| Title: | True North Strong & Free | 
| Notice: | Introduction in Note 535, For Sale/Wanted in 524 | 
| Moderator: | POLAR::RICHARDSON | 
| Created: | Fri Jun 19 1987 | 
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Number of topics: | 1040 | 
| Total number of notes: | 13668 | 
    Well it has been a respectful time since Lucien's illnes, so I feel it
    is OK to bring up the latest in a long line of PQ trickery.
    
     Is this a bad dream or what? They want to declare the province a
    country, then ask the people ?  I understand in French expressions are
    often reversed (or in English expressions are often reversed) but they
    really do have the "Cart Before the Horse".  Since as an outsider I am
    not allowed to state my opinion (like that will stop me) I'll include
    some press clipings from Quebec papers.
    
     Montreal La Press: If there is one discernable trend in Quebec
    politics, it is that a majority of Quebecers do not favour sovereignty.
    So it was to be expected that the PQ would use everything at its
    disposal to reverse this basic tendency. The only question was how far
    it would go to pull a "yes" out of people who think "no". Logically,
    Quebec should get a mandate from a referendum before it passes a law
    declaring sovereignty. Why this inversion of the natural democratic
    process ? It's hard to see any justification other than the
    requirements of propaganda.
    
     Montreal Le Devoir: What is questionable is the way this vast
    consciousness-raising will be implemented. It's obvious aim is to
    revive the flame and ferver of sovereignty... but dosen't it run the
    risk of turning into a tower of Babel or a huge exercise in partisan
    propaganda?
    
     Granby La Voix de l'Est: The government has started a process of mind
    conditioning, of manipulation of the people.
    
     Sherbrook La Tribune: It's already off to a false start. The draft
    proposal takes for granted that Quebec is democratically becoming a
    sovereign state. Mr. Parizeau is asking his federalist opponents to
    contribute to a process where the cards are stacked against them. He
    tries to trap them into a framework that is exclusively pro-sovereignty
    by invoking democracy.
    
    Chicoutimi Le Quotidien: Once again, hopefully for the last time,
    Quebecers will tear themselves apart and insult each other in front of
    the rest of the country and the world.
    
    
     And for a more "nuts-and-bolts" response, let's go to Victoria. If it
    is easily seen out there, you would have to be blind (or a seperatist) to
    miss it if you live in Quebec.
    
     Victoria Times-Colonist: Priemier Jacques Parizeau says the bill is an
    expression of Quebec's profound democratic desire. That's not only
    silly; it's a whopper. Less than 45% of Quebecers voted for the PQ and
    it's platform of independance in the Sept 12 election. And public
    opinion polls before and since have shown that considerably fewer
    support the notion of sovereignty..... To rage against PQ arrogance
    will only play into the hands of the sovereigntists, who would dearly
    love the rest of Canada to heap scorn on this tentative notion of a
    seperate Quebec.
    
    
     Well there you have it. Are the people of Quebec sheep to be led
    around by a dictator in Quebec City ?  Are the not insulted by this
    backhanded approach? 
    
    							Derek.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 878.1 | KAOFS::LOCKYER | Mon Dec 12 1994 15:23 | 3 | ||
|     What more can be said...
    
    BYE!
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| 878.2 | Hopefully you didn't lose anything in the translation | KAOFS::WATTERS | Wed Dec 21 1994 08:16 | 6 | |
|     For one thing Derek, you read a lot of newspapers.
    
    Also, I didn't know you knew french enough to translate press articles
    into english.
    
    Andy
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| 878.3 | I hope this helps. :*) | KAOFS::D_STREET | Wed Dec 21 1994 10:56 | 11 | |
|     I know it's not you first language so I'll help you out Andy.
    
    >>Also, I didn't know you knew french enough to translate press
    >>articles into english.
    
     Should read:
    
    >>Also, I didn't know you knew french enough to translate press
    >>articles into English.
    
