By Stephen Gray
“Duceppe went on to say it's a historic moment because ‘for the first time in history’ the House of Commons is recognizing Quebec as a nation.
“‘Canada is the first country recognizing the Quebec nation--that Quebecers form a nation -- and in the near future other countries will do so.’”
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061126/nation_motion_061126?s_name=&no_ads
Quebec has been declared a “nation” and some people are upset. Don’t these people realize it’s all about Quebec, always has been about Quebec, and always will be about Quebec? “National unity” is very important; therefore, Quebec must get special status and that’s why all parties grovel for votes in Quebec.
Heck, all parties were on board the national unity ship, and all agreed Quebec was a nation, though some negative people are saying the national unity ship could be headed for the rocks. But all the political opposition came on board. In fact, Bill, the opposition Liberal leader even shook the “conservative” leader’s hand on this matter. After all, it was a Liberal leadership candidate, Mr. Ignatieff, who first touted Quebec as a nation, much to the dismay of many at that time. Now it is being hailed as a “brilliant move” by Harper and Ignatieff.
The Globe and Mail of November 23, 2006, had the headline, “Ignatieff basks in Harper's Quebec-as-nation motion.” The article went on to say, “Michael Ignatieff Thursday used the motion recognizing Quebeckers as a nation to rouse his supporters during his campaign finale in the province.
“He told a room packed with more than 500 people in Montreal that the Liberal Party's Quebec wing should take credit for the motion brought forward by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.”
Some people are saying the Tory leader saved Ignatieff’s bacon over this nation business. (Remember Ignatieff floated this nation business before Harper did and got some flak for it.) Now some people are wondering if Harper has cooked his own goose in the west.
There are reports of dissent in the western part of this country over the creation of the Quebec nation. But hey, the westerners in the “conservative” caucus did not get a chance to refrain from this “nation” farce; they did as they were told. All members of the “Conservative” government have been reportedly muzzled for some time now and that includes the westerners in the political kennel. Or, as the resident Tory dog expert might say, these dogs in the big kennel are on a short leash and only bark when told to do so.
Still, if the Red Tories,’ oops I mean “Conservatives,” throw a few bones the way of the west in the next little while, the west might come back onside. Hey, where are they going to go anyway? Presto and his people destroyed Reform, and the “Conservatives” ditched any Reform principles they might have had some time ago. Now most of the eastern establishment is happy, Reform is gone and that’s what counts. Does anybody care if Quebec is a nation?
Now everybody is awaiting the counting of votes from Quebec in the next election and hope they reward the “conservatives” with a large number of votes for a job well done in capitulating. The only thing is: Do any of these stupid politicians realize what they have done? They have given the separatists this “nation” weapon to beat the rest of the country over the head with. They have opened the door wider to the break-up of Canada by their foolhardy motion. Surely, it would have been better to let Duceppe stand up and have His motion and then turn around and tell him, “Canada is one united country; there are no nations within this nation.” That would have been the courageous thing to do. But instead the politicians resorted to silly political games and have awarded themselves a booby prize in the process.
The “Conservatives” have made fools of themselves over this sorry “nation” business.
The only people saying “merci beaucoup” to all who supported this coup on making Quebec a nation are most of the dopey politicians and some of their followers who cannot see the stupidity of it all. Most thinking people in the country realize this is a major blunder by the politicians. They didn’t even ask the people of the country for their input on this matter, because they might have heard a resounding NO, oops I mean Non. So why would they take a chance? Those in the House of Power “know best” what is “good” for the country and all this fuss about nation status will surely be forgotten by the voters out there in the west come the next election. Or will it?
Stephen Gray
Nov. 28, 2006.
graysinfo@yahoo.ca website: http://www.oocities.org/graysinfo