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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (111422)	4/28/2005 4:09:19 AM
From: frankw1900	Respond to of 793939

To Fiske or not to Fiske.... Austin Bay's working assumption is that the Rest of Canada (ROC) is at some sort of disadvantage without Quebec. The situation is more complex than he lets on. Without Quebec the ROC would have a far more balanced federalism than at present. The situation was summed up years ago by BC Premier WAC (Wacky Bennett, who was far from wacky) Bennett thusly: "Confederation, my friends ... and you are all my friends here in this, the great and glorious province of British Columbia ... Confederation is a goblet to be drained by Ontario and Quebec." (Bennett had a particular style). And he was dead on. He was always in favour of Quebec nationhood because it would halve the dominant central power in the Canadian confederation. Without Quebec British Columbia and Alberta become far more powerful and more in tune with ROC. Also, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the ROC is no longer being run so as to continually meet the demands of intransigent Quebec politicians. Bay seems to think Quebec can just pick up its marbles and leave but its not quite so simple as that. There are geographically distinct parts of Quebec which have populations not so eager to separate from Canada, including, quite possibly, Montreal. The federal government has a constitutional responsibility for native people who live in Quebec, most of whom don't want to be part of an independent Quebec republic. And indeed, it has a responsibility to defend the interests all citizens of Canada. What is the outcome of an indendence referendum when quite possibly less than 60% of those living in Quebec vote in favour and those voting against fairly geographically distinct? After such a referendum, the really hard work begins. If Montreal and the Eastern Townships, and the natives in Northern Quebec are mostly against separation what are Independistes going to do? As much as Quebec federal politicians undoubtedly would betray those people, they won't get the chance because they won't be in power. Gotta go to bed. Continued tomorrow night