    							Derek.
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| 878.4 | KAOT01::R_HARPER | This space unavailable, Digital has it now | Wed Dec 28 1994 16:32 | 14 | |
|     And?    You would like what to happen...
    
    The people had no input in the question, so they can't be blamed.
    The newsprint media (at least teh selection you presented) 
    has question the tactics use...
    
    There is no public forum or town-hall. So expect the people's
    opinion on the question to be expressed on vote day.
    At that time you can deteremine how sheepishly they we led.
    
    
    
    
    
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| 878.5 | En route Vers Santa Banana! | KAOOA::RANGER | Wed Dec 28 1994 17:00 | 51 | |
|     
    
    Went to the super-market on Friday. Went home unpacked my groceries
    & a grocery flyer fell on the floor. In it, was Mr. Parizeau "Projet
    sur la Souverainte". 
    
    
    I found this extremely distastful & tacky to say the least.
    What was the Quebec Govt' reasoning behind this. "on va mettre ca
    dans les speciaux stie!". 
    
    The pamphlet is written in french only & has a special note at the
    bottom which reads:
    
          "Available in english upon request". Talk about alienating 
           others. Such an important "projet de loi" would be advertized
           in both official languages if this were to take place in any
           other province.
    
           I find this to be a complete disrespect towards people who are not
           of old french stock & who have lived their lives in Quebec & have
           contributed to it's color ,culture & by the way, tax base.
           
           I also find this to be a slap in the face to any "quebecois
           francais" who is civilized & respectful towards other
           cultures. Particularly one we've lived in peace with & side by
           side for a few centuries. This form of "Oeil pour Oeil, dent pour
           dent" attitude will lead us all into the civil gutter.
    
           After all, what is occuring in Yugoslavia or other places in
           the world could never happen here right? We're so beyond all
           this are'nt we? So educated? A Nothern Ireland not possible
           here!
    
           J'espere que le Quebec se reveille et regarde autour de lui
           pour voir ceux qui les dirigent pour ce qu'ils sont. 
    
       
    
                                         
                                               Sincerement et Bonjour,
                                               
                                                    J.P. Ranger
            
    
            
            
    
          
     
    
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| 878.6 | POLAR::RICHARDSON | G��� �t�R �r�z� | Wed Dec 28 1994 22:16 | 1 | |
| tabernouche! | |||||
| 878.7 | KAOFS::B_VANVALKENB | Thu Dec 29 1994 11:47 | 11 | ||
|     this is merely an indication of the way an independent quebec would
    treat any non french speaking citizens. 
    
    but of course they plan to maintain their economic and trading
    relationship with the ROC...
    
    
    fat chance
    
    Brian V
    
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| 878.8 | POLAR::RICHARDSON | G��� �t�R �r�z� | Thu Dec 29 1994 12:29 | 5 | |
|     Uh, er, um, the rest of Canada does the exact same thing.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    Glenn
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| 878.9 | KAOFS::B_VANVALKENB | Tue Apr 11 1995 14:02 | 16 | ||
|     the polls indicate that the public in quebec does not want to seperate.
    
    
    So now the @#$%^ seperatists are promising continued relationships with 
    the rest of Canada similar to the Europian Union. 
    
    How can they promise things like that...doesn't that require
    negotiations ??
    
    
    Tell me your slant on this...I'm particularly interested on the veiws
    of those in Quebec.
    
    
    Brian V
    
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| 878.10 | Time To Decide - Canadian or the highway! | KAOFS::LOCKYER | Tue Apr 11 1995 16:54 | 8 | |
|     Quebec is either a province - 1 or 10, all equal, or they are a
    separate county, in which case I wouldn't give them any special
    consideration.
    
    It's a pretty funny situation - Quebecers won't go it alone and I
    absolutely believe the so-called Rest Of Canada won't enter into a cozy
    Sovereignty-Association relationship.  I certainly won't have any warm
    feelings for the folks that destroy Canada!
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