Comment of the day

Here's a little gem I found on the comment page of an interesting analysis published in yesterday's Globe and Mail:
One thing that is deeply misunderstood by people outside Quebec is that Quebec nationalism is not necessarily about independence, and this article is just another example of it.

Many nationalists in Quebec are actually federalists. What it means is that they want that Quebec remains part of Canada, but they want also to be sure that the French-speaking people have some serious protection against anglo-conformity, something that is perceived as a deep-seated reflex in English Canada. Pierre Trudeau followed the same logic by introducing the Official Language Act, and many other policies. And when he wanted to give a veto to Quebec (but also to every province), he was still following this logic. Strangely enough for some, Trudeau was also a Quebec nationalist. He actually fought the independentist version of nationalism.

Harper and the Conservatives, who are much more open to decentralization of powers for the provinces followed a logic of working with the nationalists. So did Mulroney before.

So, what is the NDP doing? The same thing. They try to work with Quebec nationalism, emphasizing the federalist version, but the main difference is that they are benefiting from a fatigue towards the independentist version. Will it open a can of worm, in time maybe, but it is probably better to address the issue directly by working with the nationalists. This is much more constructive, and this is what people in Quebec are seeing in the NDP.

Maintaining something that looks like anglo-conformity from a Quebec perspective, simply by ignoring the issue long enough, is actually opening a bigger can of worm.Click here to read reactions to this comment.

Ethnic backlash

Anyone not familiar with Jacques Parizeau's infamous statement about the ethnic vote in 1995 is new to Canadian politics: "True, we've been defeated... at the very heart of it, by what? By money... and ethnic votes... essentially."

This morning's Globe and Mail publishes an interesting analysis on how the ethnic vote is being considered in the current election campaign: "In the eyes of the major parties, some of us ethnics count more than others. Although most of us abhor that bigotry, we are still being manipulated to think along those lines."

What do our current leaders have in common with Mr. Parizeau? Well... they're all oblivious to the fact that "ethnics" primarily want to be considered as any other citizen, not like some kind of merchandise.

You gotta love this video...

The Bloc Québécois is useless

With the Conservatives at the helm since 2006, Québec now only contributes eleven members to the governing party in Ottawa. With the prospect of a Conservative majority government, and perhaps even less cabinet representation, the province seems to be heading for even more isolation.

Many people believe the Québécois crafted their own demise by electing Bloc Québécois MPs en masse and voting themselves out of power for so many years. The basis for this rationale is that a government with more Québec representation would serve Québec's interests better. A vote for the Bloc is a vote wasted... so they say.

Recent history somewhat disagrees with this perspective. You see... before the Bloc entered the House of Commons, Québec had a fairly good handle on federal affairs. During the last 50 years, the Canadian Parliament hosted many Québécois Prime Ministers and many cabinet members ensured appropriate Québécois representation in most governments.

Still... the 60s saw the rise of Québec nationalism, culminating to the October Crisis and the institution of martial law. The 70s saw the election of the Parti Québécois and the creation of the Charter of the French Language (a.k.a. Bill 101). A referendum for sovereignty was held in 1980. The "No" side's victory led to the patriation of the Constitution in 1982 without Québec's support.

In 1984, René Lévesque helped Mulroney's Conservatives win the federal elections and took what he called le beau risque. The Meech Lake Accord was drafted in 1987 to reintegrate Québec in the Canadian constitution "in honor and dignity". Unable to meet the final ratification date, the Accord unraveled in 1990. Mulroney tried a second time in 1992 with the Charlottetown Accord. Both Québec and the rest of the country rejected it for opposite reasons.

This constitutional drama took place despite appropriate Québec representation in the federal cabinet and paved the way for the Bloc Québécois, a sovereigntist party that managed to grab official opposition status in its first election in 1993. Since then, the Bloc has held the majority of the province's 75 seats.

Some people associate the Bloc's success with a withdrawal of the Québécois from Ottawa's affairs. Others see in the Bloc's success a reaction to Ottawa's disengagement in addressing the Québécois' concerns. Which one is it?...

Over the years, Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe has proven to be a formidable politician. His inability to become prime minister gives him great latitude and contributes to his integrity in representing the population that elected him. Oddly enough, it allows him to do the job he is supposed to do, i.e. defend the interest of those he represents. His stance is obviously very egotistical for Canadians in other provinces, but many still recognize his qualities as a politician.

"We are different," says Duceppe. "Everyone in Québec knows that Québec is quite different from the rest of Canada. Not better, not worse, plain different." With its significant deputation, the Bloc in Ottawa is a constant reminder of this unmistakable reality.

Without the Bloc, chances are the two solitudes would prevail even more. By heightening Québec's different needs on the federal radar, the Bloc contributes to making the Canadian federation work. And any blow to that delicate balance might entail fueling the sovereignty movement.

Ironically, the Bloc's success is depriving the sovereignty movement of important arguments.

Reworked from a previous blog entry "The Bloc Québécois is useless", originally published February 8th, 2009.