It seems that the plan to add thirty seats to Parliament, all outside Quebec has shocked the province, with many commentators openly ruing the fact that Quebec was responsible for the failure of the 1992 Charlottetown Accord. The agreement guaranteed Quebec 25% of the seats in Parliament, regardless of demographics, as well as a basket of other constitutional goodies.
There's little doubt that if that same constitutional package were offered to Quebec today, it would be accepted by a wide margin in Quebec, but likely rejected in Canada.
Alas, the only thing that I agree with Mr. Duceppe, is that is a new round of constitutional negotiations is not likely.
Here are the results of the poll commissioned by the Bloc and prepared by REPERE COMMUNICATION
Since 1992, Anglo attitudes towards accommodating Quebec has hardened. Quebec's language policies and its constant chirping about the iniquities of the federal system, all the while benefiting from billions in dollars of entitlements paid for by Anglo provinces, has convinced Anglos that there will be no end to the demands and that compromise is futile.
The Bloc Quebecois' irksome presence in Ottawa and the constant anti-Canadian rhetoric has also contributed to the declining attitude towards any accomodation with Quebec.
The Bloc poll is inherently dishonest, not because it shows Canadians as opposed to negotiations, but rather because it fails to mention that the Bloc is even more dis-interested in constitutional change, with sovereignty as its only goal.
Jacques Parizeau openly admitted that his rejection and his campaign against the Charlottetown Accord in 1992 was based on his one and only goal- sovereignty. In fact he wasn't shy to remind militants that any type of agreement would undermine efforts to achieve the goal of sovereignty.
As they say in French." La question qui tue" (the burning question) -
"Why would separatists commission a poll asking Canadians if they are willing to negotiate constitutional change, if the separatists are not?"
