Could Canada survive Quebec separation?
 

Not sure if this question has been asked before, I'm sure it has but i'll ask anyway. Do you think Canada could survive a Quebec separation? What would happen to Atlantic Canada? Would a Western sovereignist movement soon follow? Interested to hear some of your thoughts.

Real question should be: Would Quebec survive separation?

Giving them their share of the National Debt, would more than cripple any thoughts of Quebec wanting to be separate.

oh lord -- i log on after a weekend away and i find this waiting in the canada forum.

that said, i'll give it a shot. due to world-wide changes in the relative interdependence of states, separation isn't what it would have been in 1980 (this also has a bit to do with why it won't happen). were quebec separate, a brief period of rancor, ill-will and demagoguery would likely be replaced by both states doing the things that would return the greater continental economy to normal functioning.

by this i mean that they would sign accords (this process would be aided by u.s. pressure), negotiate resource deals and largely ignore the natives.

i don't believe the modern west will really allow any sort of international standoffishness between its component states.

Canada could, Quebec couldn't.

Forget about government health care, and old age pension checks!


Free MBA's at McGill, OVER!

OMG I hope this thread is shut down quickly.

It'll just end in tears and recriminations.

Everybody seems to be behaving themselves so far.
It's the trolls on this forum who ruin it for everyone.
But I'm sure Quebec won't separate. Canada is too awesome to leave.

it has become an article of faith/reassurance in canada that quebec would quickly be destroyed for its impertinence in the event of separation.

i believe this is mainly an emotional reaction. it is what a lot of canadians would want to happen.

it is a threat.

Won't somebody think of the poutine!

I'd be fine with Quebec leaving if that's what they decided to do but I think in the province's current state they would have a hard time surviving. Quebec is currently the most indebted province and taking on 25% more debt from Canada wouldn't help that. Quite a few of the companies headquartered in Montreal and elsewhere in the province would likely leave, for example Air Canada. It's likely Northern Quebec would either join Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador or form their own territory, Quebec gets a lot of money from the hydro developments there so they'd lose that revenue as well as the revenue from Labrador's Upper Churchill.

I really think their economy would have a very very tough time.

you mean Canada couldn't and Quebec could because Canada is losing 25% of he's economy

Quebec is 20% of Canada's GDP.

I'm pretty sure Quebec does not make up 25% of the economy... it barely makes up 23% of the population.

And Resource Money from Alberta and the West subsidized Social Programs in Quebec, this is obvious, even to on Ontarian which at one time, also contributed to the economic well being of Quebec, although less so now, that we are struggling here with our Economy in Ontario and Toronto.

Here we go again.

Now that the "how much does Quebec contribute/take away" argument has started, it is time to close the thread.

Here is a visual representation of what this discussion will become if left open:

http://cclonline.org/bloglcsw/upload...rms-749944.jpg

As you can see, it isn't pretty.

I believe Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador are the only provinces who's percentage of the economy is more then their percentage of the population maybe Saskatchewan too. I rememeber seeing a chart recently.

My argument is that Quebec will lose a considerable amount of their economy by becoming independent.

This.

Especially if it's a full blown separation, with Canada taking it's economy, currency, police, armed forces, Toronto, etc.

And then there's how much territory would be allowed to secede.

I think it would be a very tough and disappointing transition for Quebec. If Quebec did separate, that would give a ton of influence to the rest of the country, so it would be interesting to see what happens with the east / west balance of power.