Part deux of Why Anglophone Quebecers should vote for the Bloc Québecois

Here are some more thoughts on this matter...

Anti-Liberal Anglo-Québecers, either of a Conservative or NDP bent, would be wise to join immigrants, those traditional liberal voters who supposedly cost the Yes side the vote, who are now siding with the Bloc. The truth of the matter is that the sovereigntist issue is a red herring—on both sides. According to an article by Jon Montpetit at www.maisonneuve.org, the immigrants who are turning to the Bloc have no illusions about who they are voting for; Francois-Pierre Gingras, a professor of political science at the University of Ottawa, suggests that this support might be “soft,” that is to say, while immigrants might vote for the Bloc in a federal election, they would not necessarily vote for sovereignty in a referendum.

But the threat of separation is really no threat at all. The seriousness of separatism can be seen in the Bloc’s recent campaign platform, the most newsworthy part of which was a proposal to give Québec a national hockey team . Is this the fear that is driving Anglo-Quebecers to hold their noses and vote for a party that has knowingly deceived them? That we might lose Vincent Lecavalier to Team Québec?

The sovereignty movement is an industry—and the Bloc are the federal lobby group. Anglo-Quebecers might stop to think about this: we live in Québec too, and benefit from the Bloc’s efforts to get the best for our little corner of Canada. As Trudeau said, separatism is a form of blackmail. But Anglo-Quebecers are reaping the benefits of this hold up, too.

The main fear of the Anglo-Quebec voter is that a strong Bloc with strengthen the separatist cause, make the timing right for a referendum, and the vote will go against Canada—the apocalypse! Anglophones of a left-of-centre kind living in Quebec know that it is the best province in which to live—we have our own personal lobby in Ottawa, and, other than Quebecor, the corporate shadow leaves us alone. Until the provincial Liberals “re-engineered” the province, day-care, support for the arts and culture, healthy living and job security were top notch. The situation is still pretty good, and with the less corporate-minded Parti Québecois electing a new, young leader (yeah, Frank, that's right, the gay coke-head), chances are good they will bring their social-democrat platform back to Quebec City.

Again, this strikes a chord of fear with the Anglos: a strengthened Bloc, a renewed PQ, immigrants flocking to both parties—this time the No-side could win. But Boisclair is not as hard-line a sovereigntist as Landry. The story will remain the same: he will hedge on calling a vote, saying the time is not right until he is forced out by the hardliners who want a vote now, even though they will lose. The support for these parties is not support for sovereignty. Immigrants to Québec (and therefore to Canada) know where their bread is buttered. They will vote, strategically, for the best party for them, but not for separation.

Separation would ruin Quebec economically. The working class would be hurt most, property values would fall, and there would be a decade-long (at least) economic slump. Only the deeply emotional separatists will deny this—but what they want, they already have. Quebec is a distinct society. The accents on my keyboard prove this. The sprinkles of French in my speech prove this. My love for poutine and Les Cowboys Fringants proves this. Culturally, Quebec is a nation. Luckily, we have Canada to pay for it. Why do we want to throw this away? Are the separatists so foolish? No way.

I’ll acknowledge one moral dilemma, and leave it at that. Sovereignty is essentially a racist doctrine. The idea that a certain ethnic group wants to create a nation of “pure” (purlaine) citizens is a little scary. Yes, the Anglo-Quebecer is a minority, and he/she is oppressed, in certain ways. But we have it pretty good, too, much better than most minorities. So what to do? To vote for the Liberals in an effort to “save” Canada is a vote for corruption, sure thing, because such a vote will only allow that party back into a position of majority rule where it will cease to be accountable to Canadians of all ideologies. A vote for the Conservatives or NDP or Greens, while commendable, is, under the current system (more on that another time), a waste. Those candidates are going to lose, it’s more than likely. A vote for the Bloc will serve to equalize Parliament, and give all parties a strong voice. And that, ironcially, will make for a better Canada…I hope.

By the way, I would like to have more links, but I guess working from a Mac makes that difficult. Also, yes, only two posts in, and already the folks at Google have their hand in the game. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse. So give those ads a click...you know why.

Next up...why does my mom think blogs are so dangerous?