Completely, wholeheartedly, unabashedly disagree. Quebec separatism must be limbed end-to-end, not by continued appeasement of their extraction of Confederation's bounties, but by an ultimatum - if you separate, it will be a hard Quexit, you will not have access to the Canadian economy, nor security infrastructure, nor trade agreements with Canada's worldwide partners, we will build railways around you, you will receive no help. Canada is not "two nations" - it is ten equal provinces and three equal territories, each with their own separate cultural identities. No one group is more important than the other. As someone who grew up in a place that has suffered (and continues to suffer) under Quebec's imperialist black hand, I see no upside to continued appeasement, and no downside to the extinction of separatism and Quebec exceptionalism.
If we had properly dealt with QC exceptionalism, we would not be dealing with Alberta separatism. Alberta separation poses a greater threat to the nation than Quebec separation ever would.
Happy to accept Quebec as an equal partner in Confederation. Nothing more, nothing less.
As an Albertan, I find your reference to Alberta separation fascinating. It is not because I am an Alberta separatist; I am not an actual separatist but I, like many Albertans, am interested in what is being said by the separatists and am looking for an actual coherent plan that the separatists might come up with - which they so far have not done.
Meanwhile, in the material world, soggy foggy Newfoundland is on fire, so this is the perfect time to have the feds devote their attention to the self-absorbed whiners in AB and QC.
Evan, you write in part ".... I’d like to know that someone in Ottawa with an official fucking title knows it, and is working on solving it ...."
I guess that I have three things to say, quite distinct from the idea that the PQ might not win; I will simply - for purposes of this discussion - accept as a given that the PQ will win the next election.
Point one - so what? - it is just another provincial government. It will certainly be more obstreperous but, then, don't so many provincial governments run against the feds?
Point two - so what? - yes, the PQ have promised to hold a referendum on separation but they might lose that referendum. After all, they have a losing record with their referenda.
Point three - so what? - yes, the PQ might win the referendum but, Frankly, Miss Scarlett, I don't give a damn! If Quebec want to leave they can go. I forecast that they will use the blackmail tactic of repudiation of their share of the national debt and it is THAT event for which we should prepare. You know, retaliation, scorched earth and the like.
And, if they do repudiate their share of the national debt, well, that will mean that the ROC will simply have to recognize the impoverishment that the LPC governments have imposed on Canada by so recklessly piling on that debt for so much non-sensical stuff. And then we will have to have that long, long avoided day of reckoning.
Oh, the 1995 Unity Rally and all that stuff? An historic artifact to not be repeated.
Ah, you want MC to spend more time in Quebec to show that he "understands" la Belle Province. First and foremost, let him show that he truly understands we in Alberta for he has given no indication of such understanding to date. As for Carney making "... an active case for Quebec in Canada that will rankle many outside the province as pandering ..." Yup, you nailed it. The feds have pandered to Quebec just about forever.
It has taken me decades to get this point but I have concluded firmly - firmly, I say - that Quebec is a province that really should be treated comme les autres. Pardon my attempt at French if I have that incorrect but I expect my meaning is claire.
Canada does not need to show that it needs to be a constructive partner. On the contrary, Quebec is the one that has proven to not be constructive. So, we offer tough love and tell PQ that if they want to stay they need to sign on to the constitution. No sign, no stay. Will that cause them to leave? Perhaps; perhaps not. But, at least, we would stop being doormats at the ATM.
"... And if there's a steady stream of such announcements, it'll show the Liberals care ..." But I don't. Please remember what I said above: comme les autres.
Hostile? Not at all. Simply tired of being treated as second class because I am a unilingual anglophone from Alberta.
Okay, now all you haters can now tell me how much I am wrecking the country. Sounds like a good idea, actually. The wrecking not the telling.
Shit-disturbing from Québec at this time in our national political situation will not be taken lightly by the rest of the country. The tolerance level for self-centred greed and threats to our national sovereignty is quite low amongst most Canadians. I am certain the smart citizens of La Belle Province know this very, very, very, very, very well. ❤️🇨🇦
The previous comments give me reassurance especially since perceived “Quebec favouritism” is part of what drives the prairie populist separatism sentiments. Carney must give Quebec attention but not too much attention. Welcome to Canada.
Most of this stuff naturally goes hand in hand with preventing a PQ government as well.
Federalists shouldn't panic over Arthabaska. The PQ overperforming in a 2 way race against an odious conservative does not necessarily mean that they'll overperform everywhere next year. But it is a reminder that federalism needs to always be ready to make a positive case for Quebec in Canada, and how that ultimately makes both Quebec and the rest of Canada stronger.
