Free Quebec

[Shangui]

I know Newgrounds users are mostly americans, but I wanna have your opinion on this anyway:

Has some people may know, many citivzens of the province of Quebec (Canada) want Quebec to separate from Canada and become an independant nation.

The nationnalists state that Quebec doesny belong in Canada and would be better of alone because, 1- Quebec is the only province mostly populated by french-speaking persons, 2- Quebec has enough ressources to live on it's own and 3- The nationnalists say that Ottawa is not doing its part properly for Quebec and is not giving the provinces enough power.

The Parti Québécois is the representative of the separatists and tried by two times to separate Quebec by asking the people. Last time, the vote was very close (I think it was 59% vs 61%).

The Federalists say on their part that Quebec is stronger while connected to Canada and that separation would mean that non-french speakers would lose a lot. The parti Québécois already created a law making french the only official language in Quebec and made single-languaged signs illegal, and the french inscriptions must be larger than the other languages.

These are just some aspects of the problem. Right now, Quebec is ruled by the Liberals, so the separation question will be out for a while.

What is your position and why ?

(I will give my position later when the debate has grown a little, if it does)

[poxpower]

I'm from Quebec. I must say that I'm not really involved in this whole debate, as it ended.. oh... 10 years ago?
The answer is: NO, should always be no. Well all know that the reason for this is that the leaders of the Provinces want to have "real" power fro themselves. I say no. Canada is the best fucking country on earth, and I'm damn proud to be a canadian, and those separatist are giving the lot of us a bad image.

[Mr-Chuckles]

At 7/2/03 09:45 PM, poxpower wrote: I'm from Quebec. I must say that I'm not really involved in this whole debate, as it ended.. oh... 10 years ago?

That long? I'd say 1997?

I heard somewhere if we lost Quebec we would drop a few spots from being the second largest country in the world.

The French population also brings multiculturalism and is the backbone of our heritage.

[Chaos-263]

I would have to say i think Quebéc should stay in Canada apart from adding multi-culturisim to Canada they can make a killer putine (spelling?)!

The only reason that some Quebecers want to separate themselves from the rest of Canda is that they want everyone to speak french. It's stupid, really.

[GregBFM]

At 7/2/03 11:32 PM, BaKsHi wrote: ... Their human rights record are dismal compared to Combodia. We Americans stand by our Quebecan friends, when they say they want independance and freedom from Canadian tyranny!

Shut up bakshi you separatist mofo. ;) hehehehehe

[misterx2000]

At 7/2/03 11:44 PM, BaKsHi wrote: we can't have a french nation north of us. then france will start sending military aid to Quebec and have nukes pointed at us and that ain't good we know the french have nukes and they want to use it on us!

So do you. ;)

[Shangui]

I'm against separation myself, What good could come out of dividing ? I think we'll never separate because the new generation doesnt seem to want separation. The UFP is also separatist, but they have no chance of winning any election before long, since they are socialist.

With all the laws about the french language in Quebec that were voted by the Parti Québécois, we're starting to look like language nazis. The separatists should a lot more open minded, they think people who speak english are the cause of all of Quebec's problems.

[Ted-Easton]

I'm not sure if I can word this without sounding like an evil dictator. So sure me. Or, send in a unilateral invasion force......you get my point.

Really, I think it's ridiculous that Quebec has changed to one language and done all this with the signs. It really accomplishes nothing on their behalf, and only annoys english speaking people trying to move around inside the province.
It's childish that they'd switch around all the signs, and declare one official language- the rest of Canada is bilingual, and both students all across Canada and students in Quebec have to learn both languages.

As for separations, I think it should be beyond the province's power. Quebec is a part of Canada. Period.
After it was conquered more than a century ago, could they say "um..we want to leave, now". (Besides the fact that it wasn't much of a democracy then.) Quebec is a province of Canada, and if the people don't like it, they can leave Canada! They can't (or shouldn't be able to) just pick up a chunk of land and declare independance.
Quebec recieves as much power (and more) than every other province. They recieve equal representation, and there is nothing that is signifigantly enough wrong to warrant seperation.

Nunavut speaks a lot more in a native tongue than english, many provinces could support themselves if they were seperate, but they all know that they're a part of Canada, and save a US invasion, they're staying that way.

Did I make any sense at all?

[DarkCyrstal]

Ok, If the Quebecians, want to move to a country and be a free, french-speaking country, there is only one logical explanation. Move to France...

[Shangui]

The real problem with the separatists is that, with the years, they've created a rivality between Quebec and the rest of Canada. For exemple, in Quebec, you have an holiday for Quebec and one for Canada, but people see those has complete opposites. Waving a Canadian flag during Quebec's holiday is like burning a Quebec flag and you get insulted by anyone who sees you.

