Is the Price of Coalition an Independent Quebec?
In their press release of 1 Dec 2008 (Open Letter to all Canadians) the three leaders of the Coalition stated their authority to replace the Government of Canada. They asserted that this right to form a government rested on the fact that “A Majority of Canadians and Quebecers voted for our parties.” This is an explicit recognition of Quebec as an independent Nation. Quebecers, as recognized by this document, are not “Canadians” nor can they be included in the category “Canadians” much less “all Canadians”; they are a separate and independent people and must be referred to as such.
This recognition of Quebecers as separate and different from Canadians is repeated in “A Policy Accord to Address the Present Economic Crisis” (1 Dec 2008). Were the three leaders stated that it was “the role of government to act as partners with Canadians and Quebecers.”
Duceppe, speaking on behalf of his “Nation”, stated that he had entered into the agreement "in the best interests of Quebec, of Quebecers during this time of economic difficulties."* Any concern for the Nation of Canada was strikingly absent. His claim to speak for Quebecers and not Canadians was explicit.
Duceppe stated that he would only support the Coalition until 30 June 2010 (Policy Accord) because the various parties had not agreed on "concrete action to recognize the Quebec nation."
The price of Bloc Quebecois’s support for the Coalition is clear, up front acknowledgement in official documents that Quebec is a separate and independent entity that can not be included in the category “Canadian.” Continued support beyond 30 June 2010 will only take place if the Coalition takes "concrete action to recognize the Quebec nation." We can note that this is a full year prior to the end of the Liberal-NDP Coalition which does not end until 2011.
Clearly, the price the Liberals and NDP are prepared to pay for Bloc support is not limited to money, policy or programs. It would appear that the price they are willing to pay, and have agreed to, is Quebec independence. Only the details of when and how seem to be left.
I say... Quebec: GET FUCKED!
In their press release of 1 Dec 2008 (Open Letter to all Canadians) the three leaders of the Coalition stated their authority to replace the Government of Canada. They asserted that this right to form a government rested on the fact that “A Majority of Canadians and Quebecers voted for our parties.” This is an explicit recognition of Quebec as an independent Nation. Quebecers, as recognized by this document, are not “Canadians” nor can they be included in the category “Canadians” much less “all Canadians”; they are a separate and independent people and must be referred to as such.
This recognition of Quebecers as separate and different from Canadians is repeated in “A Policy Accord to Address the Present Economic Crisis” (1 Dec 2008). Were the three leaders stated that it was “the role of government to act as partners with Canadians and Quebecers.”
Duceppe, speaking on behalf of his “Nation”, stated that he had entered into the agreement "in the best interests of Quebec, of Quebecers during this time of economic difficulties."* Any concern for the Nation of Canada was strikingly absent. His claim to speak for Quebecers and not Canadians was explicit.
Duceppe stated that he would only support the Coalition until 30 June 2010 (Policy Accord) because the various parties had not agreed on "concrete action to recognize the Quebec nation."
The price of Bloc Quebecois’s support for the Coalition is clear, up front acknowledgement in official documents that Quebec is a separate and independent entity that can not be included in the category “Canadian.” Continued support beyond 30 June 2010 will only take place if the Coalition takes "concrete action to recognize the Quebec nation." We can note that this is a full year prior to the end of the Liberal-NDP Coalition which does not end until 2011.
Clearly, the price the Liberals and NDP are prepared to pay for Bloc support is not limited to money, policy or programs. It would appear that the price they are willing to pay, and have agreed to, is Quebec independence. Only the details of when and how seem to be left.
I say... Quebec: GET FUCKED!
