perfidy

In a newly released bio of Canadian PM Jean Chretien, it is revealed that the Canadian gov't was prepared to take a much harder line than it ever admitted if Quebec sovereignists had achieved a referendum victory in 1995. In an interesting quote, we hear the opinions of the Canadian Defense Minister at the time, David Collanette:

Earlier in the chapter, Martin suggests Collenette was also prepared to come to the aid of federalists still in Quebec.

" 'My view,' Collenette would explain in a later interview, 'was that these guys aren't going to get away with this. This is my country. I don't care what the numbers are. It's one thing to say you want to separate. But now we start playing hardball. Because we're not going to abandon all those people who want to stay in Canada.' "

"...A negation of the verdict in front of tens of thousands of celebrating Quebecers would have risked a bloody backlash. But in fact that is what Chrétien planned to do,"

Considering how opinion in Quebec was running, a repudiation of the referendum would have caused some havoc. The government felt that the constitution had no provision for leaving, and that therefore the referendum was merely a "consultative exercise." In an interview for the book, Chrétien admitted he would not have recognized a close vote.

"You know, at 50 (per cent) plus one, I was not about to let go the country. You don't break your country because one guy forgets his glasses at home."

Jacques Parizeau, then the premier of Quebec, revealed in his book Pour un Québec Souverain that he was prepared to declare unilateral separation if Ottawa refused to accept the referendum result. Throw in Chrétien's stance and Collenette's willingness to call in the troops, Martin speculates, and you have the elements for a possible civil war.

It has always been my belief that we have let far too much time pass since the last invasion of Canada. Almost two centuries, in fact. The thought that Canada might spare us the trouble by conveniently dissolving itself is, well, delicious. We could easily absorb the good parts, and then seal the borders around Quebec, and give laser weapons to the Indians. Sorry, First Nations.

On a disturbing note, the article closed with this quote:

Frulla and other Italian Canadians in her riding were being warned they would "have to go back to your own country," when the sovereignist side won.