For Michael Ignatieff: Things Canadians Have In Common

[Acajack]

So, I am a firm believer in Quebec's différence with respect to the rest of the country, but I am not sure I fully agree we have little in common.

So people, give some examples of what you think Canadians have in common (beyond platitudes about hockey), and we will discuss if we agree.


Here is one from me:

A live and let live attitude. Canada is much more about doing your own thing as opposed to people expecting you to do *the right thing*. Canada is very much an MYOB country.

Am I right on this one?

Any others you would like to put out there?

[Vaillant]

Canada is boring, Quebec is fun
Canada speak english, Quebec speak french
Canada have their own view for military, Quebec have a opposed one
I can go like that for many more...

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by Vaillant

Canada is boring, Quebec is fun

Canadians are peaceful, Quebecers are violent.
Canadians are humble, Quebecers are pompous.
Canadians are hard workers, Quebecers are entitled.
Canadians are tolerant of other cultures, Quebecers are intolerant.

Shall we continue spouting stereotypes?

[telyou]

Don't feed the troll Ramako, he just has an inferiority complex and needs to bring everyone else down to make himself feel better.

[isaidso]

^^ Agree. It's not worth engaging with negative people, but people that want to build a better place.

We live in the same houses, apartments, condos.
We drive the same cars.
We follow the same homegrown Canuck sports: baseball, hockey, football.
We share the same history: from colonial America to nationhood.
We have a united Armed Forces and serve together at home and abroad.
We share the same diet: north Americanized imports and home grown.
We dress the same.
We grow up with the same brands.
We share the same values/aspirations.
We share geography.
We share family, friends, business ties.
We share the same institutions.
We share the same corporations.
We share language: the French fact exists beyond Quebec, the English fact exists within Quebec.
We share the same lifestyle and standard of living.
We're not French. We're not British. We're Canadian, period. (We need to ditch the Monarchy and build a strong united Canada)

We should share the same Charter/Constitution. It's this nation's defining document.

[Acajack]

For Isaidso:

We live in the same houses, apartments, condos. Mostly
We drive the same cars. yes
We follow the same homegrown Canuck sports: baseball, hockey, football.yes
We share the same history: from colonial America to nationhood. yes
We have a united Armed Forces and serve together at home and abroad. yes
We share the same diet: north Americanized imports and home grown. yes and no
We dress the same. not sure
We grow up with the same brands. mostly
We share the same values/aspirations. many but not all
We share geography. obviously
We share family, friends, business ties. to some degree
We share the same institutions. yes
We share the same corporations. increasingly so
We share language: the French fact exists beyond Quebec, the English fact exists within Quebec. hmmm... roughly 85% of Canadians are still unilingual
We share the same lifestyle and standard of living. yes
We're not French. We're not British. We're Canadian, period. (We need to ditch the Monarchy and build a strong united Canada) agreed

We should share the same Charter/Constitution. It's this nation's defining document. go for it

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Vaillant

Canada is boring, Quebec is fun
Canada speak english, Quebec speak french
Canada have their own view for military, Quebec have a opposed one
I can go like that for many more...

Hmm... I am looking for things that Canadians have *in common*...

[Aylmer]

We both like not being American.

[Ramako]

This is kind of an aside, but I've recently wondered, if Quebec were to one day separate, how would it look back on its history as part of Canada? I wonder how those centuries of intertwined and common history would be framed as shaping part of Quebec's own history and identity. Would there be an acknowledgement that there's a little bit of Canada in Quebec or would such a notion be marginalized in favour of establishing a fully independent identity?

[KnoxfordGuy]

Canada and Quebec stuff is never a good idea and also, this is a skyscraper forum. Take politics and put in a forum for such things.

[armorand93]

Originally Posted by Ramako

This is kind of an aside, but I've recently wondered, if Quebec were to one day separate, how would it look back on its history as part of Canada? I wonder how those centuries of intertwined and common history would be framed as shaping part of Quebec's own history and identity. Would there be an acknowledgement that there's a little bit of Canada in Quebec or would such a notion be marginalized in favour of establishing a fully independent identity?

• Video Link

note: Hammers representing both 1970 and 1990 military interventions

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Ramako

This is kind of an aside, but I've recently wondered, if Quebec were to one day separate, how would it look back on its history as part of Canada? I wonder how those centuries of intertwined and common history would be framed as shaping part of Quebec's own history and identity. Would there be an acknowledgement that there's a little bit of Canada in Quebec or would such a notion be marginalized in favour of establishing a fully independent identity?

