Bloc Pissed at GG Comments in France

[The Bread Guy]

Bloc attacks Jean's comments on Quebec in France

The Bloc Québécois expressed outrage on Wednesday over remarks made by Canada's Governor General during her trip to France suggesting France "look beyond Quebec" to other Francophone communities in Canada.  In an interview published by Le Monde on the weekend, Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean said she intends to speak about "the other French-speaking Canada" when she meets with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday afternoon.  "There are a million of them out there fighting to save their language and their culture," Jean is quoted as saying. "And I will tell president Sarkozy, 'Look beyond Quebec.'"  n the interview, Jean, a Haitian-born Francophone who settled in Quebec when she was 11, added Quebec City's 400th birthday this year is a celebration of the francophone presence across Canada and North America.  But during Wednesday's question period, Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe said he's outraged by Jean's suggestion and his party spent much of their section of the daily debate angrily denouncing the monarchy as a ridiculous institution.  Duceppe said his party's members had a democratic right to say what they want in the House of Commons.  "I think France should look beyond Michaëlle Jean," Duceppe told the House in French. "Mr. Speaker, we are elected. It's not like a monarchy. A monarchy is anti-democratic."  The Bloc Leader added it was wrong to portray the celebrations marking the city's 400th anniversary as a Canadian event.  "Isn't it the Quebec nation we are celebrating, and not a ridiculous monarchy?" he said.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended Jean, saying she was merely speaking about the importance of Quebec City's role in Canadian history.  "All Canadians celebrate that very important historic event; it's our common heritage," Harper told the House.  He then quipped the Governor General was "referring to the importance of the relationship between Canada and France, just as the Bloc does as it participates in the Parliament of Canada." ....

 

[ENGINEERS WIFE]

'Duceppe said his party's members had a democratic right to say what they want in the House of Commons'

Are they the only ones that are entitled to their democratic right to say whatever they want?  Seems like a bit of a double standard to me.  But, then again, that's just me.

 

[Harris]

"Isn't it the Quebec nation we are celebrating, and not a ridiculous monarchy?"

Which nation is that again?  Gee and I thought we/they were part of the nation of Canada.

 

[Remius]

Typical.  The speratists have never truly recognised French-Canadians outside of their borders.  Acadians, Franco-Ontarians etc etc.  I remember the last referendum where associations from these groups declared themselves in favour of federalism and the seperatists where "bewildered" that their francophone "cousins" could adopt such a view.  No wonder. 

 

[2 Cdo]

Wow the Blockheads are offended, but honestly, who gives a rats ass what the Bloc thinks anyways?

They can call Quebec a nation, they can call their provincial government a "national assembly" if that rocks their boat but at the end of the day Quebec is a PROVINCE governed by a PROVINCIAL government. :

 

[Black Watch]

However, Québec has been recognized as a "nation within the united federation of Canada" two years ago.

 

[Harley Sailor]

However, Québec has been recognized as a "nation within the united federation of Canada" two years ago.

There seems to be a couple of misunderstandings here.

First -  Quebec as a province was not recognized as a Nation.  From CBC News { "Our position is clear. Do the Québécois form a nation within Canada? The answer is yes." Harper told the House. In his platform, he also said that recognition, as well as the recognition of First Nations, should eventually be enshrined in the Constitution. }  It is the Quebecois who form the nation, in the same manner as the native americans who for the First Nations.

Second - There is no such place as "the united federation of Canada"

 

[2 Cdo]

There seems to be a couple of misunderstandings here.

First -   Quebec as a province was not recognized as a Nation.  From CBC News { "Our position is clear. Do the Québécois form a nation within Canada? The answer is yes." Harper told the House. In his platform, he also said that recognition, as well as the recognition of First Nations, should eventually be enshrined in the Constitution. }  It is the Quebecois who form the nation, in the same manner as the native americans who for the First Nations.

Second - There is no such place as "the united federation of Canada"

I knew someone would point that out sooner or later. Good job.

 

[The Bread Guy]

And here's the entire speech, if yer interested:
http://xrl.us/bkax6 (Link to www2.parl.gc.ca)

 

[1feral1]

Québec has been recognized as a "nation within the united federation of Canada"

Which is part of the United Federation of Planets, ha!

 

[Remius]

Isn't the UFC a mixed martial arts fighting league?

 

[Flip]

If the Bloc are outraged, then the GG has obviously done something right!

Even If Quebec were seperate.  The foundation of Quebec is not seperate from the rest of Canada. Like it or not we have history in common.  Much as the bloc would like to rewrite all of that.......

 

[Blackadder1916]

Separatists and sovereigntists may have someone else upon whom they can vent their hostility.  While it does not reach the level of De Gaulle's historic pronouncement to the contrary, it may create a similar effect, though the aggrieved parties would be different.

Sarkozy wants to foster Quebec, Canada relations

THE CANADIAN PRESS  May 08, 2008 06:02 PM

BENY-REVIERS, France–French President Nicolas Sarkozy mused today that he'd like to help bring Quebec closer to the rest of Canada, a suggestion that will be sure to cause sovereigntist forces in the province to bristle.

