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I'm sure eventually Quebec will leave Canada, but it seems that at least from a typical US consumer, the only main exports from Canada, big stuff, is from Quebec, like B ombarier, airplanes and trains. Other than that, I'll see "made in canada" on consumer items like some food products, soaps, etc... What would happen economically to canada if Quebec left?
I think the larger question is what would happen economically to Quebec if federal dollars stopped flowing to that province?
Here's an article on exports by province you might find enlightening --using 2007 numbers, Quebec generated only 15 % of Canadian exports and was dead last with a 0% export growth. http://regional-business-profiles.su...cs_by_province
Apologies for omitting the link to the article in the original version of the post
Last edited by Cornerguy1; 04-25-2010 at 07:13 PM..
I think the larger question is what would happen economically to Quebec if federal dollars stopped flowing to that province?
Here's an article on exports by province you might find enlightening --using 2007 numbers, Quebec generated only 15 % of Canadian exports and was dead last with a 0% export growth.
but what does the rest of canada produce besides food, and soaps? I never notice an ything BIG unless it's Bombardier products, and lots of train systems use those, and many airlines use the RJ.. I raelize these aren't often purchased, but when they are, they are quite expensive...
but what does the rest of canada produce besides food, and soaps? I never notice an ything BIG unless it's Bombardier products, and lots of train systems use those, and many airlines use the RJ.. I raelize these aren't often purchased, but when they are, they are quite expensive...
Hmmmm.......automobiles, potash, diamonds, gold, steel, lumber, etc., etc., etc.
Oh yeah, and enough oil to make Canada the largest foreign supplier of petroleum for the United States.
The majority of Bombardier products are not manufactured in Quebec,their rail division is in Albany NY ,but there is a heck of a lot more in Quebec than just Bombardier ,.As for Quebec leaving?it would be economic suicide for Quebec as they would become Cuba of the north,Canada would do just fine without Quebec,Quebec would have to sell its soul to survive, meaning anything America wanted in the way of natural resources Quebec would be in no financial position to say no.
Problem here in Quebec is the government is doing everything it can to eliminate English and thus making the majority of Quebecers uni lingual Francophone thus relegating the population to no more than cultural prisoners of Quebec,reading ,listening and watching only what the French separatist media wants them to hear because most of them speak no English and therefor have no idea whats going on outside Quebec.
Quebec is a beautiful place and we Canadians would hate to see it leave but the bottom line is if you dont like Canada dont let the door hit you in the butt on your way out.
As others have said, Canada outside of Quebec produces much, much valuable stuff. If Quebec were to become independent, the rest of Canada might go through an identity crisis but economically they would probably do just fine.
As for Quebec itself, most of the comments here about "dying a slow and painful death" and "the Cuba of the north" are hugely exaggerated. With all due respect, this near-unanimous consensus about Quebec being "a basket case without us" in English-speaking Canada stems largely from the fact that no one in the anglo media in Canada ever tells both sides of the story. All the talk (media and elsewhere) on the Quebec issue is remarkably one-sided, to the point where almost everyone there thinks their assumptions are the absolute truth.
With all due respect, in most cases even some of the most learned English-speaking Canadians are totally incapable of having a rational discussion on the Quebec question. It really is unbecoming of a tolerant, advanced, modern and mature society like English-speaking Canada truly is, but what can I say...
BTW, although I do live in Quebec at present I am originally from Canada "outside Quebec" and have in fact lived most of life outside of Quebec. I also am against independence and do believe we Canadians are all much better off together as one country.
While there is a certain amount of slant to media reporting in English media, there's a similar amount of bias to be found in Quebec's francophone fourth estate.
The seemingly endless desire for independence held by a certain portion of Quebec's population does indeed stir turbulent emotions amongst both francophones and anglos -- neither side has a monopoly on level-headed, rational discussion.
An independent Quebec would survive in some manner, but the numbers don't lie. It's estimated Quebec will receive 27% ($19.3 billion) of its 2010-11 revenues through federal equalization payments. Quebec is currently facing a provincial financial crisis and the removal of the federal contribution would significantly impact quality of life in the province.
There are a large number of Quebecers from both language groups who have no interest in separation; the issue seems to kept on the stove by a vocal group who see independence as a way to consolidate and expand their own power base.
Hopefully common sense will continue to prevail on both side of the issue; Canada is a stronger country with Quebec in the fold and Quebec is certainly better positioned as a member of Confederation.
While there is a certain amount of slant to media reporting in English media, there's a similar amount of bias to be found in Quebec's francophone fourth estate.
I must respectfully disagree. The Quebec francophone media do tend to be more balanced because their target market is more often than not split 50-50 on the issue. They can't make outrageous statements either way ("an independent Quebec would be like the Third World" or "Canada is an oppressive gulag) at the risk of alienating half of their potential viewers/readers/listeners.
Just the fact that there is a perception from people like Cornerguy that the Quebec media is predominantly separatist in much the same way the Anglo-Canadian media is federalist, only goes to show how giving the separatist side an honest chance to be heard (and applauded or derided, as need be) is a totally outrageous proposition in the "rest of Canada".
An independent Quebec would survive in some manner, but the numbers don't lie. It's estimated Quebec will receive 27% ($19.3 billion) of its 2010-11 revenues through federal equalization payments. Quebec is currently facing a provincial financial crisis and the removal of the federal contribution would significantly impact quality of life in the province.
You mixed up "federal transfers" and "equalization". They are two different things. Some 11 billion of the 19 billion you quoted comes from general federal revenues that Quebecers like all Canadians pay into through the various taxes they pay. If Quebec were independent, Quebecers wouldn't pay Canadian federal taxes and wouldn't of course get the federal transfers. There might be a difference between the two but it is not that significant in the big scheme of things. The way you make it sound here is that Quebec's budget is subsidized to the tune of 27% and 19 billion dollars by other Canadians without a single penny contribution from Quebecers.
Where there is somewhat of a difference is the other 8 billion or so which is equalization. And even there, Quebecers pay into the equalization pot like other Canadians as this also comes out of general federal government revenue that is raised through taxes paid by all Canadians, including residents of Quebec like me. People often make it sound like equalization means the government of Alberta writing a big cheque to Quebec and the other recipient provinces, but in actual fact the impact on the Alberta government (and those of the other "have" provinces) is only that they don't get the equalization money. Nothing is directly taken away from these provincial governments as part of the equalization program.
Albertans per capita pay more into equalization than other Canadians because their salaries are tend to be higher and they on average pay more federal taxes. However, a high-income earner in Quebec will pay a lot more into equalization through his federal taxes than an Albertan working at Tim Hortons ever will.
Overall, equalization paid to Quebec through the Canadian program is equivalent to about 3% of the province's total GDP.
So yes, an independent Quebec would suffer a decline in GDP of at least 3% just by virtue of losing equalization, and perhaps a few percentage points more because other factors. Economists have a word for these types of GDP declines: they are called recessions.
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