Quebec's influence here is abstract - I imagine we don't recognize much of it as coming from that province. Unfortunately, the impression of Quebec - while mixed - is, in my estimation, still predominantly negative.
It's almost become a trope for the Opposition in our House of Assembly to accuse the governing party of holding secret discussions with Quebec on some issue. Half the public roll their eyes at the accusation, the other half wonder if it's true, but it is universally understood to be a threatening, negative action were it actually happening.
It's easy to blame on Churchill Falls, but to be honest it seems to have been a common thread throughout our history, especially since the 1600s when the French occupied St. John's and destroyed most of the English and Irish settlements along the Avalon Peninsula. I knew about that before learning it in high school, just through some kind of osmosis. Culturally, we tend to focus on and venerate every loss, humiliation, etc. and Quebec is at the centre of several of them today.
During the Confederation campaign in the 1940s, Confederates tried to minimize Canada's French character, while Nationalists tried to emphasize it. Confederates referred to joining Canada as "British Union", and said Newfoundland's Catholics would see the country a Republic out of the Commonwealth given half a chance. Like FRANCE (the horror). Nationalists replied with posters saying things like, "British Union? With FRENCH Canada?" Prejudiced, probably racist in intent, terms were common at that time. In newspapers, songs, etc. Canadians were referred to as patois, pidgins, creoles, etc. Kind of hilariously ironic given the impression of our accents at that time.
(MUN Archives)
Then there was Churchill Falls. When Danny Williams was elected - our first Premier since joining Canada who actually came from St. John's, and had the city's nationalist views - Canadian newspapers were a little taken aback by it. They were surprised when he floated the idea of making the tricolour our official flag, pulled down the Canadian flag from all provincial government buildings, and openly called Quebec a "bad neighbour", or accused it of "highway robbery", "predatory behaviour", hypocrisy", etc. But all of this has been the norm in St. John's for generations.
And it goes both ways. In polls, Quebec consistently is the province with the most negative view of Newfoundland and Labrador. For example,
this one from 2012 - 62% of Canadians had a very or somewhat favourable impression of us, while Quebec was just 38%.
All that said, it is genuinely mixed. People love St-Pierre et Miquelon and, although they turn up their noses a little at Quebec, it's still a positive relationship between us and French people. Montreal has a very good impression. People are proud to say if their clothes or housewares came from there, for example. Visits to other Canadian cities are generally considered more utilitarian, they have to go for work, or healthcare, or some store that isn't here - but Montreal has a romance. It's probably the only province in Canada that attracts urban tourists from Newfoundland (who mainly, of course, go to Europe) - the rest gets adventure, outdoorsy, or sports tourists.
Last week, for example, several coworkers had to go to the Maritimes for a meeting and the one I was wishing a safe trip to wasn't excited to go. "There's nothing I can do there that I can't here." and I said, "Sure load up at IKEA!" and she said "I already went over last month for that." And then she said she'd rather they were meeting in "Montreal or even Toronto." I think that describes the general impression accurately.
Quebec tourists seem to have a good impression. The ones that end up here are generally young, curious, and stay for a while to work in the service industry before returning home. There is definitely an appreciation for Quebec as an influential buffer against much of mainland Canada's right-wing tendencies. There's an appreciation for any devolution Quebec manages to force, but a fierce backlash a la Meech Lake to any perceived special treatment ("They weren't even a country the way we were.", etc.)
People love poutine and know who Roch Voisine, Celine Dion, Cirque Soleil, etc. are. Some of Quebec's history is viewed as instructional here. You'll often see flashes of it in certain things, for example, our government's Speech from the Throne:
2007:
Quote:
Our people are proud nationalists who believe it is only by affirming our identity as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that we will realize our goal of economic equality within the federation.
Our people are ready to take charge of our future and, under the Premier's leadership, our province will achieve self-reliance by becoming masters of our own house.
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2012:
Quote:
Our experience in Confederation with Canada has included some challenges: the stigma of being the poorest province in the union, the bitterness of the Upper Churchill injustice, the resentment of a decimated fishery and the anger of not having our voice heard within the federation.
However, today represents a significant shift in our relationship with the federal government. We are now a full partner in the federation of Canada.
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So that's some significant influence.
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