Qui Est Ce, Les Quebecois?

Apparently, Prime Minister Harper doesn't even know who he was recognizing when he put forward his motion to acknowledge "Les Quebecois" as a "Nation within Canada".

When queried last night, he responded "they know who they are".

So, our Prime Minister put forth a resolution "acknowledging" a "nation" that he cannot even define. That's pretty rich when you think about it. There are as many ways to define it as there are people who claim to be Quebecois.

Is it all of the people who live in Quebec? Is it just those who are "pure lain" Quebecois? What about Quebeckers who have moved to other parts of Canada? I'm sure you get the basic idea.

Harper seems to be attempting to tap the notion of "ethnic nationalism" here, but he doesn't really understand what he's doing outside of gaining a few political points. The whole issue of francophone nationalism in Canada is a very old problem, and not one that has any easy definitions behind it. Even the notion of Quebec is open to discussion in the minds of many.

However, acknowledging as a nation a group you cannot articulate a definition of is simply foolish. It's right up there with acknowledging "The Scots" as a "nation within Canada". Who the hell is Scottish? Someone who can trace their lineage back to the traditional Clan held lands in Scotland? What about those mongrels who are only partially of Scottish ancestry, but celebrate that part of their heritage actively?

Just consider the implications for a moment - what is the political (and subsequent legal) meaning of the "recognition"? True enough, there is no legal weight to it yet - it was no more than a motion in the House of Commons. However, on topics of political negotiations between the provinces and Ottawa, it can carry significant weight. Does it create another grey area much like the notion of the First Nations as "Nations within" has done? (with all of the complications that includes)

It's quite conceivable that Harper is trying to provoke a constitutional crisis. It's no secret that the CPoC has long dislike parts of the constitution, and would love an opportunity to rewrite in their own image.