QUOTE ]


I thought it was an event that told a lot of how things are working in Canada. Trudeau sent in the army for a dozen guys causing trouble and in the meantime put in prison all prominent pro-independance and union leaders. Did not do anything but went to prison as political prisoners without any trial.



[/ QUOTE ]

Come on now. A dozen guys causing trouble? Wrong. Way to misrepresent facts to further your cause. The FLQ is a terrorist organization responsible for over 200 bombings and the murder of five people. They kidnapped and murdered the Vice-Premier of Quebec in 1970. I will willingly listen to rational arguments about separatism, but dismissing a known terrorist organization as just guys causing trouble only discredits your arguments.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
Population change with time and people who voted the last time are not there anymore and new ones will vote.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just keep making things unpleasant for the english and minorities, and you'll get your wish soon enough. I believe that was Jacques Parizeau's strategy, anyway.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
1) Do you realize that Quebec is not economically viable by itself*?
(If Alberta wants to go it alone thy got a shot, everyone else would be in a *substantially* worse position than they were before).

[/ QUOTE ]


That claim is just riduculous. Why would Quebec be less of a viable country than, say, Sweden, Finland or Switzerland?

[/ QUOTE ]

No it really isn't. Size of a country isn't indicative of strength of economy. Do the research.


[ QUOTE ]
I don't think so at all. The thing is as french folks began to educate themselves more and starting business more and making things more in french, big businesses having always been run by anglophones bosses with french workers, did not accept that and just went away. I claim that businesses that go away because of political reasons are just english people frustrated to lose their power.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your not addressing the key issue here, the issue of big businesses that want to set up a factory/office/... in Canada. They used to often come to Quebec, now they avoid it like the plague.

[ QUOTE ]
Population change with time and people who voted the last time are not there anymore and new ones will vote. I don't think democracy can decide one thing at one time and settles on it for eternity.

[/ QUOTE ]

But if the separatists did win the next referendum wouldn't your side argue that this the final word? You wouldn't expect a 'join Canada or not' referendum to follow, would you?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]

1) What gives any province the right to declare itself
independent?

[/ QUOTE ]
The will of its people.

[ QUOTE ]

2) What about the Cree Nation living in Quebec who certainly predate all Canadians? Would you plan on displacing them? Or just make them take French lessons?

[/ QUOTE ]I just thing it is fair to continue all programs that are to their benefits in Canada now and negociate with them as equal people to give them their own government body.


[ QUOTE ]

3) How do you plan on supporting yourself economically? The Bank of Canada certainly won't. What would you use for currency? If the decision is made - why would the rest of Canada support Quebec at all (economically speaking)? Would Quebec plan on taking its share of the national debt along with it?

[/ QUOTE ]We can decide to continue using the Canadian currency for a time and then decide if it would be a good thing to introduce a new one. There has been talk also about a new North-American currecy (amero), maybe it will go sometime. Why would Canada support anything at all economically? No need to. Québec would take its share of the National debt along with its share of assets of course.


[ QUOTE ]

4) The argument is often made that Quebec is unique. True. But so is Newfoundland, The Yukon, and virtually every other area of the country. That's what makes Canada so great. What makes Quebec so special that it deserves status as its own nation?

[/ QUOTE ]French culture. I don't know why a lot of people cannot aknowledge that fact.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

For all the non-French Canadians who argue against Seperatism, what would be the negative impact on the rest of Canada if Quebec became a seperate entity?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
Do you blame the english and "les ethniques" for all of Quebec's problems?

[/ QUOTE ]Of course not.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[Quote][ QUOTE ]


4) The argument is often made that Quebec is unique. True. But so is Newfoundland, The Yukon, and virtually every other area of the country. That's what makes Canada so great. What makes Quebec so special that it deserves status as its own nation?


[/ QUOTE ]
French culture. I don't know why a lot of people cannot aknowledge that fact.


[/ QUOTE ]

By that argument, Chinatown & Little Italy in Toronto should separate.

So should Newfoundland, which is definitely a distinct culture.

How about the territories? They are very different from the rest of Canada.

My point? This is a dumb argument.

In a country the size of Canada, there's many different cultures, and they are all a part of the country.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Do you blame the english and "les ethniques" for all of Quebec's problems?

[/ QUOTE ]Of course not.

[/ QUOTE ]

But if it wasn't for them, your side would have won the last two referendums.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
For all the non-French Canadians who argue against Seperatism, what would be the negative impact on the rest of Canada if Quebec became a seperate entity?

[/ QUOTE ]

1) I love my country, and think it should stay whole. This is the same reason most Americans would not want California or Texas to separate.
2) If they really wanted to separate, it wouldn't be so bad. Instead, they use the threat of separation to appeal to the patriotism of Canadians to gain all kinds of special treatment & perks from the rest of the country.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why is everyone in Canada so nice, yet everyone in Quebec such a miserable bastard?

[/ QUOTE ]I don't think I am that bad you miserable piece of s.... What are you talking about?



[/ QUOTE ]
Why would Canada want to keep Quebec?

[/ QUOTE ]I don't know. I asked some outsider folks at the big love in before the last referendum and they did not seem to know either.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Are you passionate about the language issues in Quebec. Does it piss you off to see signs in English.

If it does, don't you think you should relax a bit?

