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Canada is not a nation known for making waves, so who could be blamed for being unaware of how close it came to disintegrating in 1995? France gave up its North American colony in 1763 at the treaty of Paris. There was a population of about 70,000 at that time in the colony, and they now legally became members of the British colony. “The Quebecois came to believe their very existence was threatened. Even today their rallying cry is "survivance".” Conflict between French speaking Canadians and the rest of Canada has been around since the settling of North America. The French Canadians believed that the social, cultural, and political difficulties of Quebec were caused by confederation and could only be ended by altering or ending the ties with other provinces and the central government. In October 1995, ninety-four percent of Quebecers turned out and almost crushed a referendum that could have possibly set Quebec to be its own sovereign nation. Although separatism is an issue which may have some negative effects, it is a matter which looks to actually be the grounds for a less divisive Canada. Quebec is already very separate now, exercising sovereignty in many areas. “On its own Quebec is the world's sixteenth largest economy.” Not all ties would be cut with Canada, and Quebec could probably be included in NAFTA. Though English Canada is a small market that Quebec can readily trade with, Quebec must have ready access to the huge U.S. market, and preferably to Mexico's large market as well. “In the event of a separation, the American Union would be Quebec's best friend, largest trading partner, and protector against any military danger.” Canada was created by the British Empire opposing the United States. The border in which was made by that territory to maintain the assets from the north, outside the reach of the U.S. is still in fact keeping these resources out of reach. With the separation of Canada, these theoretical borders would diminish. Now, many would view this as a negative, more of a way for the U.S. to completely just abolish all liking with Canada, and just side with Quebec for economic purpose, but this is completely not true, the positive U.S. and Canadian relations are still there. The U.S isn’t looking to stick it to Canada, like they would back in 1812. “The U.S would use this situation more over as a slight positive because it stands as a chance to be a significantly larger ranked land mass once Quebec separates, they would become a richer nation because they would have two big trading partners to the North, also they would consider themselves more powerful and even more prestigious.” “If Quebec did separate, its market would be able to prosper independently, rather then being connected and restricted by the Canadian market, which Quebec has been complaining about ever since they’ve had the chance to.” Plus the U.S. would invest in both regions separately, so both Quebec and the rest of Canada could decide what to do with revenue in their own ways. “By un-creating Canada, Quebec will be creating a new North America, more sensibly organized than the bizarre pattern today, in which people who speak the same language are divided but people who speak different languages are thrown together.” “The fear of English cultural colonization is a recurring theme in Quebecois and Canadian discourses on culture.” This fear demonstrates the importance associated to the resistance and the encouragement of cultural distinctiveness in procedure statements relating to culture and connections. “Quebecers are ready to get rid of the ties that bind them to Canada. They are tired of having their concerns demeaned by the other provinces.” Legal recognition of Quebec's separate status would be just a procedure. “In order to preserve Quebecois culture, Quebec must form its own government.” It does not belong in the Canadian Federation any longer. In reaction to distress about the sincerity of Quebecs distinguishing francophone culture, French only laws were ratified, and are still in place today. These issues would be resolutely solved if Quebec won its sovereignty. Broadcasting is considered an apparatus of fabrication and communication that must supply to the protection and advancement of Canadian culture. “The 1968 Broadcasting Act was quite explicit on this matter. The recent Broadcasting Act, adopted by Parliament in February 1991, is even more explicit.” It starts by explaining the preservation and the enhancement of nationalized characteristics and cultural independence as fundamental tasks for Canada as a whole. This is one major reason for the Quebecois to believe their culture to be overridden by a unified Canadian one, instead of a unique separate culture for Quebec and one for the rest of Canada. Not only are French speaking Quebecois unhappy, but also Anglophone Quebecers. “Coexistence of majority-French and minority-English cultures within the province and the reverse situation within Canada as a whole have remained sources of tension.” If and when Quebec achieves independence, it will be faced with the same problems of meeting the concerns of diverse ethnic minorities that other western democracies must face. “It is unfair to assume that an independent Quebec would be less sensitive or responsive to the needs of minorities such as Cree, Inuit, or Anglophone Quebecers than countries like Canada or the U.S. is to the needs of their minority citizens.” Since the past election, Quebec has sought to consider themselves into more Canadian involved issues, and set separatism aside. “"It's not only Canada that is starting to change tonight, it is Quebec," Jean Charest declared on election night, after voters handed his Liberals a decisive victory.” “While this strategy of looking to the future had life at the start of the election campaign, it was overtaken by the sovereignty issue during the televised leaders' debate a past that exploded the PQ plan.” Even when one would think the Quebecois have given up the idea of separatism for the next few years, they come back with the idea as strong as ever. “Quebec's health system has had an embattled image over the past years.” Although there are important issues in Quebec which are yet to be modified by their own provincial ministers, the Quebecois criticize parliament and demand more pampering than that which is provided to other provinces. Arguments such as these are not needed within the Canadian political system. A series of language and cultural reforms whereby the use of English was discouraged, were put in by the new government. This caused many English speaking Quebecers, and companies, to migrate mostly to Ontario. There have even been strongly influential events in the past, which Quebec has posted completely opposite views on. “In 1917 the Quebecois vehemently opposed conscription for World War I.” Quebecs cry for independence is not only verbally in parliament, it also went drastically violent in the 60’s and 70’s. Additional social activists, motivated by expatriates commenced in terrorist acts. “Bombings began in 1963 and continued sporadically. These acts, seen by most French and English Canadians were unethical, but it still showed the social problems of Quebec, and the ties of the French thinkers with the world outside Canada. In October 1970 a terrorist group kidnapped the British trade commissioner, James Cross, and Quebec's labour minister, Pierre Laporte, who was subsequently murdered.” These acts of physical violence do not at all demonstrate what Canadians are truly known for, peacekeeping, and superior morality. With Quebec separated, Canada would be free of nagging French politicians, and violent liberation protests like back in 1970. Quebec already has the factors of a sovereign country: language, history and outlook, and a strong leader, all they need now is the right moment to flourish and dominate the polls. French Canada was forcibly joined to English Canada. The union of the two peoples is unnatural and should be severed. In order to preserve Quebecois culture, Quebec must form its own government. It does not belong in the Canadian Federation any longer, whether it be politically, or economically. Quebec and Canada can separate like the Czech Republic and Slovakia or like Bosnia and Serbia, the turn out crucially depends on how the delegates approach the matter. Mario Checchia
