What Quebec Wants: You wanted to know, didn't you?

Let's quit beating around the bush. We have all seen the poll results and read the papers. Trying to appease Quebec in the agonizing "one deal at a time" fashion is like cutting off a dog's tail a centimeter at a time. But give Quebec credit. At least they know what they want and are taking action to get it. Would that other Canadians had as much courage and vision.

Here's the shopping list without the bs:

Quebec wants full independence/sovereignty but with ...

• Continuing elected representation in the Canadian parliament
• Representation on all Canadian government committees Quebec deems material to its interests
• Continuing transfer payments from Canada
• 50% control of Canadian monetary policy
• 50% control of Canadian military
• No taxes payable to Ottawa
• Canadian citizenship for all Quebecers but no reciprocal Quebec citizenship for Canadians

Don't believe it? Then you have not been paying much attention to what Quebec secessionists have been saying.

Think it's unreasonable? So what. When has Quebec every been reasonable? Think Quebec can't pull it off? Think again. Over the decades a groveling Ottawa has steadily transferred valuable Canadian assets, institutions and programs to Quebec - all of which can easily be held hostage. Consider just a few:

• National Archives are now in Hull
• Canadian land forces HQ located near Montreal
• Canadian navy moored at Quebec City
• Canadian space program based in Quebec
• Air Canada HQ required by law to reside in Montreal
• The Canadian space program run out of Quebec
• Etc., etc. .......

This list could easily be extended by several pages. Furthermore, Quebecers hold a disproportionate number of important cabinet, committee and top level civil service positions. In other words, Ottawa's strategy for combating secession is to hand Canada over to Quebec while bamboozling you with "unity"  and "asymmetrical federalism" propaganda.

Quebec is a good ways down the road to achieving its goals already. The rest of Canada has three choices:

1. Muddle along as we are now doing, wringing our hands while Quebec obtains more and more concessions.
2. Just give them everything they want and get it over with. At least this saves time.
3. Cut our losses by forcing secession on our terms (fair but firm) - We end up with a real country, Quebec obtains independence but with their share of the consequences. Might prove costly for Canada too but when has doing the right thing ever been easy? It's costing us an arm and a leg anyway.

Of course, wimpy Canucks will never choose option 3. They'll keep pretending they are building national unity by handing more and more of Canada over to Quebec until they have given it all away. Let's hope they will accept our ambassador in Quebec City;-)