Quebec Propagandists Get a Dose of Reality

Separatist lies meant to confuse Quebecers

In the dizzying battle of facts, statistics and disinformation, Quebec separatists are making a valiant attempt to confuse Quebecers into believing what clearly is not true, that is, the fantasy that Quebec contributes more to Canada than it gets out.

It is an interesting propaganda battle, led by its champion confusionist, Jean-François Lisée, a man who has made a career out of trying to convince Quebecers that they have no debt problem, that their finances are in order and would be in even better shape, should Quebec achieve independence.

But convincing Quebecers of this has been an uphill slog, partly because what these confusionists are selling is not true, but mostly because the facts and figures bandied about, are hard to understand, especially by a public that is largely challenged when it comes to understanding the complicated details of GDP, Money supply, debt versus GDP, deficit spending, transfer payments, etc.etc.

Considering that most Canadians can't balance their chequebooks and that about one-third of us are counting on a lotto jackpot or big inheritance as part of the long-term plan for financial success, it's no wonder that we have a problem with these complicated financial concepts.

And so the issue of whether Quebec gets a good or bad financial deal out of Canada seems to boil down to a simple argument, which is of course the famous 'equalization payment," an annual cash transfer from Ottawa to Quebec, which stands today  at almost $8 billion.

Let me first illustrate how two different sides can view the same situation, both perfectly valid. 

Credit to Michel Patrice; Equalization payment per capita and population

Both these graphs are statistically valid, but offer different views of the equalization payment, the first one represents the argument that federalists like to use, while the second, more sophisticated view, is one that paints Quebec in a better light.

Such is the stuff that propaganda wars are about.

For the last couple of years, federalists have been successfully lording the equalization payment over the heads of Quebecers as proof that Quebec gets more out of Canada than it puts in.

Simple and direct, it may not tell the whole story but it's something the public can understand and as long as federalists keep hammering home the idea that Quebec is a loser province that must take charity from the rest of the provinces, the issue is largely settled and is likely the chief reason sovereignty support has sunk to historic lows.

Here's a cartoon by YGRECK, Quebec's best editorial cartoonist, that reminds us how entrenched this feeling of beholden to Canada is in the Quebec psyche.

The Maple Leaf to remain at the National Assembly --- "This one, anyways!"

Recently, separatists have made a valiant effort to disparage the idea of Quebec as a have-not province by characterizing the equalization payment as irrelevant, considering that Quebec sends more taxes to Ottawa than it receives back, including the equalization payment.

It's an argument that is gaining traction among sovereigntists because it is simple enough that those inclined to do so, can latch onto the concept.

It has become a favourite talking point of Pauline Marois, the fact that Quebec sends a surplus of taxes to Ottawa and so is forced to pay for the oil sands development in Alberta, F-35 warplanes, shipbuilding programs outside Quebec, etc. etc., expenditures that she contends Quebecers don't need, want or benefit from.

But finally, someone has attacked this argument and has produced a decent study debunking this myth.

In an article entitled Financially, Quebec depends more and more on Ottawa, written by Editor in Chief of the French language magazine "Les Affaires, Jean-Paul Gagné puts paid to Pauline's fantasy that Quebec is shortchanged,

Here are a few extracts, but you can read the whole fascinating article, which goes into some detail,  HERE{Fr}

"Pauline Marois tells Quebecers that Ottawa draws $50 billion per year out of the pockets of Quebecers and Quebec would be much better off if it kept the money. Don't believe these claims because they are false. According to the Economic Accounts Income and Expenditure Quebec Edition 2011 (Table 5.2, pp. 84-85), published by the Institut de la statistique du Québec, in 2010, Ottawa collected  $40 billion from Quebec. This is 10 billion less than the figure spread as truth by the separatists to advance their cause. And as no one contradicted the number,  many probably believe they are telling the truth...." 

To darken the portrait, the separatists argue that Ottawa uses "our money" to subsidize oil sands, subsidize Ontario's auto industry, etc.. Is it necessary to recall that the taxes paid by these industries and their employees allow Ottawa to fund its programs, such as equalization, which Québec is a major beneficiary.... 


"... separatists are careful to ignore programs administered by Ottawa for the benefit of all Canadians, and especially ignore the fact that individuals from Quebec, companies, the government and through various federal agencies have received payments in 2010 totalling $58 billion or $18 billion more than it sent to Ottawa."

 There it is, a clear and concise statement from someone who seems to know what he is talking about, the fact that Quebec pulls out a lot more from Canada than it puts in, something we all believed intuitively.

And so, for every dollar Quebec sends to Ottawa it receives back $1.45
  
Readers are always asking, "What can I do to counter sovereigntist propaganda?"
Spread the word.   
Whenever discussing Quebec, remind others about this disparity.

Things go viral quickly and a message such as this, is powerful and simple, something easily remembered. 

Again, For every dollar Quebec sends to Ottawa, it receives back  $1.45  

Spread the word!