It is well established that I live in the province of Quebec (the French speaking bit of North America), and for more than 60 years there has been a movement for Quebec to secede from the rest of Canada, its best incarnation (and most long lasting) has been the Parti Quebecois ("PQ"). The cause has hit a number of roadblocks over the years, but the past 6 months have been nothing short of disastrous for their cause.
First, its important to note that between 20 and 30% of all Quebec resident are "pro-independence". Amusingly enough the most "pro-Independence" sentiments are in places that have virtually no contact with the rest of America, not that they live in no-men's land rather they live in the heart of Quebec, speak French (only) and get 100% of their entertainment in French. They have a separate and different culture where Shakespeare and Monthy Python do not exist -- yes even in the internet age it is easy to ignore the rest of North America! Their only contact with the "anglo" is in product labeling!
Part of the PQ's problem is that their early successes have dampened the population's enthusiasm for the cause, had the PQ -- in the first flush of its success not passed a language law (prohibit parents from sending children to English school or making French the language of the workplace, and forcing signage in French) then most Quebecois would be more riled about about the presence of the "invaders" -- yes it was 400 years ago, but its still stings (and for cause that French Canadians were until the mid-70s largely treated as an underclass -- "speak white" meant speak English).
The fortune of the movement really took a hit early this spring. First in the federal elections where the Bloc Quebecois -- the "federal" version of the PQ lost 36 seats (out of 40). The reasons are multiple, but first was the lack luster performance of the party, and the exhaustion with the whole topic -- Quebecois just don't want to talk about this anymore, and saw (maybe) a more vibrant message out of the far left NDP . Second was a provincial private members' bill introduced by a Quebec City based member of parliament (a PQ member) to fund 100% the building of a new professional hockey arena, so that Quebec city could attract a professional hockey team (Quebecois are hockey mad!). The party in power (the Liberals) was forced to let its own members of parliament to vote as they wished on the topic -- otherwise the PQ would have won every election in Quebec City for the next 100 years -- which was partly a calculation by the PQ's leadership that could not support the project on economic ground, but did on political ones.
However, the strategy blew up in PQ leadership's face, and in the space of 10 days the PQ lost 4 members of parliament for political reasons (the bill in question was a mere catalyst). Rumors are now that the four are considering starting a rival party; more radical that the soft option of independence that the PQ has been offering the electorate. It really could not get any worse for the PQ, having already lost the far left separatist to "Quebec Solidaire" but a further splintering of the movement would relegate the PQ to eternal opposition.
Interesting times in the Quebec political scene -- its a nice sport when the topic of conversation changes after 50 years!
First, its important to note that between 20 and 30% of all Quebec resident are "pro-independence". Amusingly enough the most "pro-Independence" sentiments are in places that have virtually no contact with the rest of America, not that they live in no-men's land rather they live in the heart of Quebec, speak French (only) and get 100% of their entertainment in French. They have a separate and different culture where Shakespeare and Monthy Python do not exist -- yes even in the internet age it is easy to ignore the rest of North America! Their only contact with the "anglo" is in product labeling!
Part of the PQ's problem is that their early successes have dampened the population's enthusiasm for the cause, had the PQ -- in the first flush of its success not passed a language law (prohibit parents from sending children to English school or making French the language of the workplace, and forcing signage in French) then most Quebecois would be more riled about about the presence of the "invaders" -- yes it was 400 years ago, but its still stings (and for cause that French Canadians were until the mid-70s largely treated as an underclass -- "speak white" meant speak English).
The fortune of the movement really took a hit early this spring. First in the federal elections where the Bloc Quebecois -- the "federal" version of the PQ lost 36 seats (out of 40). The reasons are multiple, but first was the lack luster performance of the party, and the exhaustion with the whole topic -- Quebecois just don't want to talk about this anymore, and saw (maybe) a more vibrant message out of the far left NDP . Second was a provincial private members' bill introduced by a Quebec City based member of parliament (a PQ member) to fund 100% the building of a new professional hockey arena, so that Quebec city could attract a professional hockey team (Quebecois are hockey mad!). The party in power (the Liberals) was forced to let its own members of parliament to vote as they wished on the topic -- otherwise the PQ would have won every election in Quebec City for the next 100 years -- which was partly a calculation by the PQ's leadership that could not support the project on economic ground, but did on political ones.
However, the strategy blew up in PQ leadership's face, and in the space of 10 days the PQ lost 4 members of parliament for political reasons (the bill in question was a mere catalyst). Rumors are now that the four are considering starting a rival party; more radical that the soft option of independence that the PQ has been offering the electorate. It really could not get any worse for the PQ, having already lost the far left separatist to "Quebec Solidaire" but a further splintering of the movement would relegate the PQ to eternal opposition.
Interesting times in the Quebec political scene -- its a nice sport when the topic of conversation changes after 50 years!