Republic of Quebec

If Quebec were to become independent, is there any chance the divided provinces of Canada would petition the US for annexation?

Would and independent Quebec pursue aggression against the "English" provinces?
Any likelihood Quebec would pursue annexation of Labrador from Newfoundland?

Originally posted by Zhenyghi
If Quebec were to become independent, is there any chance the divided provinces of Canada would petition the US for annexation?

If Quebec became independant or joined with France, I think that's what would probably happen.

Originally posted by Zhenyghi
If Quebec were to become independent, is there any chance the divided provinces of Canada would petition the US for annexation?

Nope. Maritimers are fearcely proud Canadians

Would and independent Quebec pursue aggression against the "English" provinces?
Any likelihood Quebec would pursue annexation of Labrador from Newfoundland?

That would be foolish, to what end?

The end would be to have access to (more) open sea, rather than through a funnel in the St. Lawrence River which could be easily blockaded.

To my knowledge, Labrador is sparsely populated anyway. Who could stop Quebec if they took it?

I feel the biggest question would be, What would happen to the country as we know it?

With the separation of Quebec, the Atlantic Provinces would be severely cut off. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland would be a third world country to the rest of Canada. Our need to remain in confederation would be great, but would the rest of the country want us?

The ramifications of Quebec leaving confederation go much farther than they understand. I truly believe it would be the demise of our country.

Things could certainly change for the worse. Although I open the door for Western Canadians to voice their thoughts. It may be viewed as a positive. To consider this a positive, would be to put yourself before your country. If you can prove me otherwise, I'm up for the challenge.

Here are my speculations on what might happen in the sad event that Quebec decided to go their own way.

I can't see Quebec getting into any sort of aggressive posture with the balance of Canada or trying to annex any land. They would have plenty of their own problems to deal with, what with Canadian head offices moving jobs out of the new country, federal offices shutting down, federal grant money disappearing, passports, currency, etc. Also, in the last referendum, 50.2% voted against sovereignty, so there wouldn't likely be much support for that kind of behaviour.

It would be my wish that the rest of the country would continue to be Canada, but it would be very hard on the Atlantic provinces because they would be separated from the rest of us. I can't imagine Canada without the Maritimes and I think politically, the Liberals and the NDP would not want to see the balance of power shift to the west quite so much and would do everything they could to keep those ridings in play.

The only province that I could even imagine petitioning the US would be Alberta, and I just don't see them doing that. If Alberta were to leave Canada, they would choose to become their own country.

From an American point of view, I don't think that if Quebec seceded they would attempt to annex any part of Canada. Canada is after all part of the NATO alliance, which means that if Quebec were to secede then attack loyal Canadian territory committing an act of war. Which under the NATO charter means an attack on the entire alliance.

As far as the Maritime Provinces are concerned, I remember back in 1994 when Quebec was voting on whether to secede from Canada. There was speculation that Atlantic Canada(the maritime provinces)would then be more or less forced to secede as well- being that they would have been completely severed from the rest of Canada- and petition the US for admission to the Union.

I have to admit I was quite excited at the prospect of additional states. A little Canadian common sense in American politics would've been nice too. It was also stated that Western Canada would eventually associate itself with the US in some form or another

If and that's a BIG "if" Quebec ever seceded why couldn't the rest of the country go on as business as usual? The States do it. There's a lot of space between the continental states and Hawaii and Alaska.

Well thats true not to mention that, the Maritimes are barely connected to Canada right now-New Brunswick connects with Quebec up in this little corner peninsula, forgot the name....but I did know it once!

Originally posted by danwild6
From an American point of view, I don't think that if Quebec seceded they would attempt to annex any part of Canada. Canada is after all part of the NATO alliance, which means that if Quebec were to secede then attack loyal Canadian territory committing an act of war. Which under the NATO charter means an attack on the entire alliance.

No one is saying the U.S. would attack and forcibly take the remains of Canada. Just the possibility that if Canada did break up, some or all of the provinces may request to become part of the U.S.

Yeah I wasn't saying that either. I was responding to the suggestion, that should Quebec secede from Canada then attempt to seize additional territory(such as Labrador)that would constitute an attack on Canada which as a NATO ally would be entitled-if request-to assistance from the rest of the alliance.

