Here we go again...

[Richelieu]

By the way, when we do separate we're keeping the name: it willl just look better for the the Habs. M'kay? And you guys can finally call yourselves Americans, which you already are.

[Dr Strangelove]

I thought that Quebc was actually fairly prosperous? Doesn't Quebec have the largest iron ore reserves in North America? Doesn't it have a hydroelectric project so large that the province is a net exporter of electricity to the United Styates?

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Quebec pour les Quebecois!

[Asher]

I wouldn't say it's fairly properous, they're still a "have not" province in Canada and are a net recipient of funds.

As a sidenote, interesting statistics today on building permit values in 2005 (January - August) vs 2004 of various major Canadian cities:

Vancouver is up 9.4% to $3.7B
Calgary is up 34.2% to $2.6B
Edmonton is up 39.8% to $1.9B
Toronto is down 10.4% to $7B
Montreal is down 3.7% to $3.8B

[Asher]

As you can see, the West is where it's at.

[RGBVideo]

Originally posted by Ninot
the Liberal party of Quebec is looking in bad shape now. Unless they pull a rabbit out of their hat, the PQ will win the next election.

Expect a referendum about a year after that.

If the referendum would pass, do you think it'd be realistic to except that Quebec would secede for real? What does the law say about referendums in Canada, are they binding or only guidelines to the party in power?

[Kontiki]

I think the federal government has already made it clear that as far as it's concerned, a simple "Yes" win in a Quebec referendum would not be grounds for secession. Obviously they'd rather be able to say that the seperatists are in a minority, regardless of how razor thin that margin is, though.

[Dr Strangelove]

Make it clear to them that if they secede the rest of Canada will be compelled to sue for unification with the United States, leaving them surrounded by Yankees. They'll come to their senses. You'll see.

[Ben Kenobi]

I thought that Quebc was actually fairly prosperous? Doesn't Quebec have the largest iron ore reserves in North America? Doesn't it have a hydroelectric project so large that the province is a net exporter of electricity to the United Styates?

Yes, hydroelectricity that they steal from Labrador.

I heard that Quebec now pays fewer dollars per capita in social spending then Alberta.

[Asher]

Alberta is actually one of the highest (the highest?) in per-capita spending.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


Yes, hydroelectricity that they steal from Labrador.

... which was stolen from Quebec. Juste retour des choses.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
I heard that Quebec now pays fewer dollars per capita in social spending then Alberta.

You heard wrong. Not thati'm really surprised, mind you. How about Government funded 7$ /day universal daycare. Used to be 5$ / day.

[Dr Strangelove]

Canad has some gigantic hydroelectric project powered by the water flow from the innumerable lakes located in northern Quebec and Ontario IIRC. I remember reading about the project in National Geographic decades ago.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by VJ



If the referendum would pass, do you think it'd be realistic to except that Quebec would secede for real? What does the law say about referendums in Canada, are they binding or only guidelines to the party in power?

The federal government has passed a law - the clarity bill - which ironically only vaguely defines the circumstances under which it would accept and negociate separation after a Yes vote.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Canad has some gigantic hydroelectric project powered by the water flow from the innumerable lakes located in northern Quebec and Ontario IIRC. I remember reading about the project in National Geographic decades ago.

You're probably talking about the James Bay Hydro project. I lived there while it was being built (75 to 84). It is huge: roughly 15 000 MW.