In a stirring declaration of love toward Canada, Sarkozy said he would like to "bring together" Canada and La Belle Province.

France has traditionally had a policy of "non-interference but not indifference" toward the issue of Quebec sovereignty, though French leaders have occasionally strayed into awkward territory by appearing to endorse Quebec independence.

Sarkozy seemed intent on pushing the pendulum the other way, saying France doesn't want to ever have to choose between Canada and Quebec.

"You know we are very close to Quebec, but I'll tell you we also love Canada very much," Sarkozy told Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean as they paid homage to fallen Canadian soldiers from the Second World War.

"Our friendships and our loyalties do not oppose one another. We bring them together so each can understand what we have in common. We will turn toward the future so the future of Canada and France will be the future of two countries that are not only allies, but two friends."

The stage was set in March for Sarkozy's speech after former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin laid out the president's intentions.

"The president is against `ni-ni'," Raffarin said, using French shorthand to refer to the government's longstanding policy of non-interference and non-indifference toward Quebec's independence.

"(Sarkozy) wants to get involved. He wants to participate."

In another strong signal toward Canada, Sarkozy made his declaration today with Prime Minister Francois Fillon and several other top French officials at his side at the Canadian cemetery at Beny-Reviers in Normandy.

Sarkozy thanked Canada and the country's soldiers for making the ``supreme sacrifice."

"And those who died here, no one asked them from which region (of Canada) they came," Sarkozy said.

"We knew from which country they came. We didn't even ask them which language they spoke."

Jean's visit to France has already angered many Quebec separatists.

She started her five-day voyage by suggesting the French should look beyond Quebec to the one million francophones in the rest of Canada who struggle to preserve their language and culture. This irritated many sovereigntists including Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe, who ridiculed Jean.

In Quebec City, the main provincial separatist leader blasted Premier Jean Charest for letting the Governor General steal the show at French ceremonies marking the 400th anniversary of the Quebec capital.

Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois said former premier Robert Bourassa would be "rolling over in his grave" if he saw how lightly Charest was taking the event.

Charest said he wouldn't fall into the trap of politicizing the event.

 

[geo]

OIk.... Having Sarkozy all nice and chummy with Her Excellency the GG & our PM will drive the Bloc & the PQ BONKERS!!!!

 

[Boxkicker]

  Who really cares what the BLOC thinks after all they are just a bunch of dare I say the word TRAITORS!!

 

[Yrys]

  Who really cares what the BLOC thinks after all they are just a bunch of dare I say the word TRAITORS!!

Why, because them being at Ottawa means the Liberals won't get elected to power  ?

I don't care for them or theirs opinions either. I think they should have the honesty to make themself harakiri,
make the party cease to exist, as when they were created they said it was to make the independence of Québec.
Now the P.Q. is not in power in Québec, they even retired the referendum from theirs "rules" (Thank God!).
Which mean the Bloc can't work for what they said and say they are in Ottawa for : independence.

Because they are working for what they see as Québec and the independence of Québec, they aren't traitors. They
didn't sell secrets to others powers... They are working for theirs ideology within the laws.

 

[CrazyCanuck]

It's a national shame that a party which is bent on destroying our country is allowed any say on our foreign policy or on any issues that affect any other region of Canada.

 

[Yrys]

It's a national shame that a party which is bent on destroying our country is allowed any say on our foreign policy or on any issues that affect any other region of Canada.

then work to change the laws ( to what?) or to get them not elected ...

 

[CBH99]

Somebody seriously needs to tell the Bloc to just STFU - I'm sick & tired of hearing them whine & complain about how 'evil' the rest of Canada is.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but....isn't it Canadian taxpayers who pay the salaries of the Bloc??  Isn't it Canadian taxpayers who pay the equalization payments that go to Quebec??  Isn't it a Canadian flag on both provincial & federal buildings in Quebec?  Isn't it a Canadian flag on Quebec police cars?  Aren't there Canadian troops stationed in Quebec, who are from Quebec?  Isn't it the Canadian federal government that has subsidizes Bombardier, and does what it can to gear contracts towards Bombardier?  Or Bell, who has a factory in Quebec?

The list goes on....but the point is this.  Quebec is a province, within the nation of Canada.  Plain and simple.  All of this 'nation within a nation' crap is just that - absolute crap.  And the French PM is 100% right....its CANADIAN troops that fought for France, and fight today against violent extremism.  Nobody asks what part of Canada they come from, nobody asks what language they speak -- they are Canadian, pure & simple.

 

[Blackadder1916]

. . . but....isn't it Canadian taxpayers who pay the salaries of the Bloc?? 

However, it was also Canadian citizens/taxpayers who elected them fully aware of their party's platform.  While you may disagree with their policies and like many who frequent this forum do not want to listen to them, they do have a right to represent their voters just like any other member of parliament who are also paid by Canadian taxpayers.  In fact, some may even say it's their duty to spout what they currently spout until such time as they no longer sit in the Commons.  If we only paid the MPs who had 100% support from 100% of taxpayers, it is likely that all the MPs would be serving for free.