A Harper majority will lead to Quebec separation

[CHIMO]

Stephen Harper claims that a majority Conservative government is needed to thwart Quebec separatism. The opposite is true.

It is no secret that the Conservatives are ushering in a profound revolution in the political culture of Canada. Harper is breaking the small-“l” liberal consensus on how to govern the country, a consensus prevalent at least since the late 1960s and ideologically rooted in Central Canada and the Maritimes. About time, say the Conservatives. Their opponents lament the loss of Canada’s political soul.

The fault line of the new “two solitudes” does not run on linguistic or cultural lines but through a deep ideological canyon. Both in terms of style and beliefs, Harper’s vision of Canada is profoundly foreign to most Quebecers, and indeed to most Ontarians. Traditional political values of compromise and consensus-building, coupled with fairly broad and liberal ideological positions, are no longer the norm in Ottawa. It is naive to assume that Harper will mellow with power. On the contrary, his iron fist will be emboldened with a majority.

Sometime during the next two years, Quebec will go to the polls. While it is very early to ponder any possible outcome, indications are that a fourth mandate for Premier Jean Charest is very unlikely. His popularity is at an all-time low, at 13 per cent according to one poll in March. Even if Charest exits the stage and the Liberals in Quebec head into the provincial election with a new leader, the separatist Parti Québécois under the undisputed leadership of Pauline Marois is poised to take power. A referendum on sovereignty will soon follow.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/980798--a-harper-majority-will-lead-to-quebec-separation