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They might whine a lot, but it'll never happen. They're too dependent on the taxes paid by other provinces...sure, they wanna separate, but NOT from the rest of Canada's money, and you can't have it both ways.
err...most of the taxes go from Quebec to other provinces.
Quebec pays some of the highest taxes too.
hmm.
So, they pay higher taxes than the rest of Canada but get more in equalization.
Where is all the tax money going? Corrupt politicians?
is that a serious question?
Quebec provincial taxes are higher because the province's public services are more extensive: lower tuition, subsidized daycare.. maybe part of the difference is due to spending inefficiencies, maybe not.
Back on topic, I 100% agree with LEFTIMAGE's comments.
re jambo: "lets face it the voting majority just re installed a party dedicated to the separation of Quebec from Canada"
The term you are looking for here is plurality. The PQ was elected with less than 32% of the votes. Granted, their dumbest language policies are dictated by hardcore separatists, but elections won't be won or loss on those issues, because for most people, language is a non-issue.
re jambo: "lets face it the voting majority just re installed a party dedicated to the separation of Quebec from Canada"
The term you are looking for here is plurality. The PQ was elected with less than 32% of the votes. Granted, their dumbest language policies are dictated by hardcore separatists, but elections won't be won or loss on those issues, because for most people, language is a non-issue.
The phrase was used to portray the fact that separatist sentiments are far from dead and although they dont carry the power at the moment to call a referendum i dont completely rule out the possibility in an ever-changing political dynamic.Perhaps 32% seems an insignificant number of voters but it was enough to win, Just look at the power the Quebec Anglophones apparently wield with a mere 8% of the population,Bill101, language police, bill14 etc need to be in place to combat the apparent threat.
,numbers alone can sometimes miss realities.
Are you using the word "plurality" as a nice way of describing separatism?
While I agree that the current situation does not point to a resurgence of support for independence that would be strong enough to carry things over the top, we have seen similar declines in the movement in the past (mid 1980s) and then there was a huge upsurge in 1990-1995 and a near-victory.
Though it seems unlikely at this point, it didn't seem likely in 1984-1987 either, so it is a definite possibility.
One of the reasons I say this is although most people in Quebec are *ok* with being in Canada and think it's a good country and all, they aren't any more "rah-rah-rah" Canadian for the most part.
There has not really been any evolution in Quebec since 1995 to bring patriotic Canadian sentiment here into line with what you see elsewhere in the country. The feisty separatist flame has dimmed for sure but it has not in any way been replaced by a Canadian one that would make most people here more similar to "Canadians like all the others" (des Canadiens comme les autres).
Quebec provincial taxes are higher because the province's public services are more extensive: lower tuition, subsidized daycare.. maybe part of the difference is due to spending inefficiencies, maybe not.
Back on topic, I 100% agree with LEFTIMAGE's comments.
re jambo: "lets face it the voting majority just re installed a party dedicated to the separation of Quebec from Canada"
The term you are looking for here is plurality. The PQ was elected with less than 32% of the votes. Granted, their dumbest language policies are dictated by hardcore separatists, but elections won't be won or loss on those issues, because for most people, language is a non-issue.
The party is not a majority and I highly suspect they will be voted out very shortly in favour of the liberals.
err...most of the taxes go from Quebec to other provinces.
Quebec pays some of the highest taxes too.
Uuuuh, sorry to disagree with this but, since the inception and through subsequent changes to the equalization formulae; Quebec has been a net recipient of tax money paid back to it.
What I have always heard as a major sticking point to even theoretical secession had to do with First Nations in Quebec. So far as I'm aware, they overwhelmingly wish to remain part of Canada, and the Canadian government would be abrogating its duty if it just said "too bad, guys, apprenez-vous le francais s'il vous plait." (Though a) most probably speak some French, and b) that could be sarcastic because the literal meaning is 'if it pleases you' and that might be in real question.)
To take the whole province, one would have to settle with First Nations residing in those regions. The situation has some analogy to the division of the NWT into two territories, perhaps, because a large amount of Quebec is nearly empty and unreachable by road or rail, and of the population in that nearly empty portion, First Nations are significantly represented. That area probably also has significant mineral deposits, which is probably the reason for some of the towns that do exist (I haven't looked it up, pardon my sloth).
In short, a seceding Quebec would have a couple of choices: begin independence by in some way writing a new chapter in the history of First Nations getting shafted (with significant potential for unrest), or create a Quebecker Nunavut that a) might just turn around and ask to join Confederation, b) might drive a hard bargain over resources, c) probably would not include First Nations living down in the populated part, which means the issue isn't resolved, and maybe all of the above.
My analysis here could absolutely be all wet, or based on some absurd premises, and if it is, please educate me.
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