CHAPTER 8
Characteristics any solution must incorporate
The subtitle of this book is How to
achieve Quebec independence. You claim to have designed a special referendum
formula that will achieve Quebec independence, one which will result in
Anglophones having their own province in an independent Quebec. What is that
formula?
Before we go into the meat of the issue, I want to outline the elements that I
believe any solution must incorporate --and the ones it must avoid -- in order
for the formula to work.
O.K., shoot.
Let's start with the essential characteristics that any solution must
incorporate for success.
The solution must have, as its primary goal, the restoration and guarantee --
without the possibility of override by the majority -- of full individual and
minority rights for the non-francophone community of Quebec.
The solution must be based upon reasonable, legal and moral premises.
It must recognize that time is of the essence; the solution must be able to
achieve the goal quickly and effectively. Further devastation to Quebec’s
English community simply isn‘t tenable.
The solution must neutralize certain forces underlying the language and
constitutional situation that have always been used against Quebec’s
non-francophone.
And, most importantly, a force exists, unexploited until now, that the solution
can use to the advantage of the non-Francophones.
What are the forces that must be neutralized?
The "absolute patriot" factor and the "Canada at all costs" factors.
What is the "absolute patriot" factor?
The "absolute patriot" factor is the non-Francophone community’s unwavering
loyalty to the concept of Canada. No matter what happens to them and no matter
what is thrown at them by either Quebec City or Ottawa, they are first and
foremost Canadians.
Because this factor could always be depended upon, the non-Francophone
community's civil rights and culture were and still are considered expendable by
the federal and provincial governments when it came time to deal with and
placate Quebec nationalists. Those in political authority figure: "why worry
about the non-Francophones? After all, they're only 20% of the voting population
and Francophones are 80%. If it means a compromise on non-Francophone rights in
order to keep Quebec in Confederation, what's the big loss? The non-Francophones
will never become separatists; if they're really unhappy, they can always take
the 401."
How can the “absolute patriot” factor be neutralized?
This will be revealed in a following chapter. Suffice it to say at this point
that the formula for Quebec independence that I’ve come up with has factored
into it the neutralization of the "absolute patriot" consideration.
The other force that has been used against the non-francophone community is the
"Canada at all costs" factor. It is very closely related to the "absolute
patriot" factor.
The "Canada at all costs" factor is the willingness on the part of the federal
government to do anything to preserve Confederation. This factor has been
exploited by the Nationalists very effectively: "if the federal government
doesn’t give us what we want -- such as more provincial powers and
non-interference in our restrictive language laws -- we’ll separate and your
beloved Canada will be no more."
So strong is this force that the federal government will do absolutely anything
in order to keep Quebec placated. I have outlined the evidence to support this
contention in the first section. This factor will be neutralized as well.
What is the force that you refer to that the solution will take advantage of?
The “hedge against the inevitable” factor. Probably the most important of the
three, this force will determine the success of the solution. The reader should
keep these forces in mind as he reads the How section.
What are the characteristics that the solution must avoid in order to be
successful?
The solution cannot depend upon the voting power that the non-Francophone
minority wields in either the Quebec National Assembly or the federal parliament
in Ottawa. This is a dead-end.
As well, it cannot count upon the courts. The judicial system has failed to
remedy the situation after more than thirty years of patiently waiting for due
process to take its course.
And last, but most importantly, the solution cannot depend upon the political or
public support of the non-Francophone community
How, then, could it possibly work?
As you will soon see, it will work because the solution takes advantage of the
all-important “hedge against the inevitable” factor.
Considering the characteristics that a solution must incorporate and those it
must avoid it appears to be an impossible task.
The odds are certainly stacked against the non-Francophone community, as they
have been since 1974. Coming up with a solution seems to be a near impossible
task.
We can find inspiration from Albert Einstein and how he developed his Special
Theory of Relativity. It is the story of discovering the solution to a
problem by going outside of the bounds of accepted premises, going outside the
box as it were.
In formulating his Special Theory, Albert Einstein looked upon fundamental
concepts such as matter, the speed of light, space, and time as components of an
equation.
Until the development of the Special Theory, some of these factors were assumed
to be absolutes, having certain unchangeable attributes considered unthinkable
to question. As long as this conventional view was maintained, the solution
eluded him.
It was only by questioning one of those absolutes that the solution could be
formulated. Einstein abandoned the long held assumption that time was an
absolute. In an attempt to explain how his thinking process changed in order for
the solution to come, Einstein said this:
Until at last it came to me that time was suspect.[88]
Physics students today accept as common
scientific knowledge that time is relative and, as the speed of light is
approached, time actually changes.
How does this illustration reflect upon the Quebec situation we’re faced
with?
The dilemma facing the non-Francophone community can also be viewed as an
equation composed of various elements:
- the primacy of individual rights;
- preservation and promotion of the French language and culture;
- Quebec independence and a people's aspiration towards nationhood;
- the “absolute patriot“ and “Canada at all costs” factors.
- a federal government that is willing to maintain the concept of Canada, even
to the point of turning a blind eye to violation of individual rights and
minority rights.
- a withering and dying Anglophone community, resigned to ineffective political
influence and leadership.
What absolute must be questioned or abandoned, as was the case with
Einstein’s development of his Special Theory?
In developing the Special Theory of Relativity the absolute of time became
suspect. In developing the formula to achieve full individual and minority
rights for Quebec’s non-Francophone community, the absolute of Canada became
suspect.
Something in the equation had to give and it was Canada.
---