We agree with the description of the current reality but we think that Trudeau is just the most prominent ne&&er king the anglo-imperialist establishment has had, serving in a 300 years long line of imposed anglo-supremacy over Acadians, Natives, Métis and Canadiens.

Living with the consequences of Pierre Trudeau’s war on Quebec

Time to acknowledge Quebec’s rightful place in Canada

Hugo Mathieu

QUEBEC CITY, QC, Jan. 13, 2013/ Troy Media/ – Most Canadians are well aware of the positive side of Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s political legacy.

Less apparent is the destructive aspect of his political actions: his crusade against Quebec. Trudeau’s efforts led to the exclusion of Quebec from the constitution of 1982, his repeated depiction of Quebec nationalism as insular and reactionary and his sabotaging of all subsequent attempts at political reconciliation.

Trudeau’s war on Quebec has left Canada with a political and social climate rife with disdain and engendered a sentiment of moral superiority towards this province.

This feeling of moral ascendancy has twisted into repugnance, his egregious and condescending viewpoint becoming the opinion of the majority in many parts of Canada and leading to boorish exhibitions denying Quebec’s contribution to Canada and its role as the political motor of the federation

This resentful legacy was revealed in the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. The crowning moment of these ceremonies was to be a presentation of the Canadian provinces through iconic symbols, dances and music. Starting with British Columbia, the visual and musical display continued eastward until it came to Ontario. At this point, magically, the spectacle leapt from Ontario to New Brunswick, completely excluding Quebec.

This is surprising considering that Quebec is the oldest Canadian entity and the birthplace of Canada. The federal government, led by an Albertan, acknowledged this fact in 2008 during the celebrations of Quebec City’s 400th anniversary. Without Quebec, the ‘foyer‘, the proverbial hearth, of the French-Canadian nation, there is no Canada and yet Quebec was ‘forgotten’ during an internationally significant cultural event.

The Calgary Stampede also apparently forgot or rejected Quebec’s contribution to Canada. After allegedly receiving overwhelming feedback about the French section of O Canada hindering spectators from fully demonstrating their patriotic zeal, organizers used a purely English version, not even acknowledging the important historical significance of this majestic anthem.

O Canada was composed in 1880 as the national anthem of French-Canada. As such, it was sung for the first time in Quebec City, the national capital, on Quebec’s national holiday, La Saint-Jean-Baptiste, on the 24th of June of the same year, during the French-Canadian National Congress. French-Canadians have since graciously shared Calixa Lavallee’s (music) and Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier’s (lyrics) masterpiece with their English-speaking partners as a sign of respect and devotion to the social, political and economic union which is Canada. We sing the anthem today in both official languages as a testament to this great partnership between two splendid nations.

Both of these incidents highlight a lamentable failure to grasp Quebec’s importance as a significant part of Canadian history. And a lot of the blame must be apportioned to a king-like Trudeau undermining Canada’s historic partnership in 1982 when repatriating the constitution, by marginalizing Quebec’s role in Canada and turning the other provinces against it.

As the Age of 1982 wears on, our common history is being rewritten to fit Trudeau’s malevolent policy towards Quebec. What is worse, the continued assaults against Quebec’s heritage and national identity have fuelled the fires of sovereignty and led people from this province to respond in kind.

During a TV interview, Justin Trudeau was recorded as saying that Quebecois were far better qualified than Albertans to run the country. The irony in his chauvinism is remarkable and proves that ignorance runs both ways

It appears that all of Canada, Quebec included, needs to be taught an important lesson in Canadian history.

This federation is not about punishing members for being different; it’s about great partners accepting each other’s differences and working together to offer better living standards to their citizens.

We endeavoured as partners, French Canadian and British, to obtain responsible government and to begin our emancipation from Great Britain in 1867. We recognized each other as independent nations then, and this recognition should be the cornerstone of our federation today. Without it, how can we hope to embrace other excluded peoples like the First Nations?

It’s about time that we have the audacity and strength to accept each other for who and what we are, to move forward, to grasp the challenges of today and tomorrow, and not dwell in the frustrations and resentments foisted upon us by the polemic agenda of a ‘great’ man determined to ensure a political legacy regardless of the cost. Our shared history speaks of valour and might; we are the True North Strong and Free, lets act like it.

Troy Media Syndicated Columnist Hugo Mathieu is a Political Science and Law school graduate, a former Liberal party of Canada riding President and Vice-President for the Association des Étudiants en Droit de l’Universite Laval.

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