The Real Problem With Quebec As A Nation
Between the leadership campaigns, it is clear the problem rests in defining the steps in taking to call Quebec a nation. Gerard Kennedy in this article states a perspective that most candidates are likely to take.
Kennedy argues that Michael Ignatieff should not be attacked because of Leadership politics but any attack must be directed to the debate to add constructive criticism rather then division. Gerard Kennedy suggested:
A final note if Quebec is classified as a nation, in that it has a people that are more unique then the people of Newfoundland or of BC or of any other province, I will return my Liberal Membership Card to whoever is Liberal Leader. I fully admit Quebec has a unique people and society, but so does every other province.
I could even pose the argument, this is with no eastern roots, infact I've never ventured farther then Alberta, that Newfoundland is the most unique province. Being the last province to join would have that effect. Also more obviously, there are a lot more jokes about Newfoundlanders then Quebeckers thus giving them an identity that we all are aware of. Whereas a Francophone Quebecker has no real difference then a Francophone from Manitoba. To my argument I will amend that the Maratimes are more unique then Quebec, perhaps the most unique regional society in Canada.
But with joking aside this is not a warning, this is fact, if the Liberal Party accepts Canada as a nation in the definition that I stated above I will no longer be a Liberal Party member. This is no light matter. In politics I am a Canadian first
and a Liberal second. If the Liberal Party challenges Canada, I side with Canada.
Kennedy argues that Michael Ignatieff should not be attacked because of Leadership politics but any attack must be directed to the debate to add constructive criticism rather then division. Gerard Kennedy suggested:
But behind this non-partisan approach Kennedy did offer his problems with the current situation."...we need to take some of the leadership politics out of this. I think we need to neutralize this discussion as much as possible.
"There are initiatives being taken from a variety of camps to see that this does not become an accident, that this doesn't (come) in the way of what should be a revitalization of the party in terms of taking the next step and turning a page in Quebec."
Kennedy said the resolution is so sensitive and "fraught" with vagueness it could end up dividing Canadians and further weakening the Liberal party. He portrayed it as an "accident" waiting to happen....As to be clear all candidates except Martha Hall Findlay have stated Quebec should be called a nation, the exact phrasing, the exact meaning is to be worked out. Like Gerard Kennedy I think this debate should not be hampered by Leadership politics, it should be contested by all sides so a resolution to all is worked out.
Kennedy said on CTV's Question Period it is "problematic" for anyone to raise the idea of reopening the Constitution without providing details as to how that would work.
A final note if Quebec is classified as a nation, in that it has a people that are more unique then the people of Newfoundland or of BC or of any other province, I will return my Liberal Membership Card to whoever is Liberal Leader. I fully admit Quebec has a unique people and society, but so does every other province.
I could even pose the argument, this is with no eastern roots, infact I've never ventured farther then Alberta, that Newfoundland is the most unique province. Being the last province to join would have that effect. Also more obviously, there are a lot more jokes about Newfoundlanders then Quebeckers thus giving them an identity that we all are aware of. Whereas a Francophone Quebecker has no real difference then a Francophone from Manitoba. To my argument I will amend that the Maratimes are more unique then Quebec, perhaps the most unique regional society in Canada.
But with joking aside this is not a warning, this is fact, if the Liberal Party accepts Canada as a nation in the definition that I stated above I will no longer be a Liberal Party member. This is no light matter. In politics I am a Canadian first
and a Liberal second. If the Liberal Party challenges Canada, I side with Canada.
posted by Daniel Mosely at 6:35 PM
4 Comments:
"Whereas a Francophone Quebecker has no real difference then a Francophone from Manitoba."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe you should venture east of Alberta eh!
Well please educate me. Please share some insight.
Please state other then a language a quality or characteristic that the people of Quebec share that would provide support to them being referred to as a nation.
As i hypothesized in a comical position, at least Newfoundland has a quality the is shared by all those in the province, (and this is not true, but merely a negative stereotype) and that characteristic is a lower iq.
But I suspect I will not garner a response because you will not find such a quality. More then 50% of the population was not for seperation for both referendi, there goes a seperatist charcter trait. Quebec has an increasing immigrant population, to go against a white or even french characteristic. Quebec has large segments of the population who are religous, but also large segments against religon. So too goes a religious or non-religious quality.
There are however two qualities that can be perceived to give Quebec the idea of a nation. The first is they do not like France. There is a sentiment in Quebec against France. But this is no grounds for Quebec as a nation, because all ofd Canada pretty much shares the same sentiment.
The second quality has a stronger support, and that is historical. The two nations theory views the founding of Canada as the founding of two nations, English and French. Reasoning from this however leaves Quebec out of the equation. Quebec is not all French, not even close, and more so it does not contain all the French speaking Canadians in Canada. So this last, perhaps the strongest support, is flawed.
So I ask again, please enlighten me, tell me at least one trait common to all Quebeckers to give them a unique place in Canada? More unique then the stereotype quality of Newfoundland.
Turn on your TV. Radio-Canada and TVA are available coast to coast.
"Please state other then a language a quality or characteristic that the people of Quebec share that would provide support to them being referred to as a nation....
But I suspect I will not garner a response because you will not find such a quality."
That is what I said, this is what you said, "Turn on your TV. Radio-Canada and TVA are available coast to coast." So radio-Canada being available coast to coast demonstrates the nationality of Quebec? I know I am posing it as astraw man argument but I am doing so because you are either lazy or you have no idea what makes Quebec a nation, thus I don't see why I should give a more reasonable reply.
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