We are at a crossroads: the Bloc Québecois has plummeted in its parliamentary representation after the federal election in May 2011, Thomas Mulcair a Quebecker was elected NDP leader against another Quebecker, Brian Topp, Jean Charest can't stop being falling (in these times, because of the student strike) and the Parti Québécois is in measure to win the next Québec elections.We are therefore faced with an unprecedented context in Québec and Canada. Quebeckers realise that it might be interesting to join the Constitution in exchange of the 5 points, required by Québec during the Meech Lake appointment. Other provinces, including the western ones could claim more power. We would then have a more decentralised federalism. It would be a novelty in Canada since 1867.However, let's keep in mind that Québec is Québec and we can say the same of Acadia. There is an irrepressible pride from the Quebeckers and the Acadians with their identity. Of course,this isn't shown daily. People does not get up every morning saying "I want a country," but just let's look at the number of fleurdelisés flags in Montreal, including the facades of houses or in French yellow star flags brandished by the Acadians.
If certain British conquerors of Acadia in 1713 and French Canada in 1759-1760 had believed to have finished with the French, thinking it would be easy to convert them to Protestantism, to assimilate them to the English language and a British vision... They have totally failed. Fortunatelty!No, the national pride of the French Canadians is not a breath of each second, except of course in speaking French, once a year at Saint-Jean Baptiste day and Sainte Marie day, but in the way of 'fits and starts'. In fits and starts? Indeed, French Canadians wake up when we want to impose a constitution without guarantees, when flouting the law of the official languages so that services should be strictly integral bilingual. Here, they feel their temper flaring and suddenly the sad moments of French Canadians resurface (the Great Upheaval, defeat, the Durham Report, the execution of Louis Riel ...).
Québec in particular, because it is the highest concentration of French Canadian, is at a crossroads. Indeed the future electoral prospects will decide for the long future of Québec, Acadia and across French Canada.It's going to be national elections in Québec. It may be that Pauline Marois became First Minister and she knew that for securing the future of the Parti Quebecois, the essence of her party, is to bring sovereignity. So unless last minute changes, Québec will have to decide, for the third time in nearly 40 years on his future and whether the 'Option Québec', is to proclaim independence in a referendum by in 2020.There are currently in the polls a rate of about 43 to 45% in favour of independence, what is important. At the same time, we can not hide a thing demonstrates Mathieu Bock-Côté in "Fin de cycle" released in February 2012: The Quiet Revolution Cycle is being closed without having led to independence, Quebeckers are wondering what for independence and are very hesitant of staying in Canada or becoming independent. We can say that in the hearts of Quebeckers are Quebeckers first, but for reasons of historical and economic contingency they are more pragmatic and are Canadians by reason. If Quebec decided to vote yes, things are settled.What is "comparative advantage" that would make it better to be independent? Simply increased pride, that of being openly without giving a reason to be French Canadian, custodian of the heritage of New France.
In this, I totally agree with Matthew Bock-Côté: French Canadian and Québec identity, this doesn't come from the Quiet Revolution, but from the 400-year history of French Canada since the founding of the city of Québec by Champlain and even the first voyage of Jacques Cartier in Canada in 1534. And I would add, it is indeed a plural French Canadian identity, not just Quebecker one. I've never understood this selfishness among some Québec sovereignitists to not to care of the Acadians, Franco-Manitobans ... All these components are in the same boat and all are from the heritage of New France.However, if the third referendum were to fail, nearly 150 years after the birth of the Canadian Federation in 1867, we can say that independence is no longer a political issue in Quebec.And what about the federal perspective? Much people of the West, in the Rockies or the Prairies are permanently angry as a Pavlovian manner against Québec and its 'scroungers', but they can not understand, and precisely do not WANT to understand them. They are the majority and minority are French Canadians . And a minority does not have the same reactions that a majority. These conservative or liberal people do not understand that French Canadians never cede and feel such a diaspora, a repository of culture, like the Jews, Armenians and Chinese in the world. Being French in France, it's comfortable; being French in Canada it's just an existential statement. This is the same for English speakers in South Africa or Russian speakers in Estonia. That, that will never change. As to prevent them.Québec in the case of a no to a third referendum will ask the question and ask the federal government of autonomy (as regards tax, resources, perhaps health and of course the linguistic independence : clearly, only the Quebec Superior Court will rule on the Act 101 and not anymore the Supreme Court of Canada, that subject does not look that Quebec). Of course the other provinces have the right to seek more power and as to arrive at a more decentralised federal system, a la carte. They say "it's not changeable", "it takes 90% of the electorate" ... anything is possible when someone asks for a divorce, the spouse can be magnanimous to keep her husband and let it be say ANYTHING is NEVER impossible in politics, anything can be created 'ad occasionem'.
This is to my mind, why should defend the NDP and Thomas Mulcair, in the case of an arrival in power in Ottawa.I think in one case or another, it's not horrible that people demand independence and it is also nice that two of the most historic components can finally understand and lead to a peaceful federalism. This second solution is also possible.
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