It may be a coincidence, but it’s not a surprising one that these two articles appear in the same edition of the Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail: Ex-separatist to run as Liberal

Quebec gets special child care deal

Quebec, while an essential part of this country in my view, continues to use the threat of separatism as a wedge in negotiations with the Federal government.

Separatism really reared its head first under the inspiring leadership of Rene Levesque. I disagreed with Levesque’s politics, but was continually impressed with his passion, vision and his ability to inspire others to see it. Levesque was a leader, and he very nearly led a nation.

The last two Quebecois Prime Minister’s this country has had - Trudeau and Chretien - were both staunch federalists, and made concessions to Quebec’s so called special status only rarely. Existing deals were honoured, but generally Quebec was only one of ten.

It’s no surprise that separatism rises in the national psyche when weak leadership allows Quebec to advance its needs in special ways. Quebec’s politicians (PQ and and Liberal alike) use the threat for leverage in gaining increased funding and greater autonomy on how to spend Federal transfers; Quebec’s citizens understand the advantages that they gain (at least those that pay attention to the Rest of Canada at all.)

The Mulroney government took a weak, pandering, concilliatory stance towards Quebec; thus was born the failed Meech Lake Accord, and the failed Charlottetown Accord. Both of these deals gave the special status notion as well as the notion that Quebec had been betrayed by the other provinces national attention, extended coverage. The separatis myth was perpetuated by this attention.

Paul Martin has taken the same conciliatory approach, perhaps in part in an attempt to ensure the re-election of a Liberal government in the next provincial elections (however unlikely.) In doing so, he continues to raise the ire of the Rest of Canada and the profile of separatism again.

If the Bloc Quebecois is re-elected with a majority of Quebec’s seats, the Parti Quebecois inevitably will be elected with a majority government. If this happens, our country will face yet another referendum and yet another round of financial uncertainty. Despite Prime Minister Chretien’s Clarity Act, the rest of the world still perceives instability in this decision.

And that is not good.

Posted by skooter at 2:33 PM This entry is filed under Quebec.