Canadian unity: response to Harper's motion in Parliament?

Question

Yesterday, Prime Minister Harper made the following proclamation in Parliament:

"Having been asked by the Bloc to define the Quebecois, we must take a position. Our position is clear. Do the Quebecois form a nation within Canada? The answer is yes. Do the Quebecois form an independent nation? The answer is no, and the answer will always be no, because Quebecers of all political persuasions, from Cartier and Laurier to Mulroney and Trudeau, have led this country, and millions like them of all political persuasions have helped to build it.

...

"To millions more who live in a dangerous and dividing world, this country is a shining example of the harmony and unity to which all peoples are capable and to which all humanity should aspire."

I'm interested in feedback from Canadians to this comment. Is it a dangerous thing or positive thing for Canadian unity? Is there anything to the thought that this could lead to many "nations within a nation", as some Liberals indicated?

Answer 1

As a resident of Québec (for most of my 5+ decades of life) who does belong to the the dominant ethnic group that cohabits the province with me, I have to ask: what is the criterion for being a member of this Quebecker nation? Is it just sharing the space?

I think that nationalism is a divisive concept that is used to inflame and manipulate people. Mr Harper is engaging in the cheapest form of vote fishing with this in his attempt to cater to the ethnic "vieille souche" Québecois.
We don't need more nationalism, we need more internationalism.

This is a gift to the separatists who can see that their process of "étapisme" (step by step) approach to sovereignty is working. The fact that the Canadian parliament, as a political body, will recognise the nationhood of Québec will be seen internationally as a political recognition. The attempts to dance around the recognition with concepts like "within a united Canada" will be seen as political posturing on the part of the federal government in order to contain its own recognition of a fact for its own political ends.

Just watch - the next step will be that the separatists will require people to define themselves with a Québec nationality, by making it a part of the process for accessing Québec government services like health care and social services.

Answer 2

In response to your question. First Stephen Harper does not have the right to respond to the question from the Bloc, without first posing the question to the Canadian people In a referendum. the referndum would state Canadas actions to deal with the Quebec question. Quebec has had two opportunities to float a referendum on their question and now it is the time for all Canadians outside of Quebec to have their say on this issue. Nationhood status for Quebec is tantamount to bestowing special interest for Quebec. As well it makes dealing with Quebec within Canada difficult at best. Any response to the request by Stephen Harper represents a biased and partisan opinion being given to Quebec, and does not in and of itself reflect the attitudes and wishes of the majority of Canadians. It is absurd to think that any faction within Canada or any other country can form a nation within a nation. If Quebec wants to be given nationhood then it had better seek that status with the world at large. Upon Quebec being granted nationhood Canada should wash it's hands of Quebec and deal with Quebec as it does other soverign nations of this world. With regard to soverignty association the answer to that question should be a flat no. Citizens who live in Quebec and wish to continue to be Canadians should by all means be given the opportunity to remain as such subject to the provisions as set forth in Canadian law. If Quebec wants to be a nation on it's own then it should be subjected to the laws and conditions to which any people wishing to form a nation are subject. What the politicians of Quebec are basically asking for is to be a nation on their own with no interference from the rest of Canada and yet retain the right and privileges accorded to Canadians by Canada.My response to Quebec would be. If those of you in Quebec who truly want independence forn the rest of Canada then total independence from Canada you can have regardless of the implications that come with that concept .Upon nationhood status for Quebec' Canada's obligations both legal and moral will cease to exist and the new nation of Quebec will and should be subject to all of the repercussions or benefits to which a new nation within the world is subject. If third world status should be the results of their action so be it. Canada has given too much consideration to the whims and wants of Quebec and now it is time once and for all for Canadians to have their say and for the majority opinions and proposed actions to be put in place. It is now time for canadians to decide if they wish to keep Quebec as a part of Canada. If Quebec does not want to be part of Canada it is now time for them to say so and get the hell out of Confederation.

Answer 3

i think its the stupidist thing ever !!! saint john nb