For Unity: The Argument…

• “What we have built together in Canada is something very great and very noble… don’t let anyone diminish or take away what we have accomplished. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot be a proud Quebecer and a proud Canadian”– PM Chretien address to nation following the

Referendum, 1995

For Sovereignty: The Argument…

• “I believe in a strong partnership between Canada and Quebec and I think that I can speak for an overwhelming number of Quebecers, if not all Quebecers, who will also want this negotiation to succeed after Yes… This Yes vote will provide Quebec with the power and the leadership it needs to achieve its ambitions and its goals but also to refashion its relationship with Canada.”– Leader of Opposition, Lucien Bouchard, 1995

The Impact of Separation

• For Quebec:I. Quebec might be forced to renegotiate international deals, i.e. NAFTAII. Quebec will no longer receive federal grants or assistanceIII. Anglophone population & big business may move to other provincesIV. Foreign and domestic trade might dropV. Economic or social problems such as unemployment might worsenVI. Quebec might be asked to repay its portion of Canada’s national debtVII. Quebec may lose land to aboriginal groupsVIII. Quebec would be forced to re-negotiate its status in the North

American Trade AgreementIX. Quebec may not receive ownership of federal property owned by

Ottawa

The Impact of Separation II

• For Canada:I. Canada would lose 15.5% of its land areaII. Canada would lose up to 25% of populationIII. Canada may lose up to 23% of its GNP (Gross National Product)IV. Canada would lose 15% of its fresh water, and 14% of its mineral

production capabilityV. Atlantic Canada would be physically severed and isolated from rest

of CanadaVI. Canada’s defence (military) would become more difficultVII. Quebec’s separation may cause other provinces to consider

separation from ConfederationVIII. Francophones in other provinces would be left without one of their

most powerful allies

Unresolved Issues

• As a result of the failed constitutional negotiations (Meech Lake & Charlottetown), there were no provisions (steps) existing in the Constitution Act to allow for a province to legally separate from Canada– So if majority of Quebec wants to separate, they probably can’t…

• The tensions between French/English & Ottawa/Provinces have made constitutional reform difficult, perhaps impossible– Add in other issues, i.e. Aboriginal constitutional claims and

multiculturalism, and how the social make-up of both Quebec and Canada has changed - this makes things much more interesting…

Where things stand now (2006)

• Despite the failure to get Quebec to sign the Constitutional Act 1982, and the failures of Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords. Many pundits (experts) believe that the New Generation of Quebec may have lost the interest in separation

• One point of view (from before Quebec election 2014)– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8prHyXfvdU

• A narrative as to why Quebec and Canada are better off together than apart…