What if Quebec secession Vote had gone the other way?

[Justin]

In 1995, the province of Quebec had norrowingly voted against secession in a 50.5%-49.5% federalist victory. What if Quebec secessionists had not stopped campiagning and had a better turn out giving the secessionists a victory. How would the rest of the world react? Would Chretien be forced to call a snap election? Would the Reform Party under Preston Manning form a new government? Would Canada fall apart?

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

I remember hearing rumors that the maritimes might decide to join their southern neighbor if a Quebec secession split the country.  Could anyone imagine Prince Edward Island being a state?

[Siege40]

I honestly don't think that Chretien would of let it work. If Quebec separated 1/4 of Canada would be split off. The problem with that referendum is that the definition of "sovereignty" was not well defined. It could of meant a quasi-independent colony like status, or comepletely separate Nation, or perhaps just more provincial control.

Quebec, sadly no one in Quebec felt to point this out to the separtists, is not economically feasible on its own. It does not produce enough food or industrial goods to supply itself through self-sufficiency or trade.

My thought is that the Republic of Quebec would be heavily in debt to both Canada and the United States by 2020. Eventually someone would propose a reduction of debt with a merger with Canada. Quebec would accept and finally the separtist debate would be over.

Siege40

[Vasall des Midas]

If 50,1% had voted for secession, nothing would have happened except a few riots.
If something like 60% would have voted for it (unrealistic), it would have gone through though.
The Maritimes would certainly not be caught dead inside the US, but there were lots of people out West who said that back then. I guess Joining the US might have gotten majority support in Alberta and there'd have been an active movement pushing for it all over BC and the Prairies. In the end, however, Canada would have survived. And the Quebecois might well be begging to be let back in by now...

[M]

If Alberta did, I'm sure Saskatchewan would. MAnitoba and BC not as clear about. In a true disintegration where the country completely falls apart, might Newfoundland not go back to the UK?

[Siege40]

Newfoundland has a strong National streak, they'd go back to being the Dominion of Newfoundland. Also it depends on the type of separation Quebec gets, if it was only something small then Canada could stick together I think.

Siege40

[M]

Yes, I was envisioning the case of Quebec demands and receives total independence, resulting in complete or at least pretty bad disintegration of the True North Strong and Free.

[opebo]

I remember hearing rumors that the maritimes might decide to join their southern neighbor if a Quebec secession split the country.  Could anyone imagine Prince Edward Island being a state?

Ugh, we wouldn't want them!  The last thing we need are more leftist voters.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Um.. the maritimes tend to vote PC and are a lot closer to Maine than Mass.

[Siege40]

I think Prince Edward Island is bigger than Rhode Island. They could of always merged the two and called it Islands. But then Puerto Rico would want in.

Siege40

[dunn]

I think Prince Edward Island is bigger than Rhode Island. They could of always merged the two and called it Islands. But then Puerto Rico would want in.

Siege40

and Samoa

[Emsworth]

If the people of Quebec did indeed vote to secede, then the National Assembly would have had to pass a Bill to allow the province to remove itself from Canada. However, such a Bill would have had to receive Royal Assent, which would have had to have been granted by the Lieutenant Governor, who might not necessarily have been willing to do so.

[bgwah]

Its a very interesting idea...If Quebec became its own country then, as mentioned, it would cut off other provinces from the main part of country. Alberta is conservative and doesn't fit well with Canada and if Quebec successfully seceded, then Alberta might try as well. I've heard that Alberta's premier (like a governor) has threatened to make Alberta its own country or to try and join the U.S. However, I don't know if that is true. If Alberta did leave Canada, then the other central provinces might leave as well. I doubt British Columbia would want to join with Alberta or the United States, but they might simply because they would be cut off. The Maritime provinces (like Prince Edward Island) are to small to each become their own state. PEI only has like 100,000 people. The Maritime provinces could merge into one state though. I don't really know anything about Newfoundland, so I can't really comment on it either. It would be interesting if it did become its own country or rejoin Britain, though. And what about Nunavut, a gigantic but very unpopulated northern province (?) in Northern Canada? I've read it has a lot of self government already, perhaps it could become its own nation as well. So basically all we have left is Ontario being a part of Canada...I do like the idea of the United States being the biggest country by land area! Maybe we could take Greenland to. Hahaha.

[Siege40]

Firstly the Governor General and Leuitenant Governors were only really relevent in the 1800s and early 1900s. The elected officials command about the Governors now. I feel as though I should point out that just because the eastern regions were cut off it doesn't mean that the country is dead. Look at Russia, they have that... Kalingrad thing that use to be Prussia. Also trade would be very liberal and would work likely the same as it did with Quebec as a country. For any of the other provinces to seperate they would have to hold an election. People in the West never liked Quebec and often got in there way politically, with them gone Westerners could control the government.

Also I should point out that were the Atlantics to merge with America they likely would not merge, they are surprisingly different. New Brunswick might of actually seperated with Quebec, about 1/3-1/2 their pop is French. They would want better representation then the other states, you know, they have bery good representation in Canada they'd want equal.

The vote would have to be big though, +60%. The political mess following would be scary....

Siege40

[Emsworth]

Firstly the Governor General and Leuitenant Governors were only really relevent in the 1800s and early 1900s. The elected officials command about the Governors now.

The last withholding of Royal Assent occurred in the 1930s. In 1936, the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, John Bowen, withheld Assent on three bills, including one that would have restricted freedom of speech and was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada and then by Her Majesty in Council. The Lieutenant Governor performed such an action to maintain order and to restrict the overreaching Government: I think that a modern Lieutenant Governor should be able to perform such a function as well.

[English]

I'm familiar with NS and Atlantic Canada. There is no way they would ever vote to join the US. They're about a million times more likely to join the United Kingdom, which shouldn't be at all surprising when you consider most of the population are of recent Scots or Irish decent.
Have you ever seen the number of Union Jacks over there?

Also could you seriously imagine Newfoundland as a state of America?!
If Quebec achieved independence (highly unlikely), Canada would probably fracture into 4 independent countries.
Maritime Federation- NS, PEI, NL & NB with Halifax as capital city.
Quebec- Quebec City as capital.
Ontario- Toronto as capital (Not Ottawa, too many French).
Canadian Federation- BC, Al, Sa, Ma, YT, NWT & Nunavut with Vancouver as capital.

It's never going to happen though. There's more chance of the UK splitting into separate nations.

[Siege40]

I'm familiar with NS and Atlantic Canada. There is no way they would ever vote to join the US. They're about a million times more likely to join the United Kingdom, which shouldn't be at all surprising when you consider most of the population are of recent Scots or Irish decent.
Have you ever seen the number of Union Jacks over there?

Also could you seriously imagine Newfoundland as a state of America?!
If Quebec achieved independence (highly unlikely), Canada would probably fracture into 4 independent countries.
Maritime Federation- NS, PEI, NL & NB with Halifax as capital city.
Quebec- Quebec City as capital.
Ontario- Toronto as capital (Not Ottawa, too many French).
Canadian Federation- BC, Al, Sa, Ma, YT, NWT & Nunavut with Vancouver as capital.

It's never going to happen though. There's more chance of the UK splitting into separate nations.

Were that to happen the Yanks could pick us off one by one! A new reason to be a Nationalist, inevitable American invasion post-break up.

Siege40

[Platypus]

I remember hearing rumors that the maritimes might decide to join their southern neighbor if a Quebec secession split the country.  Could anyone imagine Prince Edward Island being a state?

Ugh, we wouldn't want them!  The last thing we need are more leftist voters.

I love old opebo quotes.

Never forget.