Her Fantasy, Canada's Nightmare

"We could hope to have a seat at the Bank of Canada, but we accept that it is Canadian monetary policy that would apply in this case. For sure [Quebec would keep using the dollar]."
"For the moment that's a hypothetical question [dual citizenship]. We could do a lot of studies on that question and bring forth a number of propositions that would answer it."
Quebec Premier Pauline Marois - on the campaign trail

Ottawa Citizen / Greg Perry

A sovereign Quebec would enjoy all the privileges of complete independence, achieving at long last the elusive dream that has coloured night visions of all the Parti Quebecois's previous leaders, and none more determined than the incumbent. Who is feeling so pumped up about her new popularity thanks to the Values Charter she introduced to francophones who believe themselves to be open and generous but resent within their midst a new ethnic plurality and a presumed threat to the French language.

So, why not, when fully independent continue using the Canadian dollar, take a seat at the Bank of Canada, and offer dual citizenship to Quebecers? Isn't that having it all, with a dollop of whip cream swirled on top? It's the last frontier, after all. Quebec has managed to wheedle, demand, request and assume that because it is so exceedingly exceptional it should be given privileges denied the other provinces.

None of which others is a 'nation'. Rather a mongrel conglomerate of immigrants from various countries, ethnic groups, religions, ideologies and claims to Canadian identity.

And somehow its blandishments and threats have always succeeded with the federal government, whichever party happened to be in power at the time, succumbing to Quebec's 'need' to represent itself singly and apart from the federal government, as a 'nation' bearing no resemblance as a province to any within Confederation, in a hallowed class of its own.

When the provinces sign on to a special arrangement with Ottawa, Quebec opts out. It is unfailingly given special dispensation.

"There will be no borders and no tolls", she exulted, if the province separates from Canada. This is her inimitable version of all being sweetness and light, if the spoiled child of the federation chooses to strike out on its own - but keep sending those highly regarded cheques; currency is always appreciated, just not the source from which it comes, which, of course, is the fed up rest-of-Canada taxpayers.

Who may just be prepared to sign off on waving bye-bye to a province forever agitating to destroy a confederation of provinces which together make up one of the most peaceful, immigrant-pluralist, resource-wealthy and beautiful countries on the planet. The sole exception being, of course, its congenitally complaining, restive, resentful francophone province, La Belle.