Is it really that hard for you to form that into an intellectual statement? Or do you not think people will pay attention unless you make it into a joke?
And as far as tyranny, they knew what they were getting into when they joined the country.
Oh dear, I haven't been intellectual enough for the person who repeatedly fails to correctly use effect/affect, then/than, your/you're and fabricates statistics.
BLAHAHAHAHA!! Are you suggesting that Canada annex Alberta? That's the most stupid thing I've ever heard. They haven't done anything because if they do Canada will cut it's equalization payments. The government won't impose the Kyoto Accord on Alberta if it means losing billions of dollars in equalization payments.
This brings to mind the time that there was a premiers' meeting over equalization payments and Ralph Klein stated that Alberta wouldn't increase it's payments so they shouldn't even discuss it. Next thing that happens is an premier suggests it and Ralph Klein simply walks out and goes to the casino. I'm sorry, but the federal government won't do anything because they can't afford to.
The FLQ crisis is a blemish on Canada's reputation. It didn't even really work. We wound up getting an ambassador from a foreign nation killed. The FLQ crisis is one of the most embarassing moments in Canadian history and it is the precise reason that what you are suggesting won't happen.
Actually it's not a blemish. It was handled quickly and efficiently by the aforementioned arresting them all up. We handled it allot better then england handled the IRA.
And as I said when Quebec held their referendum, there was talks in place with the US for troops in case Quebec tried to leave by force. Don't think for even one second it wouldn't happen.
Actually it is a blemish... Do you understand how bad that was for Canada when the ambassador died? Do you realize that it didn't stop the bombings? That is escalated the violence?
If Alberta voted to leave that wouldn't be by force and then stopping Alberta from seperation would be undemocratic and pretty much an embarassment to Canada. That was the case I was referring to. Also, the federal government has no actual way of forcing the Alberta government to pay fines or equalization payments without resorting to violence that would ultimately be protested nationwide and lead to the downfall of any government that supported it.
I know a lot about the FLQ crisis, and I would think it wise for you to check out the results.
- most, if not all members of the FLQ and the more radical ALQ avoided jail time by escaping to Communist nations (Cuba). Those who were caught were given reduced sentences, and all of those involved in the terrorist actions are now free, and in many ways are folk legends in Quebec, especially Paul Rose.
- the War Measures act is looked upon by most political scientists as an egregious use of government power, ie, tyrannical. Trudeau's legacy will be forever marred by this and the Conservatives (I believe under Mulrouney) were forced to completely change the way the government responded to threats of this nature. To this day, imposing the war measures act still sticks in the craw of most Quebecers. Not as much as Meech lake, but its up there.
- The military involvement was almost useless in the FLQ issue. Routine police work is what caught the terrorists.
However, there are ties between the October crisis and the Red River rebellion (a point which you never addressed). If one doesn't go into specifics, we can see both Riel and the FLQ as people opposed to Federalism and in favor of independence. In many ways, modern Alberta is much like this.
Unless you are trying to propose a military solution to western independence movements I don't see your point...
The IRA is MASSIVE whereas the FLQ was a bunch of students who stole bomb making supplies from their schools.
not even a close comparison, not even remotely similar conflicts
And the people of Quebec, who may have been ideologically sympathetic to the FLQ, NEVER condoned violence. The idea of an armed Quebec trying to separate is laughable, and the Canadian government wouldn't need Americans to deal with it.
Actually, the american reaction to the quebec referendum is a really cool topic, though not the topic of this thread
No, it wasn't efficient. And no it wasn't quick. If it was efficient we wouldn't have had the British trade commissionewouldn't have been kidnapped (I looked at it again, he never died, it was Pierre Laporte), the vice-premier and Minister of Labour of Quebec, Pierre Laporte wouldn't have been killed and wouldn't have and bombings would not have increased. And it wasn't quick, as it took three months to stop a handful of people.
It wasn't effective because they conceded to the terrorists and actually flew them out of the country.
Last edited by Nellinator on May 14th, 2007 at 03:25 AM
The war measures act was counter productive to the FLQ crisis
-The FLQ had lied to promote themselves as being much stronger than they really were, thus provoking a stronger reaction
- the involvement of the military, and the subsequent abuses of police forces and politicians of the war measures act turned the already anti-federal sentiment held by the majority of people in Quebec further against the government
- There was no benefit to the War Measures act. None of the members of the FLQ were arrested because of it, and all of those arrested by the powers granted by the war measures act had NOTHING TO DO with Quebec separatism. There were lots of hippies out in BC who got arrested though.
- The FLQ were eventually brought down by routine police work. Not the military, not the government, but the hard working men and women of the Montreal police force that do good work everyday.
And yes, by every possible analysis, the October Crisis is a black mark on the record of the Canadian government. A absolutely unnecessary use of federal force.
Compared to other terrorist organizations it was. And one death really in the grand scope of things is small compared to how things like this usually go.
And how do you think the IRA got started? A handful of people. We stopped it before it got that far.
It had a lot more support and mobilized so much more rapidly that they aren't comparable. You are comparing a handful of students to and army that mobilized to around 100 000 members in only two years. It was never a handful of people. Ireland has a history of oppression by the British and the ideology behind it predated it by over 60 years.
They don't feel oppressed. It's pretty clear why they want to seperate. It's cultural. Quebec has ideological and cultural differences with the rest of Canada. That is why they want to seperate. It has nothing to do with oppression. The only reason they haven't is because Quebec is an economic disaster and receives more money per capita in equalization payments than any other province.
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May 14th, 2007 02:35 AM
