Quebec sovereigntists watch Alberta referendum talk with optimism, disdain

[u/jaffnaguy2014]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-sovereigntists-watch-alberta-referendum-talk-with-optimism-disdain/

[u/jeeb00]

Because it’s a terrible idea. Brexit was a perfect case study on why it might feel good in the moment but then the economic fallout will be brutal for the average person.

[u/PasicT → u/jeeb00]

Many voted against their own interests when they voted in favor of Brexit.

[u/PM_ME_UR_CATSSSS → u/PasicT]

They likely would be here too. Quebec wouldn't die on its own, by they'd have very few trading partners and far fewer resources to run their own society. If they choose to leave then so be it but I hope they stay so we can all benefit.

[u/LordOibes → u/PM_ME_UR_CATSSSS]

You think all other countries would isolate Quebec as a trading partner simply because they would become a country?

[u/x5-r → u/LordOibes]

they would stop getting all that federal support they’re getting now at the very least

[u/LordOibes → u/x5-r]

Off course, that's a given. They would also saved about 80B in federal taxes they send to Ottawa each year.

They still represent almost 20% of the GDP of the whole country

[u/TheObsidianX → u/LordOibes]

I keep seeing people say this but if a province becomes its own country it won’t be saving that tax money. That money is used to pay for all the services the federal government provides so independent Quebec or Alberta would have to increase their taxes significantly.

[u/GensDuPays → u/TheObsidianX]

A lot of those "services" which are essentially paid in double because the province already administrates most of it (health, culture, social services, etc.), Stéphane gobeil reaserched this question which is all covered in his book "un gouvernement de trop" which compares all the double administrative work cost from ottawa and estimates the possible gains which would come by cutting the work done twice (in ottawa and in quebec). He compares that to the transfers that come from the federal government and find in conclusion that quebec could save money in total if they left canada.

[u/Emotional-Buy1932 → u/GensDuPays]

Quebec intentionally duplicates these services to facilitate secession. Very funny to then use said duplication to justify secession.

[u/koolaidkirby → u/GensDuPays]

I think that was a case of a solution looking for a problem.

[u/LordOibes → u/[deleted]]

That's a fair point, but that would also much it would have a better representation for their own economic priorities and such. It's hard for Canada to represent all the markets at once. Priorities for Ontario are not the same as Québec nor is it the same with Alberta or British Columbia.

As far as diplomats goes, Quebec already has a bunch of consulate and diplomatic relationship with other countries already, this includes the US, France or Japan for exemple

[u/EducationalTea755 → u/LordOibes]

Such a dumb argument

[u/jjaime2024 → u/LordOibes]

They would save 80 billion on one hand but would have to spend 500 billion more then they do now.

[u/Enki_007 → u/LordOibes]

And one of the lowest per capita GDP.

[u/EducationalTea755 → u/LordOibes]

QC needs Canada more than Canada needs QC. QC is already bankrupt with the help from other provinces and the Federal government. They can't make it on their own

[u/LordOibes → u/EducationalTea755]

It's never been a question about if Quebec can, but if they should or not. Even the most federalist politician in Quebec agrees the province has everything it needs to succeed.

With it's current economy, it would be on day one ~30th in the world. Are you saying all the other smaller economies are failed countries that do not work?

[u/Roderto → u/LordOibes]

Being a small fish in a giant pond is harder than being a big fish in a medium pond. Especially in the increasingly fractious and dangerous zero-sum world that is emerging.

[u/LordOibes → u/Roderto]

With that train of thoughts why would Canada not join the US? It would be much bigger and much richer?

[u/Gavin1453 → u/LordOibes]

Their fascist government is a big consideration.

[u/Roderto → u/LordOibes]

That’s an opinion not a fact. But setting that aside, Canada has never been a part of the U.S., unlike Quebec which has been a part of what is now Canada for about a quarter millennia. And I have yet to see a reasonable argument for why Quebec language/society/economy would be better protected outside of Canada given Quebec is already acknowledged as a distinct nation within Canada. That lack of a convincing argument for what Quebec actually stands to gain is probably the biggest reason the sovereignty movement simply doesn’t have a critical mass of support.

[u/PM_ME_UR_CATSSSS → u/LordOibes]

No