Pierre Falardeau, a movie producer from Quebec, got angry at some quebec artists because they performed during the Confederation (Canada's holiday). How stupid is that ? Cant one live in Quebec and be proud to be Canadian, like I am ? Separatists are giving Quebec a bad image and most stereotypes come from them.

Funny story about separation, the canadian army once made a simulation in order to train : They had to take back Quebec who had separated ! The parti Québécois was in power at the time and did not take this very well.

Some separatists may not realize it, but our current Prime Minister is from Quebec (Jean Chrétien) and one of his possible successor is also from Quebec (Paul Martin).

The separatists are also a cause of the Federal Liberal's supremacy : The parti Québécois created the Bloc Québécois which is at the federal level. The only purpose of this group is to promote separation. It only divides the Quebec votes and make it impossible for the Liberals to loose the elections. Jean Chrétien has 3 books full of his stupidities and he keeps being elected. He's leaving office on Febuary, a personnal decision.

[EZ3]

Parti Quebequois is unreasonable. NO.

[mrpopenfresh]

At 7/2/03 09:59 PM, Mr_Chuckles wrote: I heard somewhere if we lost Quebec we would drop a few spots from being the second largest country in the world.

Actually, Québec by itself would be ranked 18th for largest landmass for a country, if we ever become a country.

I live in Québec, beside the border with Ontario so separatist are the minority. But when you start going deeper and deepe into the province, the allegiances to the country gradually change into love for the province. I like Québec, its unique and has a different point of view than the general population of Canada, especially on wars and on the queen. Although I do love my country, I'd have to say that Canada wouldn't be the same without Québec. The whole seperation thing wouldn't work at all, we need money from Ottawa, we need so many things from the rest of Canada. A good example of how dependant we are is the statement made by separatisst during one of the 2 referendums saying that if ever we separate, we would still keep canadian money and be able to work in canadian provinces. Theres a specific term for this, but I don't feel like scavenging through all of my history notes from this past school year. If you ask me, if ever Québec separates, its going straight down in to the shithole. :)

Wow, there sure are alot of french canadiams on ng eh?

If Quebec ever separates, I am running out of here. I have a feeling that the Natives might try to take back their land even though they'd have to fight Quebec's non-existant military.

[poxpower]

At 7/3/03 11:08 AM, Ted_Easton wrote:
As for separations, I think it should be beyond the province's power. Quebec is a part of Canada. Period.

You are not serious are you?
Think about it for a few seconds. If a large enough amount of people want to form a separate community, they can, that is how the world has always worked. Close to half ( 3.4 million people) wanted separation at one point, and that is more than enough to create a country, even if I think it's stupid.

Don't forget that even if these people live on Canadian soil, the very soil they live on (i.e. their yard) is their home. It's not anyone else's, even if it "belongs" to Canada.

[MrStuff]

At 7/4/03 11:45 AM, mrpopenfresh wrote: I live in Québec, beside the border with Ontario so separatist are the minority.

Isn't that really the same for the rest of the country? As far as I know, the seperatist movement died with the election of a Liberal as premier. I'd laugh if they actually thought their goal would ever be achieved now.

[Jiperly]

please tell the crowd why Quebec wants to separate- because they do not get special "minority" treatment in our constitution. They believe that they deserve more rights more than Our Inuit, Native Americans, Asains, Africans, Indians, Jews, Musliums, Hindus, and hundreds of other minoritys, not to mention more rights than the majority of Canada.

And last agreement i heard had Canada giving Quebec allowances to get on their feet- i say if you want to be bitches and leave, its all or nothing.

[Jiperly]

At 7/2/03 11:00 PM, Chaos_263 wrote: they can make a killer putine (spelling?)!

Poutine(god i hate that crap)

[mrpopenfresh]

If ever Québec separates, english quebecers are goign to have a real hard time. Tourism is going to die out because all of the english are going to move to Canada. Just think about Montreal, their just going to die and so is multiculturalism at the same time. The only good thing to come out of separation from my view is that i'll finally have an excuse to move to Vancouver!

[mikehrt]

I think that if Quebec can exist on it's own and wants to separate from Canada it should be able to. Of course I don't really think that most of Quebec really wants to separate, or the issue wouldn't have been so quiet lately.

Judging from Americas history I'd say that trying to forcefully quell secession would put you through decades of rebuilding relations between the 2 groups and cause a lot of uneeded destruction and death. I'm of course referring to the civil war. America should have just let the confederacy stand.

[Muntz]

At 7/4/03 11:45 AM, mrpopenfresh wrote:

A good example of how dependant we are is the statement made by separatisst during one of the 2 referendums saying that if ever we separate, we would still keep canadian money and be able to work in canadian provinces. Theres a specific term for this, but I don't feel like scavenging through all of my history notes from this past school year.
the word was sovereignty-association

[DrKilledByDeath87]

I personally think it would be a bad idea. Besides the fact that many Quebecers work in other provinces(at least in Ottawa at least) the fact is out economy is so intertwined that full seperation would be INCREDIBLY hard.