[/ QUOTE ]
It depends, I think it is normal as a majority to require at least a version in a sign in the majority language. Some people would want it exclusively in french but I think it is going too far.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't you think a business owner has the right to display a sign in any language he or she wants?

Does a culture truly deserve protection through legislation? Isn't it reasonable that if a culture cannot survive on its own merits then it should fade away?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

1) What gives any province the right to declare itself
independent?

[/ QUOTE ]
The will of its people.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

4) The argument is often made that Quebec is unique. True. But so is Newfoundland, The Yukon, and virtually every other area of the country. That's what makes Canada so great. What makes Quebec so special that it deserves status as its own nation?

[/ QUOTE ]French culture. I don't know why a lot of people cannot aknowledge that fact.

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

Cultural does not equal language, man.

Quebec has a unique culture, just like Alberta or Nova Scotia,..., just speaking English does not mean they have the same culture.
By that logic, people in P.E.i., New York, Texas, Melbourne and London all have the same culture, do you think that's the case?

All these places have unique cultures, there's no doubt about that.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
I guess I have to question the separatist movement because the canadian government is one of the only reason the Quebec provincial government wasn't able to completely [censored] the James Bay Cree in the latest Hydroelectric plant deal.

[/ QUOTE ]Explain how they were [censored].

The Economy of Quebec
 

1. Is Quebec more economically viable than other parts of Canada? If so is this a reason why others don't want to see Quebec suceed?

2. I heard talk that if Quebec became independent, that the rest of Canada would be forced to be part of the USA. This sounds like nonsense to me but I was curious if you heard similar talk in Canada. Have you?

3. Politically is Quebec more pro-Big Govt than other parts of Canada? BigGovt = High Social Spending/Welfare If so if Quebec succeeds, will Canadien conservatives be in a huge majority in Canada?

4. If Quebec becomes independent, won't there be a huge fight how to divide the national debt of Canada?

5. Will the excellent Quebec strip clubs still provide high quality dancers or will independence cause the quality of the strippers to fall?

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
The will of its people.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is actually incorrect. The will of a subset of the people, no matter how angry they are, is not sufficient to override constitutional law.

[ QUOTE ]
French culture. I don't know why a lot of people cannot aknowledge that fact.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because it's not real. Just because you predominantly speak a different language doesn't mean you should form a different nation. The distinct society that Quebec has within Canada has little to do with the language per se, but rather the overall value system of the people.

I think your stated reasons to separate would embarass serious separatists. They are just shallow slogans. If you believe them you are being duped by others to facilitate their political goals. Congrats.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

As a Redneck Albertan.

1)What about all the natives that live on reservation land and do not want to leave Canada?

2)Why should you get special rights just because your french? To me your just another province in Canada Why is that so wrong?

3)Would you change The Montreal canadaians back to Le Habs?:)

4) Lets face it you are not economiccally feasable on your own. You are a Have not province subsidized by others how would you make it?

5) Also do you think it is fair that you have twice the amount of seats in parliament compared to Alberta/BC yet the populations are the same.

Personally I want Quebec in Canada with no conditions otherwise leave.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
We can decide to continue using the Canadian currency for a time and then decide if it would be a good thing to introduce a new one. There has been talk also about a new North-American currecy (amero), maybe it will go sometime. Why would Canada support anything at all economically? No need to. Québec would take its share of the National debt along with its share of assets of course.


[/ QUOTE ]

Which border do you think you're entitled to? What do you think would happen if Canada laid claim to the St. Laurence Seaway?

Seriously, as a Canadian, I've always been in favor of the right of self-determination, and as such have felt that if Quebec wants to separate then that is their right. I think that a lot of Quebecois fool themselves on whether this would be beneficial to them, however.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

[ QUOTE ]
How does it feel to have completely bought in to the propoganda that the Separatist movement, at the political levels, has anything at all to do with

a) Culture
b) Actually separating from Canada

when in reality it's a tool for Quebec politicians to use as a threat to get special treatment for Quebec from the rest of the country?

[/ QUOTE ]I disagree totally. Some politicians are there for their own interest of course, but the movement is real.


[ QUOTE ]
What industries will support Quebec were it to separate?

[/ QUOTE ]The ones currently here and quite satisfied to be?
[ QUOTE ]
What about the military, since most French Canadians I knew were rabidly against separation, how would you provide for national security?

[/ QUOTE ]Well, according to most polls, french-canadian as you say, are anywhere between 60-65% for sovereignty. I don't know why we wouldn't be able to create a functionning military force.


[ QUOTE ]
Would Quebec take their fair share of the National deficit? How would the Quebec government operate without the influx of money it gets from Alberta & Ontario? How would you maintain your socialist policies at your current level of taxation without that money?

[/ QUOTE ]I answered the debt/assets question above. I think some economy wil be made with just one level of governement, a smaller military, foreign offices at the start, and I think we should be less socialist in general. But that's me. Very viable. I'd develop the hydro-electric potential more too create more wealth.

Re: Ask me about being a Québec separatist
 

Can you please explain the plot of "The Phantom Menace" to me? Thanks.

Re: The Economy of Quebec
 

[ QUOTE ]

5. Will the excellent Quebec strip clubs still provide high quality dancers or will independence cause the quality of the strippers to fall?

[/ QUOTE ]

I predict the quality of French strip clubs to rise, therefore, I think I've switched my opinion to support the seperatists.

Vive le Quebec! Vive le Danse Contacte!