There have been some very good points brought up in this post so far.
I would like to weigh in on the subject as well.
When this subject comes to light during a discussion I always take the time make the point that not every citizen of Quebec wishes to separate. The general conception, or misconception depending on your point of view, is that when a referendum takes place the percentage of votes represents the entire province. Some would say yes, that’s correct. I disagree though. Out of the people that I’ve had this debate with, including ultra staunch separatist, I ask them what about the First Nations which are in Quebec? They give me a very blank look as they have not thought about this metric in their separation.
I don’t believe that the average Canadian knows just how much money is funded to the First Nations and that funding is Federal, not provincial. The amount required to sustain the current agreements with First Nations would bankrupt Quebec with in the first 2 years of its seceding. Let’s not forget to mention the possibility of those First Nations actually mobilizing in a militia type force and start a war with in Quebec. I think something to do with a golf course and burial grounds rings a bell......
Quebec as a whole is funded by crown projects, crown corporations, crown sponsored corporations, federal tax money, NEP transfer payments, the list goes and I’m sure you get the point. Over all Quebec does not have a sustainable economic platform which would allow its self secede from Canada.
If there was a reality where Quebec did separate the Atlantic provinces would suffer greatly. That political outrage would then put pressure on the current government to invoke the War Measures Act and provide a militaristic response. FLQ crisis comes into play here. Some would argue that would lead to a civil war. Some would say that the U.S. would step in and annex provinces or those provinces left in the wake of the Quebec separation would request to become an American state. These are possibilities but I do not believe that this would happen.
Quebec beats the separation war drum and more money gets funneld into it. That’s all it is and that’s all it ever will be.
The argument that the preservation of the Francophone culture is the true matter at hand and that is why Quebec has a wish to separate. If this were the case I believe that during the time colinization between France and England this would have been sorted out in a much more violent and far reaching military fashion. In a way it was and we do have our history with upper and lower Canada as well. However, the preservation of one facet of Canadian society does not, in my opinion, outweigh the need to preserve our country as a whole.
From our pot smoking friends in British Columbia to our goofy Newfies out east we are a country because of every facet with in Canadian society. Quebec is no more valuable than P.E.I. or Saskatchewan, they are each valuable and contain history which makes Canada as whole.
Thank you all for your time,
Arcticnull

reply to post by intrepid


Except that, having lived in Alaska, I would imagine that state has a much smaller population than any one of the Atlantic provinces.

Alaska and Hawai'i also happen to be to the United States what Quebec is to the rest of Canada. Both states have some pretty strong separatist leanings - the Hawai'ians have their monarchy groups, and Alaska has whole whole "leave us the hell alone" vibe going, plus the largest number of semi-sovereign Natives in the country.

The Maritime provinces enjoy more benefit from and closer relations to the rest of Canada, than Alaska and Hawai'i tend to towards the rest of the States.

Dont forget the Puerto Ricans.

The Puerto Rican "Nationalists" (who are really Che style communists) and the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement are both extremely radical. In Hawaii, for example they want to exclude any and all White people should they ever become independent and not too long ago they actually tried to kick all Whites out of the state government. They make the Quebec nationalists look like wimps.

reply to post by ChrisF231


reply to post by xpert11

...And? What do you think is the cause of such a reactionary stance by either group? I tell you, either is likely more acceptable to you than what would happen if I were in charge. 'Course, I'm able to freely admit that putting me in charge is probably a bad idea

Anyway, my point is that comparing the potential separation of the Maritime provinces from the rest of Canada by an independent Quebec to the distance Hawai'i and Alaska have from the rest of the states, is flawed. Both are pretty independent on their own (even without sovereignity movements) and have developed as states in that condition. Both are quite self-sufficient as a result. Not so the Maritimes.

Lets take a moment to think about what the real ramifications of Quebec separating would be.
1: they would not be part of any trade agreements Canada has made.
2: they would need to mint their own currency (if past examples show anything, it would start off very low)
3: they would have no military or military equipment.
4: they would need to purchase all Government of Canada buildings and property in the new country.
5: This is the most important point and the one that I feel most answers your questions of annexation (witch is horribly ludicrous). Quebec’s entire clam for sovereignty is based on the fact that they feel they represent a culture and ethnic grupe that is separate to Canada. If Quebeckers can claim sovereignty based on there cultural differences then they must afford the same options to the Inuit in the north of Quebec and the Cree in the South. My guess, they would decide to stay in Canada.

All in all after roughly half the population leaves the Republic of Quebec so they can continue to be Canadian all that would be left would be a tiny strip of land along the St Laurence making up a culturally “pure” but economically bankrupt state.

Hi fellows canadians

First thanks for those who takes the inisiative to open this debate. I'm come from a small city in Québec, where 80 % of the population speak french only. You have to understand that it is a way easier to be understand in your own language then a seond one. But it's OK.

October 12, 2007 Update -- English-Only condition added

You know this just shows the arrogance of French Canadians they make me utterly sick to my stomach, if they were to separate I hope as soon as they did Canada would stomp them out like they deserve.

In all my 28 years living in Canada I can honestly say the French /francophone people or whatever they are labeled as only cause problems with there arrogant French attitudes what makes their # not stink????

Under treaty rights, Quebec itself is only a marginal strip of land bordering the St. Lawrence. The mighty James Bay project, and indeed the vast majority of the province is on First Nation land. With the current status of land claims, I doubt for one moment that the natives would allow them to retain anything other than what's in the treaties, and would call upon Ottawa to settle the claim.

Bottom Line - We are stuck with them, as much as they are stuck with us for a VERY long time. To think otherwise, is simply foolish. Besides, we have more oil than they do, and we have our own dairy cattle. Most major head offices already relocated elsewhere the last time they tried anything. They would be pretty much hooped if they think we actually needed a diminished, distinct society.

If Quebec were to ever seperate, the Atlantic provinces, being very patriotic to their homeland, would most likely end up forming a country of their own, or some sort of autonomous agreement with Canada, so that they could manage their internal affairs, because Ottawa, and Canada would be so far away, it would not make sense for for the Atlantic provinces not to be autononmous or independant.