Also there's the fact that the St. Laurence seaway, a major shipping route, runs right right through Quebec, which could cause some major tensions with not only Canada, but the US as well.

Personally I say no, but that's just an english opinion isn't it

[Matty233]

At 7/2/03 11:32 PM, MikeFulp wrote: WE, the Americans, will supply you with all the weapons you need to throw off the Canadian threat. The Canadian government is ruthless and they don't treat their citizens well. Their human rights record are dismal compared to Combodia. We Americans stand by our Quebecan friends, when they say they want independance and freedom from Canadian tyranny!

I hope you're kidding when you said that, because if not you are a horrible, horrible fachist.

First off, I'm from Manitoba, the third most francophone province. Yes, I'm franco-manitobain and I went to a full-french high school, so I cna give you all a good reason why Quebec wants to separate from Canada. Canada is supposed to be a bilingual country, but if you go to a fast-food restaurant and order something in French outside of Quebec, you probably will not be understood. On commercial airplanes, about 90% of the service is only-english, you have to take a special flight to get on in french. But yet, after all that, people go to Quebec and complain because some people in Quebec don't speak english. I see no fainess in that. If Canada is so bilingual, then we should have bilingual services everywhere! French should be mandatory as a curricular subject, not so everyone can speak french impeccably but so that they can understand a bit of the language.If the goverment doesn't want to speak French they might as well rip up the constitution and write another one. But even so, Quebec separating is a little extreme.That would mean to get from the maritimes to Ontario you'd have to pass through another country, which is a big waste of time. Thing is, the Québecois spend too much time complaining and not enough time trying to resolve the problem. So we're all at fault really.

[Matty233]

At 7/4/03 08:15 PM, Jiperly wrote:

At 7/2/03 11:00 PM, Chaos_263 wrote: they can make a killer putine (spelling?)!

Poutine(god i hate that crap)

How can you hate poutine?

[Nylo]

The idea that Quebec seperate from Canada ranks as one of the stupidest ideas i've ever heard of, and I mean that whole heartedly. Quebec, as you stated, had minor problems concerning what they "needed' and as far as I know had a few girly-slap fights with the Liberals.

Quebec, really, had no deep reason to want to seperate, any way you look at it it all comes down to minor bitching and moaning.

[Nylo]

At 7/13/04 05:57 AM, darkmage8 wrote: Quebec, really, had no deep reason to want to seperate, any way you look at it it all comes down to minor bitching and moaning.

And I mean that over issues concerning when to let out what flag, what language should be spoken, etc. etc. Quebec is a nice place, I just don't see seperation being someting that would be benificiary to it.

[Reverend-Kyle]

At 7/2/03 07:38 PM, Shangui wrote: ... 3- The nationnalists say that Ottawa is not doing its part properly for Quebec...

I think that goes for almost every province. Newfoundland and Labrador is worse off than Quebec.

The Parti Québécois is the representative of the separatists and tried by two times to separate Quebec by asking the people. Last time, the vote was very close (I think it was 59% vs 61%).

Did you see the referendum question?

The question posed on the ballot was: "Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Quebec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995, Yes or No?"

(source)

It mentions separating, but it seems to flood the ballot with other, more or less unrelated, things. (This is why a committee was set up to review any further referendum questions.)

What is your position and why ?

If a clear majority want to leave (let's say that's an arbitrary 80%), then they should be allowed to separate. But sovereignty shouldn't involve tricking the population into thinking that's what they need.

If anyone should leave, it's Newfoundland and Labrador. Western alienation? Give me a break.

[Brahma]

French people I'm afraid shouldn't get land.

[Matty233]

At 7/13/04 01:53 PM, Brahma wrote: French people I'm afraid shouldn't get land.

Why would you say that? The french are a very brave people. They were the first to form a resistance against the Germans in World War 2, yet the americans refused to help until they themselves got attacked. And the french helped found this continent, you know. The reason the Québecois are separating is that they feel their language has diminished so much in Canada that they don't feel a part of the country anymore. It's that simple.

[Muntz]

At 7/13/04 04:54 AM, Matty233 wrote:

First off, I'm from Manitoba, the third most francophone province. Yes, I'm franco-manitobain and I went to a full-french high school, so I cna give you all a good reason why Quebec wants to separate from Canada. Canada is supposed to be a bilingual country, but if you go to a fast-food restaurant and order something in French outside of Quebec, you probably will not be understood. On commercial airplanes, about 90% of the service is only-english, you have to take a special flight to get on in french.

The problem is when Canada became officially bilingual it only applied to federal institution. IT is ur right to be able to recive federal services in french or english. It was later up to the provience if they would want to be bilingual so for New Brunswick is the only one.