The Québécois As A Nation
Prime Minister Stephen Harper took the historic step Wednesday of recognizing Quebeckers as a nation within Canada. On the floor of the House of Commons, Mr. Harper introduced a motion that “this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada.”
Mr. Harper intervened before a Bloc Québécois motion that planned to force MPs to take a stand Thursday by asking whether they believed Quebeckers to be a nation.
However, he stated: "Our position is clear. Do the Québécois form a nation within Canada? The answer is yes. Do the Québécois form an independent nation? The answer is no.”
Mr. Harper's motion will likely be put to a vote Monday. The Bloc motion will come a day later.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest saw the motion as an important step for national unity and a sign of major progress for Quebec.
Ned Franks, professor emeritus at Queen's University and a leading authority on Parliament, said Mr. Harper is “playing with fire.”
“It risks becoming the first step in a slippery slope, because of that equating of nation with nation state,” he said.
Comments (7)
efgeg
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Published: November 23, 2006 9:56 PM
Habbaku
You may want to try posting responses that have something to do with the topic, efgeg.
Published: November 24, 2006 2:47 AM
Artisan
I don't think efgeg is really human thoug...
Published: November 24, 2006 8:51 AM
RogerM
Having Quebec be a nation within a nation would put it in position similar to that of the Native American nations in the US. I'm a citizen of the Choctaw Nation. We have sovereign status equal to the state of Oklahoma, within whose boundaries our nation exists, but we're suborndinate to the laws of the US. We're sort of like a protectorate. It's very annoying to the state of Oklahoma, which is fun.921175
Published: November 24, 2006 9:21 AM
Ex-Harpy
Harper is a punk and I take back everything good I've ever said about him after he raised taxes on income trusts (even though not doing so was part of his election promises).
This 'Quebec as a nation' business is pure rhetoric and a power play... he rows in the direction of the wind.
Harper is completely unprincipled and a politician in the truest sense, his interest is in ruling and he will go with whatever ideology puts him in power (as is evident by his early worship of Trudeau (our very own commie-friendly new dealer type)... but I must say taking over and unifying the conservative party when it was at it's weakest yet had the greatest possibility for future potential was brilliant... the ultimate "buy low, sell high"). Alberta was the linchpin in Harper seizing power (and despite what most people think, Harper is not 'from' the west - he's from Toronto) - Harper adopted the dominant ideology from the provinces that would dictate the economic wealth of Canada for decades to come (assuming the commodity bull still kicks) when that ideology was severely depreciated (i.e. weak enough to enable him to take it over, and then use it, when it became strong again, to take Canada over), check out how Belinda Stronach tried to work the Conservatives... EXACTLY the same thing, only she wasn't very good at it (despite her excellent political advisers, she's very obvious)... and then she jumped to another sinking ship hoping to salvage that wreckage after the mutiny (attempting to run for the Liberal leadership after an internal power struggle sunk the ruling Martin faction... and another random travesty - the current forerunner in the 'liberal' leadership race is an across the board statist and hugely in favor of the Iraq war... this country deserves their leaders).
And the only reason that Canada voted for Harper (despite the oh so 'frightening' possibility of taxes and 'services' being reduced), is because these are a weak people desperate to be ruled and he seems like a strong 'leader' (i.e. someone who will tell them what to do)... and the truth is that Harper has no interest in radical tax/'service' reform (i.e. Canadians have nothing to fear and as most here should know Canada's right is about on par with the Democrats in terms of ideology... well more or less).
The difference between the right and the left is that warfare is cheaper than welfare (and that's the only reason the (modern) right seems slightly more favorable to those wanting less stolen from them in taxes).
And unfortunately all the mainstream alternatives here are considerably worse (Liberals, NDP... please... left and lefter)... my only hope was that Canada would fall apart, but now that doesn't look likely (this latest brilliant 'Quebec is a nation' move by Harper is an good example of why (Quebec was going to force them to call it a nation regardless), Harper and this country are very good at rowing with the wind... because otherwise the wind will rip them apart - had the conservatives not come into power, and instead the country moved significantly more left (another 'National Energy Program' perhaps - a Trudeau-era socialist wet dream from the early 80's aimed at oil wealth redistribution) then the risk of western separation goes from latent to very real).
Watching Harper come into power, I've realized one thing - the game Chess, it isn't a microcosm of war, it's a microcosm of political (formerly court) intrigue.
Published: November 24, 2006 2:32 PM
Mathieu Bedard
When will this ridiculous nationalist Québécois crusade end?
Published: November 25, 2006 3:37 AM
Wild Pegasus
Hopefully when Quebec wins her independence.
- Josh
Published: November 28, 2006 1:29 PM