From the days of Upper and Lower Canada up until the Meech Lake accord and Charlottetown agreements, there have been never-ending conflicts between Quebec and the federal government. For decades, Canada has been hearing cries of salvation for a dying language and a repressed culture. The Quebecois have, over the years, fought passionately to have their demands for special status met by Canada, but beyond the emotional statements of a culture fearing extinction, is sovereignty really a viable and feasible option for Quebec? The debate in favor of separation is a highly emotional one, but draws very little from facts and figures. The fact that separation from Canada would severely harm Quebec is easily proven by examining the prosperity-within-Canada of the "Quiet Revolution", the fallacy of the French-Canadian Nation, and the obvious economic disaster that would occur after separation, caused by the outstanding debt and a drop in foreign investment.

First, let us look at the glorious days of Quebec, the "Revolution Tranquille", as well as the passage of Bill 101 and the first referendum. One of the most prosperous periods in the history of Quebec is that of the 1960's, when Jean Le

Finally we will examine the highly negative effect that separation would have on foreign investment and trade in Quebec. As Daniel Drache writes in Negotiating with a Sovereign Quebec: "In a world of trading blocs and increased capital mobility, the nation-state is extremely vulnerable to the uncertainties of global markets (p.14)". Foreign investors have the world within their reach, and such an unstable political situation would surely drive them away. A decrease in investment would also aggravate the issue of paying the debt because it would mean a decrease in national income. To maintain a decent level of income from international trade, Quebec and Canada would have to adopt a common trade agenda, which would be difficult considering the previously mentioned argument that the two governments would most likely encounter difficulties co-operating with each-other. This is not to mention that Quebec would have to deal with the fact that Canada was now trading domestically through the Quebec territory. This would not be appealing to foreign investors because they would not want to trade with a country that is in such a particular trading situation.

Drache, Daniel and Roberto Perin, editors. - Negotiating With a Sovereign Quebec. - Toronto,

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Approximate Word count = 1249
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)