Canadians: How do you feel that it is always said that Quebec wants to separate from the rest of Canda?

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christopherwilken

It seems that Quebec may in fact want to be independent. In 1995 49.4% of Quebec's population voted for independence from Canada. If the federal government hadn't sped up the naturalization of immigrants in Quebec, it is probable that that number would be greater than 50%. In addition, support for sovereignty has grown over time. In 1980, the first referendum, support for sovereignty was only at 40.44 per cent. This is because support for independence is greater with younger people.

It is important to note that Quebec is not a party to the Canadian constitution. Remember La nuit des longs couteaux.

Je me souviens.

SteveN

This is a tough question to answer, and you will get mixed answers depending on if you talk to a businessman from downtown Montreal as opposed to a farmer from Lac St. Jean.

They two key issues are money and culture:
1) ...whether Canada is doing enough to help protect the French culture in Quebec.
2) ...whether our tax dollars are being returned and spent on areas that concern Quebecers.

Although I disagree with it, the separatist movement did help to protect the language and culture in the 1970s as big companies like Eatons were predominantly run by English speaking owners that were (either intentionally or unintentionally) treating their French employees as lower class citizens.

Unfortunately, I think they went a bit too far by making it illegal to post English signs, and to not allow immigrants coming to Quebec to have the option to send their children to an English school (French courses are still mandatory in English schools, so they would still be learning French, it just affects that a course like Math would be in English instead of French).

In any case, it looks like the moderates are going to prevail for the next few years at least...in the last Quebec election, the separatists actually lost seats in the Quebec senate (the national assembly).

Quebec's focus (I hope) will be on rebuilding a crumbling infrastructure, improving healthcare, and reducing taxes rather than wasting lots of money trying to promote or reject sovereignty.

??????

There is much more to the issue than that... Quebec is unique and has a long history, and the separatists simply want to maintain their own identity and culture, and they do not feel Quebec's culture is Canadian.

I hope they won't separate - I love Quebec and think it's an important part of Canada.

firehorsetwo

The vote (referendum) to separate was an all or nothing vote. It was not just to separate or not, there was a lot of other stuff rolled in. It was a horrible way to trick the voters. Which is why it is so close.

I've never met an (informed) Quebecois (both anglo and franco) that wanted to separate. From my experience, it's simply not the desired outcome. From what I can see the separatists are a small group, carrying a big message. The greater majority of the conversations centre around being identified as a unique culture and recognized for their heritage/language.

Quebec is not the only province with strong franco presence. My concern is for the francos that live in other parts of French Canada - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario. I've personally had more french conversations with Acadians, than with Quebecois. Strange.

My opinion is that this important heritage can best be preserved if Quebec stays part of Canada.

determined_ladii

Hi,
I'm from Quebec. I just want to say that I am saddened by the fact that I had to grow up picking sides. I remember the last referendum where people would go around spray painting every surface with the words "oui" and "non", if you are from here you know what I'm talking about. I hate how people choose to stereotype french people a certain way and english people another. Even though I am bilingual, I would not like to live in a place entirely governed under a french regime as it would take away a part of me (my Canadian identity). There is always that tension between the english and french that people are so scared to talk about. It sickens me. The french population apparently wants to preserve their culture, language..etc.. but who is trying to take these things away from them? We are not trying to be Americanized, the french culture is what makes Quebec unique from the rest of Canada.. there is no need to seperate from the country just to prove a point. Afterall, if Quebec seperates, they still intend on using Canadian dollars and such.. so what kind of relationship is that. Quebec, and Canada for that matter are such beautiful places, its a shame to see the people of Quebec being so hateful towards one another. We are all people in the end, looking for the same things in life.

bettyflintstone

it hasn't been solved because the Quebecers feel they have to be different and won't let it go - plain and simple. Personally I say let them go and we'll wave bye bye.

aaron0984

who cares let the french f u c k ers go.

Danelady

I live in New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province in Canada. Separation by Quebec would affect us drastically, the Maritime Provinces would be cut off completely from the rest of Canada. So the very mention of it sends shock waves along the whole East Coast.

The Maritimes (and NB in particular) have a large Acadian population. Though a bit of Acadian flag waving goes on intermittently, everyone gets along quite amicably. The interesting point is that the French speaking Acadians are not interested in separation whatsoever. When Quebec separatists tried to entice them into the fold, the effort fell totally flat. Nobody disputes that Quebec has a different culture, and with all the other cultures, there is no reason that we can't all exist peacefully together.

My daughter-in-law is from Quebec, and when I have visited there, separation was either completely rejected by the people I met, or they were completely indifferent to the idea. Most of them told me that it was just something that was periodically stirred up by the politicians and the hotheads, looking for votes, and they had no interest in it at all.

The question on the last referendum was phrased so ambiguously, that I'm sure many people voted "yes" who had no intention of doing any such thing. The grassroots are more concerned with everyday life.

The separation issue rather reminds me of a volcano that gives a periodic rumble and a bit of hot gas to remind us that it is still around. With any luck, that's all it will ever amount to - more hot air.

Edit - We are the only OFFICIALLY bilingual province, and all signs, laws etc. must be in both languages, regardless of how many people actually speak both languages.

eddy

Like a difficult marriage...threats and accusations, but it hangs together until finally one day BOOM! The lawyers smiling to themselves in the end...c'est la vie.

Dr Strangelove

Gr8danelady, just so you know, I know NB thinks it's the only real bilingual province in Canada, but Quebec has an even higher population % of french AND english speaking people. Just though you should know...
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo15a.htm

moglie

Some of us just wish they would go already and stop threatening it, leave the gov't payouts,subsidies etc close the door on the way out, people who have jobs in the gov't and travel from Gatineau to Ottawa everyday must realize they are going to need a passport to cross the border crossing on all of the bridges, heck just blow up the bridges all together.

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