Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

'A Canadian dream that no longer exists in reality'

by Aaron Wherry on Friday, October 15, 2010 5:09pm - 0 Comments

Gilles Duceppe charms an American audience.

“One thing is certain: Our relationship with the U.S. would be the focal point of a sovereign Quebec’s foreign policy,” Duceppe said at the event co-hosted by the Canadian Institute of the U.S.-government-funded Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Hudson Institute. ”The United States already has a very solid ally in Canada. Should Quebec become a sovereign state, the U.S. would have two very solid allies for the price of one.”

… Duceppe said the low approval ratings of Charest, now in his third mandate, indicate the premier’s departure is imminent leading up to the next election, which must be called before 2013. ”There are many reasons to think that events may begin moving quite quickly and that Quebecers will be making a decision on their political status for the third time,” Duceppe said.

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  • LdKitchenersOwn

    Quebecers will be making a decision on their political status for the third time.

    Yes, the THIRD TIME. And Duceppe et al. would like to keep on asking the question over and over again until the answer changes.

    • Anon in PQ

      Or try to get their "right" answer by changing the question over and over and….

    • Philanthropist

      or maybe they have the answer they want, but don't want us to get too comfortable.

  • Emily

    He's probably right….just not about the American bit.

  • NorthernPoV

    Hey
    IF and WHEN there is another referendum the Canadian government should negotiate a post-referendum protected period of at least 50 years, approximately two generations, in which the separatist question cannot be again be posed. (Assuming another "NO" vote of course and the condition would be levered by a appropriate commitments should the result be a clear yes to a clear question. )

    The instability and resource wasting separatist cause must be put to rest after three unsuccessful never-endums.

    • Emily

      And if they choose to have Referendums 4,5 and 6….how do we stop them?

    • Mike T.

      The goal seems laudable, I doubt it could be arranged practically. So far at least there's been at least 15 years between them, which is decent, if they must occur.

      • NorthernPoV

        I disagree. All of Canada, including Quebec, suffers when there is existential political uncertainty.
        50 years is a more reasonable cycle…. so that finally, no means no.
        A dialogue – much like the Dion-clarity-letters – with Quebec would request a "make up your mind" finality, should we embark on another serious separation scenario.

  • Ariadne

    If there is a next referendum/s, they better be sure that all the cost and expenses will be fully charged to the province of Quebec, nothing should come from the federal coffer. They want it, then they must pay all of it.

    • CAPS

      I think it already falls under a Québec referendum law and all funding questions etc. are subject to said. law.

  • http://secondthots.blogspot.com Dennis_F

    "One thing is certain: Our relationship with the U.S. would be the focal point of a sovereign Quebec’s foreign policy,” Duceppe said

    Gilles Duceppe as an America-loving right-winger. Who knew?

  • LaxAtlDfwYow

    Of course Gilles is right. Repeated (failed) referendums are just another mechanism for maintaining Quebec's preferred place in Confederation. That aside, I propose a small thought experiment….

    Who – Harper or Iggy – is apt to make the most formidable federalist PM in the next referendum? Or, put another another way: which of them would be the better leader of a federalist team?

    I'll start by suggesting that despite all his weaknesses and personal flaws, Harper is the superior politician and thus likely the better federalist leader in a referendum. Apart from the serious self-loathing which is now setting in for writing that last sentence, my main concerns with "federalist team leader Harper" are (a) whether in his heart he would want to win and (b) would he see personal opportunity – say, CPC majority – in the the loss of QC. Of course one can argue the opposite of (b) at least as well.

    Eeeew.

    I'm going to shower now, you guys discuss…

    • Lorane Lamontagne

      Would you please explain to me what the difference is between a proponent of sovereignty-association like Duceppe and Harper who believes that it doesn't matter whether Canada has one, two or ten national capitals?

      If in your view Harper is a federalist, isn't Duceppe also a federalist?

      • LaxAtlDfwYow

        No, in my view, Harper is an ego-maniacal mercenary that – at least from recent evidence – believes in little or nothing beyond getting and holding power. Back in the Reform and NCC days, he was pretty clear about what he believed; but those days are long gone and, perhaps those beliefs along with them. I'd suggest we don't know.

        I'm no Harper fan, I simply asked who would you want defending Canada in a referendum. I have big concerns w/ Harper being that guy, as I wrote. However, making that choice today, I'd still have to go w/ Harper.

        Is Harper a federalist? Today, I'd say he certainly is; if only because it serves his pursuit of a majority. In the past and in his heart (again, as I wrote initially), not so sure.

    • NorthernPoV

      Good point!
      Let us hope both these craven egotists will be gone if we have another existential referendum battle.