Not sure I am answering your question but regarding the part I highlighted you should know that part of what underpines the Quebec independence movement is a sentiment that Quebec is the "original" or the "real" Canada, and that it must separate because the rest of the country has somehow lost its way.

So in this sense, people do think that "Canada" (for which the definition is very different I suspect) is very much present and alive in Quebec - it's just operating under a different name.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Ramako

This is kind of an aside, but I've recently wondered, if Quebec were to one day separate, how would it look back on its history as part of Canada? I wonder how those centuries of intertwined and common history would be framed as shaping part of Quebec's own history and identity. Would there be an acknowledgement that there's a little bit of Canada in Quebec or would such a notion be marginalized in favour of establishing a fully independent identity?

To answer directly: once the initial emotions and brow-beating would be past, it would probably be viewed as a failed experiment. (Some people might even see at is noble but failed.) Maybe in the way the Swedish-Norwegian union is viewed in that part of the world.

There is also a streak in the Quebec independence movement that sees forming its own country as Quebec's ultimate historical destiny, much like that of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, the U.S., Australia, etc. (People leaving country X for new country Y, forging a new identity in a new land... then striking out on their own, blablabla...)

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Vaillant

Canada is boring, Quebec is fun
Canada speak english, Quebec speak french
Canada have their own view for military, Quebec have a opposed one
I can go like that for many more...

Quebec is fun, but you are boring.

[Symz]

We say 'Zee' instead of 'Zed', use Fahrenheit instead of Celcius, attend major sporting events in the states, go grocery shopping in the states and check the weather on TV on American channels because they have more sophisticated weather sensing devices.

Err wait, what?

[MTLskyline]

I think most of us would agree that English Canada is kind of in the middle of Quebec and the US in most things. And in between English Canada and French Quebec is English Quebec/French Canada (Outside Quebec).

Some similarities:
- Ice hockey and Canadian football are popular throughout the country.
- Tim Hortons is popular throughout the country.
- A public-transit favouring mentality in the larger cities
- Insistence of proper snow clearing
- Most Canadians are fiscally conservative, to some degree, no matter who they vote for
- The small talk repertoire of most Canadians usually includes the weather
- Most Canadians dislike political extremists from either side of the spectrum

A few differences not yet mentioned:
- Views on the student strike in Quebec. The views are completely different in the francophone (largely pro-student) and anglophone (largely pro-government) media in Quebec. You would never know that there was a student strike in Quebec if you walked into the libraries of McGill and Concordia which are full, since it is exam time. Of course a student strike over a tuition increase would never even occur in English Canada. The would just be one "Day of Action" or something and that would be the end of it.
- Quebecers drive smaller cars, and more imports than English Canadians in general. (and English Canadians drive smaller cars and more imports than Americans in general)
- Quebecers go less for chain restaurants or US fast food chains than English Canadians.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by Acajack

We dress the same. not sure

Dressing the same requires living in the same climate. Vancouverites and Victorians surely do not dress the same as those that live in Quebec City. While wear has been standardised, there is still the customary dresses that vary considerably. Calgary's Stampede get-up is different from Quebec City's Winter Festival get-up.

[urbandreamer]

Step on any Mtl Metro train during rush hour than compare to what you'd see on the Skytrain or TTC. Overall, Mtl-ers (esp French Canadians) are much more stylish, willing to wear bright colours, and know how to look good no matter the occasion.

Toronto: Mostly black, brown or beige outfits.

Vancouver: black, grey, white.

Mtl: lotsa colour coordination going on!

Cars: You'll see many more small hatchbacks like the Yaris, Mazda2 & 3, in Mtl versus Vancouver, where many still prefer 4x4s and trucks. In Toronto, you'll see more mid-sized sedans and SUVs. I mean not just in the downtown area, but all across these metro regions.

Food: Big differences.

TV and media: Huge divide between English (American with a hint of British) and French (European & French with a hint of American) media. In Quebec, French TV rarely covers ROC news while English TV is nationwide.

Bars & clubs. Ever seen a Vancouver or Toronto music show where everyone's dancing?

Much more...

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Quebec is fun, but you are boring.

Nailed it, professor.

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by Vaillant

Canada is boring, Quebec is fun
Canada speak english, Quebec speak french
Canada have their own view for military, Quebec have a opposed one
I can go like that for many more...

Go back to your protest. Idiot.