Democracy and the Quest for a Sovereign Quebec Nation

Gray, Earle, Canadian Speeches

As the Supreme Court began its hearings in Ottawa on the legality of a unilateral declaration of independence by Quebec, separatists gathered in front of the Court building, waved their placards for the television cameras, and shouted in unison, "democratie, democratie, democratie"

What does democratie mean? Presumably, it means that the will of the majority should prevail, and the minority must go along.

But which majority? The majority of the 30 million Canadian citizens, including the nine million who live in Quebec? No, that can't be what they mean, because that would make Quebec's secession from Canada a dead letter. The majority of the Cree whose lands occupy nearly half of Quebec and who have voted about 98% to remain in Canada rather than join an independent Quebec against their will? No, not that majority either.

Democratie must mean that the will of the majority of Canadians in Quebec must prevail, specifically …

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Publication information: Article title: Democracy and the Quest for a Sovereign Quebec Nation. Contributors: Gray, Earle - Author. Magazine title: Canadian Speeches. Volume: 11. Issue: 9 Publication date: January-February 1998. Page number: 60. © 1998 Canadian Speeches. COPYRIGHT 1998 Gale Group.

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