Instead of starting another CanPol thread, I'll just post this here:
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PM denies plan to send troops into Quebec
Last Updated Tue, 21 Oct 2003 16:45:49
OTTAWA - Members of the federal cabinet on Tuesday denied there was ever a plan to send Canadian forces into Quebec, had the separatist forces won the 1995 referendum.
Reporters on Parliament Hill asked several senior members of the cabinet about allegations that Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was prepared to send in the troops to protect federal buildings.
Transport Minister David Collenette, who was defence minister at the time of the referendum, refused to comment, saying he hasn't read the file.
The "No" vote narrowly defeated the "Yes" vote – 50.6 per cent to 49.4 per cent.
"It was never discussed in cabinet," said Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, who was industry minister in 1995.
The allegations are contained in an as-yet unpublished biography of Chrétien written by Lawrence Martin. The book is titled Iron Man: The Defiant Reign of Jean Chrétien.
Industry Minister Allan Rock said he was not aware of any plans that involved sending troops into Quebec.
Stephane Dion, who wasn't in the government in 1995, but became Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in early 1996, said Ottawa was always ready to negotiate following a Yes victory in a clearly worded referendum.
Chrétien, who has been in Thailand for the APEC summit, said – speaking in French – the whole idea is "bull****."
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First of all: I don't really think this should be a controversial issue at all. If the Nationalists HAD won the referendum, I would most certainly have wanted Cretch to send in the troops to protect Federal Property until a time of safe handover. The streets'd likely be pandemonium at first, and then you'd have some small groups of radicals (not the majority of Nationalists, by any means) looking to desecrate reminders of Canadian federalism.
Secondly: Chretien is an ass, and he makes a lot of mistakes, but at least he still makes things a little interesting as he tries his best to imitate his hero.
"Bull****!" Gold.
*********************
PM denies plan to send troops into Quebec
Last Updated Tue, 21 Oct 2003 16:45:49
OTTAWA - Members of the federal cabinet on Tuesday denied there was ever a plan to send Canadian forces into Quebec, had the separatist forces won the 1995 referendum.
Reporters on Parliament Hill asked several senior members of the cabinet about allegations that Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was prepared to send in the troops to protect federal buildings.
Transport Minister David Collenette, who was defence minister at the time of the referendum, refused to comment, saying he hasn't read the file.
The "No" vote narrowly defeated the "Yes" vote – 50.6 per cent to 49.4 per cent.
"It was never discussed in cabinet," said Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, who was industry minister in 1995.
The allegations are contained in an as-yet unpublished biography of Chrétien written by Lawrence Martin. The book is titled Iron Man: The Defiant Reign of Jean Chrétien.
Industry Minister Allan Rock said he was not aware of any plans that involved sending troops into Quebec.
Stephane Dion, who wasn't in the government in 1995, but became Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in early 1996, said Ottawa was always ready to negotiate following a Yes victory in a clearly worded referendum.
Chrétien, who has been in Thailand for the APEC summit, said – speaking in French – the whole idea is "bull****."
*********************************
First of all: I don't really think this should be a controversial issue at all. If the Nationalists HAD won the referendum, I would most certainly have wanted Cretch to send in the troops to protect Federal Property until a time of safe handover. The streets'd likely be pandemonium at first, and then you'd have some small groups of radicals (not the majority of Nationalists, by any means) looking to desecrate reminders of Canadian federalism.
Secondly: Chretien is an ass, and he makes a lot of mistakes, but at least he still makes things a little interesting as he tries his best to imitate his hero.
"Bull****!" Gold.
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