Is french Quebec realy separating from Canada? Why isn't someone opposing this?

Question

Why are people still trying to change the world map? Do they have nothing else to do.

Answer 1

Americans tend to take it for granted that citizens of modern democracies have willingly consented, through free elections, to being governed within their existing national borders. That many Quebecers should now seek to form their own nation doesn't fit with our expectations.

That is, unless you view Canadian history from a Quebecois (French Canadian) perspective. Then you would realize that it all goes back to 1759, the year of the Conquest. Sailing up the St. Lawrence River, General James Wolfe's British forces routed the French under Montcalm (his full name, if you're interested, was Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Grozon, Marquis de Montcalme de Saint-Veran), at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Both Wolfe and Montcalm were killed in the fighting. Quebec City fell soon after and the British were well on their way to winning the Seven Year's War. At the Treaty of Paris in 1763, France gave up its sole inhabited North American colony. The Quebecois, numbering about 70,000 then, became British subjects.

The Quebecois suffered a feeling of double humiliation. First, they were now a conquered people. Second, it was insulting how easily the motherland had cut them loose.
For military conquerors the British acted with marked magnanimity. They allowed the Quebecois to continue their system of land tenure, but they forbade them from holding office unless the Quebecois adopted Protestantism. With the British army came English-speaking (Anglophone) settlers. The Quebecois still refer to them as "etrangers" - foreigners. The Quebecois came to believe their very existence was threatened. Even today their rallying cry is "survivance."

Throughout the early 19th century an Anglophone minority dominated a Francophone majority in Quebec. Resentful of their low status and disturbed by the increasing number of non-French immigrants from Europe, a number of Quebecois took up arms against the British in 1837-1838. The rebellion, named for the leader of the Parti Patriote, Louis-Joseph Papineau, failed miserably.

There were no further rebellions in Quebec. In 1867 modern Canada was created when the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick confederated under the British North America Act. The constitution then adopted (and which lasted until 1982) provided for a strong central parliament in Ottawa and it guaranteed the rights of French Canadians. Section 133 of the Act recognized the use of French in the Quebec legislature and courts as well as in the federal courts and parliament. For the next century Quebecois nationalism was mainly channeled into a staunch Catholic clericalism. In a way, the Quebecois became more Catholic than the Pope - or at least they identified more strongly with Rome than with Paris. This stemmed partly from their humiliation at having been abandoned by France in 1763 and partly from the atheistic turn the motherland had taken during the French Revolution. Conservatism helped to preserve Quebecois separateness, though it probably held them back economically. Their Anglophone neighbors quickly began to dominate commerce in major Quebec cities like Montreal.

The Quebecois underwent a transformation in the middle years of this century. By 1970 Quebec had become the most urbanized province in Canada. Suddenly there was an identifiable urban professional class that was quite vocal about asserting Quebecois rights. Canadian historians term this the "Quiet Revolution" ("Revolution Silencieuse").
In 1968 a political party whose primary goal was Quebec independence arose. Led by Rene Levesque, the Parti Quebecois advocated "soverainete-association," that is, self-rule for Quebec while keeping economic ties to Canada. At the same time, more radical groups, taking inspiration from Fidel Castro, created some very un-Canadian mayhem. They bombed public places and kidnapped some high profile Canadian and British officials. In 1976 an overwhelming majority of Quebecers voted the Parti Quebecois into office. Times seemed auspicious for Quebec independence. One of the Parti Quebecois' first moves was to pass a French-only law, even though French had already been made the sole official language of Quebec in 1974. Bill 101, the French Language Charter, reflected the Quebecois' fear of becoming a minority in their own province. The Quebecois had a declining birthrate and were disturbed that immigrants wanted their kids to learn English instead of French. Canadian writer Mordechai Richler deals hilariously with the fallout of this and other French-only laws in his book Oh Canada! Oh Quebec! Requiem for a Divided Country.

In 1980 the Parti Quebecois finally put the issue of separation to Quebec voters. The referendum failed, though evidently there was enough residual interest in separatism for another referendum drive in 1995. Attempting to quell Quebec's dissatisfaction, Canada hashed out a revised constitution in 1982 that recognized the "distinctiveness" of Quebec. This wasn't enough to placate Quebec, which was the only province not to approve the reformed constitution.

The 1995 referendum nicely illustrates the ambivalence attending the issue of separation. Although polls indicate most Quebecers wish to remain part of Canada, it seems only a matter of time until another referendum gains momentum. That's the goal of current Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard, who has said he wants to foster a mood favorable to another referendum. Still, it is not entirely clear what a successful separation referendum would accomplish. Past referenda have been worded ambiguously, and it seems a final separation would have to be negotiated with Ottawa.

In order to preserve Quebecois culture, Quebec must form its own government. It does not belong in the Canadian Federation any longer.

Quebec already has the ingredients of a sovereign country: distinct language, history and outlook, charismatic leaders, and, most important, better bread. Quebecers are ready to cast off the ties that bind them to Canada. They are tired of having their concerns belittled by the other provinces. Legal recognition of Quebec's separate status would be just a formality.

French Canada was forcibly joined to English Canada. The union of the two peoples is unnatural and should be severed. Anyone who would deny Quebec the right to self-determination must be ignorant of Quebec's exceptional history. Champlain, Cartier. Merely listing the names of two French explorers gives a powerful sense of Quebec's glorious past. Quebec's destiny lies in becoming an independent nation.

In 1995, a record number of voters, 93,52 % came to vote for a result of 50,6 % for the NO and 49,4 % for the YES.

November 28, 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper had introduced the surprise motion, raising the ante on a Bloc Québécois motion that sought to declare Quebecers a nation without reference to Canada.

The motion states: "That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada."

Answer 2

I agree with some of these answers. I just don't care any longer. I am sick of so much of the wining. If they want to move let them. French people are just as discriminatory as everyone else. IF the population votes( which it has twice) and has a majority they should just separate. I am sick of this question and frankly do not care anymore. Beside Quebec would be trashed without Canada. Quebec has the highest socialist spending and relies on equalization payments from Alberta(who receive the most than any province) and payments from the fed government. Quebec would be lost without "our:" money. I wouldn't mind Quebec leaving then maybe some of Alberta's money with which forced away from them will come to my province. B.C who receive barely nothing. who is right behind Ontario.... Who receives nothing. Why does Quebec get the money? In order to keep them in Canada.

Answer 3

i think more recently they've sort of given up, but for a while, they were very adamant about separating.... when you go to Montreal which is also French speaking, they more or less don't want to separate from Canada and are proud candadiens.

Answer 4

Words of wisdom from Don Cherry...

Cherry on Quebec Nationalists: "They don't like the Canadian flag but they want our money, we bail them out. I've never seen such a bunch of whiners in my life."

Answer 5

We have been studying this in my college geog. course--prof is Canadian. It's been tried several times, w/o success but the margine is slowly narrowing. If you'd like to debate this a bit and have some fun, drop me a line.

Answer 6

I'm an American, I remember this going on since the days of Degaulle.It has been up for vote in the past.

Answer 7

They should go. But then, Canada would REALLY have an immigration problem!