| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Great White North | |
| Québec's PQ leader promotes bold separation plan (again) | |
| 2004-10-17 | |
| SHERBROOKE, QUE. -- Faced with a growing internal revolt, Parti Quebecois Leader Bernard Landry has adopted an aggressive new plan to take Quebec out of Canada. In a speech to PQ delegates yesterday, Landry said if he wins the next provincial election, he would draw up a Quebec constitution and a proposal for economic union with the rest of Canada, before a referendum is held. Landry said he would spend public money to create a Quebec national anthem and a new government department to promote Quebec independence. Money from provincial coffers must go toward boosting sovereignty to balance the federal government's spending on national unity, he said. "It's clear it would be legitimate and necessary for a sovereigntist government to put the resources of the Quebec state into the emancipation of the Quebec nation," Landry said to enthusiastic applause from delegates at the PQ meeting. Here we go again. Under his proposal, Landry would beef up Quebec's presence on the international stage, sending official observers to forums like the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Landry's new tone reflected a more aggressive mood in his party, which is on the verge of changing official PQ policy to require a referendum within 2 1/2 years of winning an election. Landry previously promised a referendum by 2009. "The founding of this party is to realize Quebec sovereignty, so let's be open and frank and blunt," he said. Landry's proposal calls for a "Sovereignty Secretariat," a new government department dedicated to promoting Quebec independence. Landry said a national anthem would boost Quebecers' pride and a Quebec constitution would reassure anglophones and aboriginals in the province.
Landry also vowed to fight for Quebec athletes to compete at international competitions under the Quebec flag. Landry, 67, will have to survive a leadership confidence vote at the PQ policy convention in 2005 before he can put his plan into action. An underground leadership race, mass resignations in the PQ's youth wing and unhappiness among hardline separatists have put pressure on Landry's leadership. Pauline Marois, who has expressed interest in Landry's job, applauded the leader for most of his sovereignty plan, but did not endorse the idea of a quick referendum. "It's early for such a decision," she said. "I'm still not convinced." | |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #19 Rafael, you think that Cree would ask them nicely for a permission? Bw...bw...hahahhahahaha |
| Posted by: Memesis 2004-10-17 10:55:05 PM |
| #18 The only thing is, the Quebec separatists don't want to allow the Cree to separate. Odd that. But the Cree do have a valid claim, imo. This is all started with that DeGaul guy when he exclaimed "Vivre le Quebec libre!". Asshole. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-10-17 9:45:19 PM |
| #17 The funniest part is that 83% of the territory is claimed by Cree and they would "separate" from Quebec and their phrenchophony. They make no bones about it. I'd say go for it, Quebfrogs! But total independence only, no funny stuff. Which is, as Classical_Liberal notes, unlikely, the gravy train would run no more. In time, the western provinces would get fed up, and split along the western Ontario border. |
| Posted by: Memesis 2004-10-17 9:30:23 PM |
| #16 This is why my mother-in-law finally traded in her Canadian citizenship for American. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-10-17 8:33:45 PM |
| #15 But CL, they have an anthem an' everything! They're ready to go! Vive La Belle Quefrog... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-10-17 8:27:36 PM |
| #14 Quebec is not landlocked. They have easy access to the ocean via the St. Lawrence river. I agree, however, that they are idiots. Quebec will be landlocked. |
| Posted by: The Only Armed Force That Matters 2004-10-17 8:19:33 PM |
| #13 Separation ain't gonna happen folks. Federal Canadian politics is a game played too well by Quebec. Much like how France games the EU to its benefit. Well at least it did until the new arrivals missed out on their opportunity to shut up. What Quebec really wants is all the trappings of an independent state, but without the serious obligations of one--like having to make its own way in the world. It's close now. They've got their own immigration policy fer crissakes. (The fact that Quebec has an immigration recruiting office in Damascus should give us pause.) Quebec will never walk away from the intra-provincial financial transfers it commands from being the pivot point in federal politics. It's a shame Quebec doesn't separate. The two way game of placate Quebec/agitate for "sovereignty" is profoundly corrupting for all the players. |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2004-10-17 7:18:47 PM |
| #12 The last thing Quebec wants is real independence.That bit about economic union means they want the rest(ie. West)of Canada to continue paying the bills,while local politicians make all the decisions.The best thing Canada could do would be to say,fine,have your vote now,and if you vote yes,we agree to your independence,but you should know,the day after the vote we are not sending another Federal dollar to Quebec,and we will be sending you a bill for all the Federal buildings we payed for in Quebec.So vote or STFU! |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-10-17 7:02:11 PM |
| #11 It might be nice to hear Newfies tell frog jokes. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-10-17 7:01:28 PM |
| #10 Careful about those Atlantic Provinces. From what I've heard, they'd be solid blue. Just what's west of Ontario. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-17 7:00:23 PM |
| #9 Geez, just go already, wouldja? I doubt the rest of Canada would care. If the Atlantic provinces don't want to go with Quebec (and why should they? They seem to have good sense), and it proves too difficult for them to remain with the rest of Canada, and they don't want to be independent, I'm sure we could arrange something. Up to them. Good luck, Canada, in getting rid of your Phrench millstone. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-10-17 6:42:41 PM |
| #8 So they want to become France, Jr., eh? Remember Le Grande Charles deGaulle's little number in Quebec before he left Canada? Heh. I say, let 'em go. The US and other Canadian provinces will develop closer relations and Quebec will be forced to look itself in the mirror without any more tantrums to throw. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-10-17 6:38:22 PM |
| #7 As long as Nell and the Inuits have a vote to stay in Canada, then good riddance. |
| Posted by: Dudley Dooright 2004-10-17 6:32:49 PM |
| #6 Let them withdraw. Don't let them in NAFTA. Seal the borders. They can become a Department of France. We can take all the French off of everything we buy from the other parts of Canada that actually produce something. Oh, and let's adjust the U. S. Border to the St. Laurence. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-10-17 6:18:11 PM |
| #5 From what I can see, Quebec has a straight shot from Montreal out to the Atlantic. Unless the Newfies want to mount a blockade. If Quebec weren't part of Canada, how would that affect their elections? Would the Liberals lose enough seats to lose power? |
| Posted by: jackal 2004-10-17 6:03:48 PM |
| #4 Spot - Canada has access. Quebec must negotiate them..... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-10-17 5:10:52 PM |
| #3 Mojo- Quebec is not landlocked. They have easy access to the ocean via the St. Lawrence river. I agree, however, that they are idiots. |
| Posted by: Spot 2004-10-17 5:02:05 PM |
| #2 A land-locked province, mind you. These people are just dumber'n a bag of hammers... |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-10-17 4:57:20 PM |
| #1 If they put it to a vote, English speaking Canada would say. "Good riddance to bad rubbish." Learning to speak bad French is just too large a price to pay for the privilege of supporting the ungrateful Quebecois. Although, maybe it would be good if Quebec took Ontario and the Atlantic provinces too. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-10-17 2:18:21 PM |