Splitting a Nation: Québec Separatism in Canada
The Conflict
Many sovereigntists claim that Canada has always been comprised as two separate and distinct nations, one French-speaking (Francophone) and one English-speaking (Anglophone). Some sovereigntists believe that declaring an independent Québec is the only way to protect the cultural, linguistic, and social equality rights of the majority-Francophone province. Those who believe in maintaining the status quo for Canada point out that bilingualism is the nation's official policy and that provincial rights are largely unencumbered by federal mandates. Further, as Québec entered the Canadian federation willingly, there is no historical basis for the "two nations" argument.
Historical
• Colonized by both England and France in the sixteenth century, competition over commerce set the foundation for rivalry between Anglophones and Francophones. Although the British triumphed over the French by 1763, Francophone society remained largely distinct in the ensuing centuries.
Political
• Canadian politics at the federal level has been dominated by the sovereignty issue in recent decades, which has made it difficult for any one party to gain favor on a nationwide basis. Currently, Canada's national parties are largely regionally based, with the Bloc Québécois holding sway in Québec, the Reform Party dominating the prairie provinces, and the Liberals holding a majority in Ontario.
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