The Secession Of Quebec And The Future Of Canada

Based on the premises that Quebecers vote for independence in a referendum and Canada accepts this result, The Secession of Quebec and the Future of Canada is a timely examination of the implications of separation for Quebec and the rest of Canada.

Robert Young discusses the ways in which Canadians might reconstitute their country after Quebec separates and considers possible political and economic arrangements between Quebec and Canada - the "association" aspect of sovereignty-association - including the breakdown of economic cooperation. Arguing that the long-term future of Canada and the shape of Canada-Quebec relations will depend on how the transition to sovereignty takes place, Young provides a clear and detailed analysis of how the transition is likely to occur. His discussion addresses major issues to be negotiated during the secession - citizenship, national debt, borders, armed forces and public service, commercial and economic relations, currency, First Nations, minority rights, mobility and immigration, and environmental matters. For comparison, Young draws on the experiences of other countries where peaceful secession has occurred, including Czechoslovakia. The second edition includes a new preface and concluding chapter that discuss to what extent the situation has changed since the referendum of 1995.

Provides a thorough review of existing literature, analysis of comparative cases of peaceful secession, assessment of constitutional options for Canada without Quebec, and a detailed set of scenarios on how the transition to sovereignty might occur and the implications of the separation for the long

The Supreme Court decision on Quebec, delivered in August 1998, was hailed as a victory by both federalists and sovereigntists. This book explains the reasons for this historic decision. It includes the full text of the Supreme Court's opinion together with essays and other key documents. David Schneiderman, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Studies at the University of Alberta, provides a thoughtful introduction to the decision and the debates surrounding it. He has selected a wide range of essays that explore the profound implications of the Court's decision for Canada's future. Anyone interested in Quebec and the future of Canadian federalism will find The Quebec Decision an invaluable resource.

Young (political science, U. of Western Ontario) follows his analysis of the Quebec situation in The Secession of Quebec and the Future of Canada, written in mid-1994, with an update of developments since then. He describes the prelude to the 1995 referendum campaign on Quebec secession, and analyzes the arguments deployed by federalists and sovereignists, seeking to explain why the Yes forces gained ground in 1995 and almost won. He then assesses the fallout of the referendum and describes how the sovereignists and federalists are maneuvering around the prospect of another referendum. He provides predictions on what would happen after a Yes vote. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The possibility of Quebec's departure has long haunted Canadian politics, and English-speaking Canadians have resisted such a break. But why, and how, does Quebec's membership in the existing constitutional order matter to Canadians outside Quebec?Secession and Self goes beyond debates over the economic and institutional effects of Quebec separation to look at the normative dimensions of resistance to secession. Drawing from Charles Taylor, James Tully, and many others, Gregory Millard explores the central role Quebec plays in ideas of what makes Canada worthwhile. He argues that a break with Quebec would impair Canada's ability to realize ideals such as liberalism, fraternity, and developmental accounts of citizenship and would undercut attempts to locate Canadian identity in narratives of history and place. In lieu of a single argument against the departure of Quebec, Millard considers the variety and richness of the affirmations involved in Quebec-in-Canada as a particular kind of multinational state. Taking into account the many efforts to grapple with one of the deepest challenges in Canadian history, Secession and Self provides an insightful account of the variegated ties between Canada, Quebec, and visions of the good.

Examines the future of domestic and foreign relations between Canada, Quebec, and their neighbors in the event of a "yes" vote.

The Razor-Thin Outcome of the October 1995 Referendum in Quebec was a jarring wake-up call for English Canada, forcing Canadians outside Quebec to confront the unthinkable. This collection of papers by leading academics and analysts offers the most thorough examination yet of the main issues arising for the country out of the October referendum. It considers not only what might be done to help the country survive, but what should be done if it doesn't. The book is divided into two parts, the first focussing on ways to improve the social, political, and economic union of Canada. The second confronts head-on the possibility of Quebec separation and discusses the terms and processes of Quebec's possible departure. As the recent Supreme Court decision made clear, the time for reasoned negotiation with a soon-to-be-independent Quebec may come. Although committed to keeping the country together, all the contributors to this volume share a commitment to democracy and the peaceful resolution of conflict. The individual papers go beyond analysis to provide a clear set of proposals for action and change. Originally commissioned by the C.D. Howe Institute, the papers provide the first real blueprint for 'thinking about the unthinkable.' As such, this collection will be of great interest to anyone concerned about the future of Canada, and the future of Quebec.