😂 "Simply tired of being treated as second class because I am a unilingual Anglophone from Alberta." Make order in your own home before calling first. Quebeers have reacted in a much more positive fashion than Albertans through the current tariff crisis. Guess what? Polls show they have more pride in being Canadian than Albertans do at this point in time. The PQ isn't in power yet and 1 or 2 or even 3 byelections wins don't necessarily mean they were won based on separation.
As usual, it’s a very interesting column. I agree that Carney should spend more time in Québec. However, we shouldn’t overlook that he has appointed several Quebecers to his close entourage who can advise him on handling a potential return of the PQ—starting with his Chief of Staff, Marc-André Blanchard, and the Clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Sabia. While Sabia is an anglophone, he has nevertheless held senior positions within the Québec government. You can include Ministers Champagne and Joly. Even the government representative to the Senate is a quebecer now.
There were 3 main groups that voted for Carney: boomers, women & Quebec.
Boomers wanted protection for their house prices & pensions. Women couldn't stand Polliviere. Quebec heard "51st State" as an existential crisis for French in North America.
Quebec still fundamentally knows that independence in the current North American environment means a medium-term (7-10 years) loss of French as the langue du jour. Canada will (should) immediately cancel all French-language requirements for the federal government. All Quebec MPs and judges lose their jobs the day after a "Yes" vote. Transfer payments (health & equalization) also. CPP benefits are converted to a present-value lump sum and OAS stops. CAF bases in Quebec are closed and all equipment is removed. CAF becomes unilingual English. Canadian passports held by Quebecers are cancelled. Border crossings into Canada are placed at all common points of entry.
And so on. The same principles would apply to Alberta seperation. There is value to being part of Canada and a steep cost to forgoing that membership.
My understanding is that Quebec is not a partner in CPP & therefore there would be no need to determine ‘a present-value lump sum’. Once First Nations lands, federal lands are carved off, is there much left for an independent country?
A PQ win in an obscure riding in Quebec is nothing to be concerned about. The federal Liberals lineup has Domenic Leblanc, Melanie Joly, Steven Guilbault, and Finance Minister FPC. Pierre Poilievre is so hated with Liberal voters that he is unlikely to be still leader a year from now. With generous funding from the federal government - Quebec will quickly get in line. 👍 🇨🇦 La vie en rose. Libéraux pour toujours!
Completely, wholeheartedly, unabashedly disagree. Quebec separatism must be limbed end-to-end, not by continued appeasement of their extraction of Confederation's bounties, but by an ultimatum - if you separate, it will be a hard Quexit, you will not have access to the Canadian economy, nor security infrastructure, nor trade agreements with Canada's worldwide partners, we will build railways around you, you will receive no help. Canada is not "two nations" - it is ten equal provinces and three equal territories, each with their own separate cultural identities. No one group is more important than the other. As someone who grew up in a place that has suffered (and continues to suffer) under Quebec's imperialist black hand, I see no upside to continued appeasement, and no downside to the extinction of separatism and Quebec exceptionalism.
If we had properly dealt with QC exceptionalism, we would not be dealing with Alberta separatism. Alberta separation poses a greater threat to the nation than Quebec separation ever would.
Happy to accept Quebec as an equal partner in Confederation. Nothing more, nothing less.
As an Albertan, I find your reference to Alberta separation fascinating. It is not because I am an Alberta separatist; I am not an actual separatist but I, like many Albertans, am interested in what is being said by the separatists and am looking for an actual coherent plan that the separatists might come up with - which they so far have not done.
And neither will
Meanwhile, in the material world, soggy foggy Newfoundland is on fire, so this is the perfect time to have the feds devote their attention to the self-absorbed whiners in AB and QC.
“Self-absorbed” and “demanding”
Evan, you write in part ".... I’d like to know that someone in Ottawa with an official fucking title knows it, and is working on solving it ...."
I guess that I have three things to say, quite distinct from the idea that the PQ might not win; I will simply - for purposes of this discussion - accept as a given that the PQ will win the next election.
Point one - so what? - it is just another provincial government. It will certainly be more obstreperous but, then, don't so many provincial governments run against the feds?
Point two - so what? - yes, the PQ have promised to hold a referendum on separation but they might lose that referendum. After all, they have a losing record with their referenda.
Point three - so what? - yes, the PQ might win the referendum but, Frankly, Miss Scarlett, I don't give a damn! If Quebec want to leave they can go. I forecast that they will use the blackmail tactic of repudiation of their share of the national debt and it is THAT event for which we should prepare. You know, retaliation, scorched earth and the like.
And, if they do repudiate their share of the national debt, well, that will mean that the ROC will simply have to recognize the impoverishment that the LPC governments have imposed on Canada by so recklessly piling on that debt for so much non-sensical stuff. And then we will have to have that long, long avoided day of reckoning.
Oh, the 1995 Unity Rally and all that stuff? An historic artifact to not be repeated.