      Harper's mercurial behavior suggests he could go either way (ie work for or against unity) depending on the course of events, his mood and the lure of a majority in whats left of Canada.

      Iggy never met a victim whose voice he didn't try to appropriate. His handlers are having some success recasting his public image, but given his we-have-to invade-Iraq-to-save-Kurds delusions, his flip flopping on Israeli aggression and the Quebec "nation" debacle during his leadership-race implosion the prospects for a Captain-Canada performance are rather low.

    • Mike T.

      One on one, Harper's high school level french doesn't match up to Iggy's. Hearing his laboured diction would remind Quebecers of the inattention and antipathy towards french out in the western provinces, each and every single time he began campaigning for the Non side.

      Politically, "firewall" Harper doesn't have a lot of credibility.

      Socially, he and his inept and thuggish cabinet are miles apart from what we stereotypically think of as refined Quebecers.

      If, God forbid, another referendum should have to occur, the federal leaders to be relied on will be Layton (born in Quebec)>Iggy………….>Harper.

  • iliminator

    Macleans was out in front with this news. IT AIN'T WORKING!

    POTSDAM, Germany (Reuters) – Germany's attempt to create a multicultural society has "utterly failed," Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday, adding fuel to a debate over immigration and Islam polarizing her conservative camp.

    Speaking to a meeting of young members of her Christian Democrats (CDU), Merkel said allowing people of different cultural backgrounds to live side by side without integrating had not worked in a country that is home to some four million Muslims.

    "This (multicultural) approach has failed, utterly failed," Merkel told the meeting in Potsdam, south of Berlin.

    Bingualism.____

  • Tony N

    Well for the last time, just do it or forget it entirely and forever.

  • GeneralUncleSam

    Good job Leon! Awsome! How did you turn him? No, don't tell me. You just had to ask him to teach you say Vive l'Amérique, right? I knew it. We've got to get this done before the ice thaws. Let’s move Osama to Ivujivik so we can fight terrorism in the Artic, flank the Russians, and block the Chinese out of the shipping lane. And all that oil! Didn’t even have to plant a flag. Take that Validimir! Jintao can't say nothing because Duceppe did it on his own. Don't worry about Stevie. He's not that bright. How'd I know? ‘cause he had to take Econ101 three times, that’s how. Besides, he’s on my payroll. Expensive? Na, just cost me a double double while he was in NY. Let's code name this one operation Schwartz's – they've got some good eats and we need patrons. Make sure B’s well prep. He’s starting to fumble but some still like to hear him talk. I might just have to do this one myself. Hillary can help, she's bright, can’t execute, but bright. Maybe Bubba can go in first if his coronaries are up to it. Dammit, I told him to stay off those greasy burgers and plum babes. Oh and have that nutty Alaska lady keep an eye on the Ruskies. She said she can see them from her house. Let's get to work boys.

  • Sigh

    Should Quebec become a sovereign state, the U.S. would have two very solid allies for the price of one.”

    Is Duceppe suggesting that a sovereign Quebec and Canada would share a common US embassy, ambassador, diplomatic staff, etc.?

  • Orson Bean

    I just read in a related article that Duceppe compared the "plight" of Quebeckers to that of East Germans behind the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. Unbelievable. There's tons of competition for the title, but that may actually take the prize as the stupidest , most outrageous and most offensive thing ever said by a Quebec separatist.

    • Blue

      I`ve talked to people who grew up behind the Iron Curtain in the 50`s and 60`s and one of the stories I`ve heard repeated is that in those times there was a severe shortage of simple consumer items like toilet paper. When the word was out in the small towns that a shipment of toilet paper would arrive in the local store the parents would send one of their kids into town to line up overnight to make a small purchase.

      I`ve also read that on one unfortunate night in his youth Mr. Duceppe found himself sitting in the toilette of the local discoteca when he looked up and discovered that the roll was empty.

      Hence, in his mind, the fair comparison.

      • Orson Bean

        Superb.

  • thenonconformer

    Quebec is afraid to look at it's own dark side and needs first to get it's own house in order. The Quebec governments, politicians, police, administrators certainly are still too soft on dealing with crimes, inadequacies so is the federal government. Imagine this thousands of people do now die in Hospitals per year because of the Hospitals inadequacies and it still basically is allowed to happen.. even cause not too much is being done about it still too. People even die waiting in the emergency wards for years now too. Arrest the Premier, Health Minister, Hospital director, the Quebec Ombudsman, and the main Doctor at the Hospital, emergency room for criminal neglect of a sick person, after all they know about the problems for a long time and they did nothing good about it. http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/t…

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