The Truth About the Quebec Issue :: essays papers

The Truth About the Quebec IssueThe Canadian unity crisis involving Quebec has been a contr oversialissue since before the countrys confederation. Surrounding the on the face of it unsurpassable dilemma of unity there are three mainobstacles. The significant lack of action for Canada on the part ofm both francaphone Quebecois, prevents any unsounded attachment to thecountry on their behalf. A mood of intransigence on the part ofCanadians outside Quebec serves to give over and anger the individualswithin the province. A perceived leadership vacuum throughout Canada onbehalf of its citizens contributes to a widespread feeling ofhopelessness (Reid, 1991). The complexity of, and speculation towards,the Canadian unity crisis masks the infallible truth that whilepresently, there is no solution to the problem there is some hope forthe future. Within the province of Quebec there is a significant lackof patriotism or any real attachment for Canada. In 1995, The AngusReid Group asked a nat ional sample of Canadians to describe how theypersonally felt about Canada. Four options were given* I am strongly attached to Canada-I love the country and what itstands for* I am attached to Canada, but only so long as it provides me with a high-priced standard of living* I am not attached to Canada and would choose to see it split up intotwo or more countries and* I would prefer to see Canada amalgamate with the United States.(Reid, 1995)Outside of Quebec, there was evidence of a high level of patriotismwith over 85% of Canadians saying that they are deep attached to thecountry and what it stands for. In the province of Quebec, onlyone-third of the population and only 20% of the francophones, displayedthis level of affection for Canada. While there is debate over thecause for these statistics, some individuals believed that thestatistics were as a result of lingering wounded pride because of thefailed Meech Lake accord in 1991. Many Quebecois were insulted by theway that more C anadians outside of Quebec trivialized the situation,and the provinces demands. Others believe that this problem isindirectly the result of Canadas official bilingual status. Thereasoning behind this is that biligualism serves to even furtheralienate and differentiate the French within the country. This poses adifficult conundrum. Bilingualism can not be abolished because while itserves to alienate, it is also perceived by the French as preservingtheir remarkable culture and identity. One hope is that through Canadianmedia a new stronger more unified identity can be achieved. Arguably,the CBC is this best gathering for this shift in values because of its