Ah, you want MC to spend more time in Quebec to show that he "understands" la Belle Province. First and foremost, let him show that he truly understands we in Alberta for he has given no indication of such understanding to date. As for Carney making "... an active case for Quebec in Canada that will rankle many outside the province as pandering ..." Yup, you nailed it. The feds have pandered to Quebec just about forever.
It has taken me decades to get this point but I have concluded firmly - firmly, I say - that Quebec is a province that really should be treated comme les autres. Pardon my attempt at French if I have that incorrect but I expect my meaning is claire.
Canada does not need to show that it needs to be a constructive partner. On the contrary, Quebec is the one that has proven to not be constructive. So, we offer tough love and tell PQ that if they want to stay they need to sign on to the constitution. No sign, no stay. Will that cause them to leave? Perhaps; perhaps not. But, at least, we would stop being doormats at the ATM.
"... And if there's a steady stream of such announcements, it'll show the Liberals care ..." But I don't. Please remember what I said above: comme les autres.
Hostile? Not at all. Simply tired of being treated as second class because I am a unilingual anglophone from Alberta.
Okay, now all you haters can now tell me how much I am wrecking the country. Sounds like a good idea, actually. The wrecking not the telling.
Shit-disturbing from Québec at this time in our national political situation will not be taken lightly by the rest of the country. The tolerance level for self-centred greed and threats to our national sovereignty is quite low amongst most Canadians. I am certain the smart citizens of La Belle Province know this very, very, very, very, very well. ❤️🇨🇦
Cath, you make be correct in your assessment of the "... smart citizens of La Belle Province ..."
On the other hand, it seems to me that they are a much smaller number than the electorate at large.
The previous comments give me reassurance especially since perceived “Quebec favouritism” is part of what drives the prairie populist separatism sentiments. Carney must give Quebec attention but not too much attention. Welcome to Canada.
Most of this stuff naturally goes hand in hand with preventing a PQ government as well.
Federalists shouldn't panic over Arthabaska. The PQ overperforming in a 2 way race against an odious conservative does not necessarily mean that they'll overperform everywhere next year. But it is a reminder that federalism needs to always be ready to make a positive case for Quebec in Canada, and how that ultimately makes both Quebec and the rest of Canada stronger.
😂 "Simply tired of being treated as second class because I am a unilingual Anglophone from Alberta." Make order in your own home before calling first. Quebeers have reacted in a much more positive fashion than Albertans through the current tariff crisis. Guess what? Polls show they have more pride in being Canadian than Albertans do at this point in time. The PQ isn't in power yet and 1 or 2 or even 3 byelections wins don't necessarily mean they were won based on separation.
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/05/23/quebec-most-opposes-its-sovereignty/
As usual, it’s a very interesting column. I agree that Carney should spend more time in Québec. However, we shouldn’t overlook that he has appointed several Quebecers to his close entourage who can advise him on handling a potential return of the PQ—starting with his Chief of Staff, Marc-André Blanchard, and the Clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Sabia. While Sabia is an anglophone, he has nevertheless held senior positions within the Québec government. You can include Ministers Champagne and Joly. Even the government representative to the Senate is a quebecer now.
There were 3 main groups that voted for Carney: boomers, women & Quebec.
Boomers wanted protection for their house prices & pensions. Women couldn't stand Polliviere. Quebec heard "51st State" as an existential crisis for French in North America.
Quebec still fundamentally knows that independence in the current North American environment means a medium-term (7-10 years) loss of French as the langue du jour. Canada will (should) immediately cancel all French-language requirements for the federal government. All Quebec MPs and judges lose their jobs the day after a "Yes" vote. Transfer payments (health & equalization) also. CPP benefits are converted to a present-value lump sum and OAS stops. CAF bases in Quebec are closed and all equipment is removed. CAF becomes unilingual English. Canadian passports held by Quebecers are cancelled. Border crossings into Canada are placed at all common points of entry.
And so on. The same principles would apply to Alberta seperation. There is value to being part of Canada and a steep cost to forgoing that membership.
My understanding is that Quebec is not a partner in CPP & therefore there would be no need to determine ‘a present-value lump sum’. Once First Nations lands, federal lands are carved off, is there much left for an independent country?
Not worried, it'll fail, theres no desire for quebec independence anywhere near the 1990s levels
A PQ win in an obscure riding in Quebec is nothing to be concerned about. The federal Liberals lineup has Domenic Leblanc, Melanie Joly, Steven Guilbault, and Finance Minister FPC. Pierre Poilievre is so hated with Liberal voters that he is unlikely to be still leader a year from now. With generous funding from the federal government - Quebec will quickly get in line. 👍 🇨🇦 La vie en rose. Libéraux pour toujours!