Stephen Harper now moves to declare that Quebec is a nation in and of itself

[Jim Franklin]

but within Canada. The Quebecois Party as I understand wanted the Province of Quebec to be declared a "nation within a nation" but Harper did not go quite that far. Here in the US I know the Navajo Nation is considered a "nation within a nation" and has its own legislative council and chairman. Is this the pattern that Canada may follow with Quebec? My Canadian friends, how strong is the separatist feeling in Quebec? Would Quebec and the rest of Canada have separate foreign policies? Just picked up on this from Fox News.

[Barbara Moulton]

but within Canada. The Quebecois Party as I understand wanted the Province of Quebec to be declared a "nation within a nation" but Harper did not go quite that far. Here in the US I know the Navajo Nation is considered a "nation within a nation" and has its own legislative council and chairman. Is this the pattern that Canada may follow with Quebec? My Canadian friends, how strong is the separatist feeling in Quebec? Would Quebec and the rest of Canada have separate foreign policies? Just picked up on this from Fox News.

We have our "First Nations" people. Those of aboriginal descent.

In my opinion, this motion simply puts into words what is reality. Quebec is part of Canada and has voted twice in my lifetime to remain in Canada. Yet the reality is that they are a unique people with a unique heritage, culture, history etc. They call their provincial government the "national assembly".

My personal opinion? Whether the rest of Canada calls them a nation or not is probably not going to influence whether Quebec separates or not.

The semantics are simply symbolic. Separation, if it ever happens will be a result of something far more than symbols.

And the reality is that Separatist feeling has been much stronger in the past then it is right now in Quebec.

[John Kennedy]

I will always recall the reaction I got from a Canadian (resident of Niagara) when I told him about the long time spent coming into Quebec from Maine. We were the only car going through the checkpoint. His response was in the form of a question that more or less said, "What did you seriously expect from THOSE people?'
At that point I came to seriously understand that there are probably two kinds of Quebec separatists - the Quebecois who want to leave and the people in the rest of the country who wish they would.

[Barbara Moulton]

I will always recall the reaction I got from a Canadian (resident of Niagara) when I told him about the long time spent coming into Quebec from Maine. We were the only car going through the checkpoint. His response was in the form of a question that more or less said, "What did you seriously expect from THOSE people?'
At that point I came to seriously understand that there are probably two kinds of Quebec separatists - the Quebecois who want to leave and the people in the rest of the country who wish they would.

Having pastored my first church in Montreal (a long time ago) I feel great affection for the province and its people.

If the willingness of the rest of the country to recognize that they are a distinct group of people, a nation within a nation, will help keep them in Canada, that's a good thing.