Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon speaking loudly and often after party win over Coalition Avenir Québec

Quebec separation is back among the living.

Years after many considered it dead, the prospect of removing Canada’s second-most populous province from the federation has re-entered the political debate. And though Quebecers aren’t exactly marching in the streets in its support as they once did, they are certainly taking another look at the Parti Québécois.

The PQ, formed in 1968 expressly to make a country out of the province, is by far the most popular political party in the land, with a bevy of polls suggesting it could form a majority government were an election held today.

In October, the party won a byelection in the Quebec City-area riding of Jean-Talon, long a stronghold of the governing Coalition Avenir Québec, or CAQ. More recently, the PQ released its “year one” budget, essentially an advertisement for the alleged economic benefits of a sovereign Quebec.

  • Muscle_Meteor@discuss.tchncs.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    edit-2
    7 months ago

    Increased barriers for trade will reduce the number of businesses wanting to do business in the region (different rules, regulations,.and red tape)

    They would also create their own currency eventually, so that introduces exchange rate problems. A single currency is almost always better for economic cooperation between states as it removes the uncertainty for long term contracts. Like before the Euro if a german company and an italian company wanted to do business they would have to use 2 different currencies, if one country sufferered a banking crisis that would basically screw over the other as their investment would then be worth a lot less. The UK already had their own currency so this part would actually be worse for Quebec.

    Lastly there would be brain drain. Now Quebec is the 2nd most prepared province to go off on its own (diversified economy, warm water ports) but its still a bad idea economically. Despite being a net contributer to the EU budget the UK cant make up for the money the EU gave to the UKs poorer regions, or invested in the countries institutions and industries. Its highly likely the same would happen here. And with the xenophobia for non francophones no longer able to be limited to people from outside Canada i suspect a lot of non Quebecois would leave. Skilled labor being so economically valuable this would just do further damage. Much like the UK outside the union it is harder for them to attract skilled labor from the continent and they are actually now in a net loss for skilled workers dispite increasing immigration.

    So no… not at all…

    Edit: those rules and regulations i mentioned in the first part im sure would include something about mandating French be used (at least at first) for businesses. The global economy is based on the English language. I work, as a Canadian, in Germany for a Germany company, i work in English every day. my German boss went to China on a business trip, they spoke to every professional the met in English. So while many Quebecois might see independence as preserving their language… That will fall away really quick when they realize the economy is more important. Ironically Quebec is probably more insulated from English by being a part of Canada.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      7 months ago

      Thanks for the lengthy response! I knew it was probably not the best idea, but it sounds like it’s just a terrible one.