Boisclair out, Duceppe (about to be) in

#41, groan... not one of Harper's smarter decisions (assuming he made any)...

Quebec is most certainly a nation, in the sociological sense. That does not entail that is is or will become a sovereign state - there are many multinational states in the world.

I'm not pleased about Marois simply because she is a woman; sure as hell wouldn't support Thatcher or Merkel. Pleased about Marois because she has had a role in many progressive policies such as public daycare (CPE) and eliminating the confessional school system.

Her choice will be somewhat of an antidote to the rightwards drift of Québec politics, and a reaffirmation of social-democracy.

I'm not proud to be a citizen of anything, and find that idea rather nauseating, whether federalists or sovereignists advance it.

Yes, indeed there is a lot of bigoted antagonism towards Québec and its aspirations, and discussions like this on English-speaking boards do have a lot of that old "the natives are restless" tone about them. Would make me furiously indépendantiste, but I can find equally reductive discussions in French that are a good antidote to such enthusiasms.

I am a nation.

#43, what you see as bigotry towards Quebecs 'aspirations', many other Canadians see as simple common sense, as in the concept that there are no degrees of equality.