After a great Hope & Peace concert on New Year’s Eve a few of us gathered for a little dinner/party – pretty much the same group that’s been gathering for a couple of decades. The conversation turned, at some point, to the election. And there, on the couch, smack dab in the middle of a conversation with Jack Harper a new political party/movement was formed.
We were talking about the rather pathetic mess that is Canadian politics and I was wishing that the Bloc Quebecois was running candidates nationally. Actually this kind of BQ/PQ envy goes back a long time. The separatists always seem to get the coolest leaders [okay, so leave Parizeau out of the picture]. But Rene Levesque – who couldn’t like Rene Levesque. And Bouchard? The most sensitive poet-philosopher-politician in Canadian history. You couldn’t help but love love Lucien Even Gilles Duceppe, hair-net and all, is so bloody likable. He even blogs. Now the PQ even have a gay leader. Moreover the sovereigntists seem to have a clear sense of direction, courage, passion, and, maybe, more than your average politicians’s share of integrity.
Then, still an hour before the big ball fell in Time Square, a revelation. We need to stop fighting them. 
We need to start the Blokes Quebecois, the anglo/ROC wing of the Bloc Quebecois. [years ago ‘bloke’ was one slang word for anglo-canadians], This may solve our identity/unity question forever. Here's how it works: We support the creation of a sovereign Quebec. And then, as soon as they gain independence, we join them. They’ve got way better paternity leave, child-care, and other social programs. Add to that clear thinking passionate leaders. [again sans Parizeau]. Maybe it starts with Manitoba. As soon as Quebec separates, Manitoba, after a quick referendum, separates too and joins with Quebec. Maybe changes it’s name to West Quebec. Surely Ontario’s gonna feel left out and they’ll join. They could be Lower Quebec. Etc. Pretty soon the whole country will be united again, and Quebec will be an independent state. Got its own hockey team, seat at the UN, all the other cool stuff of being a nation.
My fellow Rest-of-Canadians, stop fighting Quebec nationalism. Join them. Join the Blokes Quebecois. So far there’s two members, Me and Jack. Oh wait, Ted joined too, but he’d had a bit to drink and might not remember. You could be in the first ten. Just click on comments below - and we'll get the movement started. I'm thinking Rick Mercer could be our party leader, or ROC lieutenant really. Come on, Canada, join the Blokes.
Some great humor my Canadian friend. :)
Sometimes (especially during the current administration) I envy you folks to the north....
Posted by: A | January 01, 2006 at 07:58 PM
I am in and so is West West Quebec
Posted by: Jordon Cooper | January 02, 2006 at 01:07 PM
Count me in too.
Posted by: darryl | January 02, 2006 at 11:36 PM
as one born in la belle province and now living in ontario... i'm in
Posted by: michael belss | January 03, 2006 at 08:09 AM
my little corner of australia has been looking for another nation to belong to for a while. could we become way down south quebec?
Posted by: cheryl | January 05, 2006 at 08:57 PM