Why Is Quebec Separatism off the Agenda - Assignment Example

Why Is Quebec Separatism off the Agenda? ‘Why is Quebec separatism off the agenda? Reducing national unity crisis in the neo-liberal era' is an article found in the Canadian journal of political science written by Nadine Changfoot and Blair Cullen. Changfoot is an associate professor at Trent University and has a Ph.D. in political science from York University (Changoot & Cullen 769). Cullen is a graduate student at Trent University undertaking a master of arts under the Canadian studies and indigenous studies program. Their work on the article represents collaboration between a professor and her student. Their article looks at the reasons why the Quebec separatist agenda has quelled down over the recent years in the context of the neo-liberal era in Canadian federalism. The authors provide renewed intergovernmental agreements and neo-liberalism reasons for the eroding of Quebec’s separatism agenda over the recent years. The changing landscape of cooperation between the federal and provincial governments shaped by neo-liberal forces has assisted in dampening Quebec’s separatist agenda. This is a true assessment by the authors on the changing dynamics of Quebec’s separatism agenda (Changfoot & Cullen 772). The acknowledgment of fiscal imbalance between federal and provincial governments has led to specific initiatives targeting the province of Quebec. These initiatives have focused on creating a balance between the province and the federal government and thus changing the view on separatism by Quebecers. Neo-liberal forces have led to increased intergovernmental relations between Quebec and the federation and this has helped the province in mending its political culture of withdrawal. The neo-liberal direction taken by the federal government has necessitated a room for cooperation between Quebec and the federal states. Through this cooperation, a number of Quebec’s demands have been satisfied and in the process ascertaining that federalism still works for the province of Quebec. The authors are right in assessing that placing more focus on Quebec’s economic development, prosperity and culture has ensured that the federal government has achieved to sell national unity to the province of Quebec. The author’s also contend that neo-liberalism in the federal government has allowed for keeping separatism off the agenda of Quebec. This is a correct assessment by the author’s. Historically, Quebec has always called for autonomy and independence off the federal government. The author’s provide a historical perspective from the 1940s and 1950s when the government of Quebec ran its own nationalist agenda alongside that of the federal government at the time (Changfoot & Cullen 774). The state’s government searched for powers and financial resources that could see it undertake similar policies on behalf of its inhabitants just as the federal government undertook for English Canada. This separationist view by Quebecers has however shifted in the neo-liberal era which has overseen cuts in federal spending power and its retreatment in setting specific policies for provinces. Neo-liberalism of the Canadian state took off in the mid-1980s. This era saw the promotion of free markets with minimal government intervention. The neo-liberal direction of the federal state has provided more room for provinces such as Quebec to develop their own economic development and social policy. This direction by the federal government seems to have stemmed the areas of historical disagreement with the province of Quebec. The government is no longer seeking to increase its influence on provinces as it did in the 60’s or 70’s (Changfoot & Cullen 774). Neo-liberalism also allowed for the removal of foreign tariffs and this saw the opening of the US-Canada border. This allowed of the shift of trade direction in Canada which normally got based around east-west trade between the provinces. With the opening of the US-Canada border, trade has taken a north-south direction where the provinces increasingly trade with their US counterparts. The shift in cross border economy in the neo-liberal era has assisted for the prosperity of provinces to rely on cooperation with cross-border partners rather than sister provinces (Changfoot & Cullen 776). This cooperation saw that provinces begin to focus on trade outside Canada and in the process acquire more policy autonomy from the federal government. The author’s view that weakening fiscal federal legitimacy and the increasing province specific economy agendas have created a common ground for support among provinces. Less federal government intervention in policy creation on social and health services has decreased disagreements between them and provinces. This has created room for provincial autonomy and surely stemmed the separatism agenda perpetuated before by Quebec. The arguments forwarded by the authors in relation to why Quebec is reducing its separatism agenda assists the reader to learn further aspects of Quebec politics. The author’s explanation of neo-liberalism assists the reader to view any calls of separatism by Quebec as dissatisfaction with federalism and not an honest desire for Quebec statehood. The emergent new partnership between Canada and Quebec has also assisted to shift the political scene in Quebec. Neo-liberalism has allowed for Quebec to make demands and redefine itself within the confines of the federal government. This new partnership has forced political parties in the state of Quebec to also re-align and re-strategize their manifestos in alignment with the neo-liberal era. For example, the support for Part Quebecois- PQ has waned since 1994 under the neo-liberal era. The party appealed before due to its separatism agenda but with the changing environment between federal government and state government fostered by neo-liberalism, voters are paying little thought on separatism and focusing on economic development and prosperity. The era of neo-liberalism has forced parties with strong support in Quebec to rebrand and reduce demands for separatism. Quebecers have recently increased their desire to vote for parties that will advance the province’s interest in parliament rather than those that focus on escalating the issue of separatism. Events in the last 3-4 years in the country lend and challenge credence to the authors’ argument about the waning of Quebec’s separatism agenda. In a Leger poll undertaken for ‘le devoir’ in 2013, it indicated that the Quebec Liberal Party appeared to gain popularity among Quebec voters (Radia). The poll also indicated that the support for the separationist agenda was waning particularly among francophone voters. The poll indicated that the liberal party sat ahead of the PQ in popularity. In 2013, all parties in Quebec’s legislature to call on the prime minister to withdraw a court challenge against the rules for Quebec sovereignty does not support the authors’ idea that separatism agenda may be off for the moment (Canadian Press). The solidarity exhibited by the Quebec parties when it came to challenging this motion still indicates that separatism still is an agenda for Quebec only that it may just not be at the forefront anymore. The motion tabled by PQ leader condemned the federal government for its intrusion on Quebec’s democracy. The motion received support from the liberals who are considered not to fuel a separationist agenda. This might imply that Quebecers still have the agenda in mind. According to the authors, it is vital to note that the new intergovernmental-relations under the neo-liberal era have not completely erased the separatism agenda but simply put a hold to it. The neo-liberal direction undertaken by the federal government has created a basis for national unity and a room where Quebec can attain its provincial autonomy and prosperity by recognizing the federal government. Works Cited Read More