Ottawa Endorses Québec Partition - The Canadian Encyclopedia

Ottawa Endorses Québec Partition - The Canadian Encyclopedia

Gary Shapiro describes the idea as a "poison pill," a kind of desperate last resort to avert a looming national tragedy. Anthony Housefather considers it a "safety blanket to guarantee that we are all going to remain Canadian." For Roopnarine Singh, it is "an insurance policy against Quebec separatism." And Mark Kotler looks on it as simply inevitable, the logical outcome of last year's close referendum vote. "Quebec nationalists will never be appeased until they get their own land, where they can march and raise their own flag," complains Kotler, a Montreal businessman. "So what the rest of us, the loyal Canadians, have to do now is form a new province, a New Quebec that will remain inside Canada - forever."
That view is incendiary, given the rising temperature in the national unity debate. For what Kotler and his fellow Montrealers are advocating is nothing less than the possible partition of Quebec. While they may differ over both details and strategy, all agree that there is nothing sacred about the province's existing boundaries. Indeed, each is more than willing to cheerfully carve Quebec into separatist and federalist enclaves in the event of a Yes vote in a future referendum on sovereignty. What is more, they are all busily engaged in efforts to raise funds and marshal grassroots support for their cause. "It's time for some tough love," argues Brent Tyler, another activist. "It's time for us to say to our separatist citizens, 'We want you to stay but, if you go, it will have to be negotiated. You have to stop threatening to leave.' "