Scotland vote a good example for Canada
The recent referendum in Scotland was very familiar for Canadians. In 1980 and 1995, Canada held it’s breath as Quebecers voted to see if the province would separate from Canada. There’s a great deal of history in that referendum, just as there’s an even greater history between Scotland and England.
You might be asking why is it someone like myself even has an interest. Truthfully, I have Scottish ancestry, most of it from my mother’s side (Maiden name Girvan, three quarters Scottish, one eighth Welsh, one eighth Irish), and a smidge from my dad’s side (half German, a quarter Belgium, and a quarter Scottish). But like many Canadians who claim Scottish ancestry, I’ve never been to Scotland. The closest I’ve gotten was to the Scottish Pavilion at Saskatoon’s Folkfest. And that never went into detail of the political climate (there was lots of pudding, haggis, beer, whiskey, dancing and pipes, no politics).
The UK has over 300 years of that history, and in a way, so to does Quebec and the rest of Canada. Quebec was formed after British forces defeated French forces in a last battle on North American soil between the two European powers. After that battle on the Plains of Abraham, French Canadians were suddenly finding themselves under British rule. But they were allowed to keep their language, their culture and exist with English Canadians.
Between Scotland and England, there are several different events that happened which created this unification in the United Kingdom. One of the significant ones was James VI of Scotland becoming James I of England after the death of Queen Elizabeth and James being the only relative or heir to claim the throne in England. Another event dealt with exploration.
As other European nations were scrambling to explore the new world and plant their flag, Scotland wanted in on the success that England, France, and Spain were feeling (granted, at the expense of the First Nations people in North America). But Scotland wasn’t as wealthy as any of those nations. They needed backing, which they eventually got under the flag of England.
Quebec’s beginnings of separation came from an outside source. At least, this outside source stirred up the feelings of a small percentage of Quebecers who wanted their own nation. Thanks to a speech by French President Charles de Gaulle (Vive le Quebec libre!, which translated into Long live free Quebec). The French President made this speech after attending Expo 67 in Montreal. Just 24 days after Canada celebrated their centennial. It wasn’t long after that the FLQ, a terrorist group attempting to use violence to overthrow a government they felt was holding Quebec back.
When the FLQ was stopped, surprisingly, many of the members who had escaped became members of a new group. This called the Parti Quebecois. And they ran for seats in the National Assembly in Quebec.
Meanwhile, fast forward to yesterday. The Scottish National Party, and Alex Salmond actually studied the referendums in Quebec and studied the attitudes and even the questions asked during those referendums. The Parti Quebecois can be accused of being racist and classist, especially after losing the 1995 referendum in a close vote, when then leader Jacques Parizeau laid the blame of losing on the high immigrant and lower wage earners. First and foremost, this was something the SNP avoided.
The SNP embraced first generation Scots and those immigrants who had become Scottish (or British citizens and settled in Scotland). Even the question was simple; Should Scotland become it’s own nation? Compare that to what was asked in 1995.
On September 7, 1995, a year after being elected premier, Jacques Parizeau presented the exact referendum question, to be voted on October 30 of that year.
In French, the question on the ballot asked:
“Acceptez-vous que le Québec devienne souverain, après avoir offert formellement au Canada un nouveau partenariat économique et politique, dans le cadre du projet de loi sur l'avenir du Québec et de l'entente signée le 12 juin 1995?”
In English, the question on the ballot asked:
“Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Quebec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?”
A little more complicated, considering the question involves agreements signed well before the referendum, and alludes to events that haven’t even happened yet (at the time). Scotland’s question was far more straight forward.
Needless to say, the result of yesterday’s vote was very familiar to Canadians. It was close and fell in favour of the No side. Will there be another referendum in Scotland? We’ll have to see, as earlier on Friday, Alex Salmond stepped down as First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP. As former Quebec Premier Jean Charest said, however, there’s a good chance that Scottish voters will go to the polls once again in another referendum in another 10 years. The only thing I can suggest to Scattish voters is this; your referendum was very civil. Don’t lay blame, don’t accuse either side of drumming up fear. If the referendum comes around again, just stay the course and let things go as they may.
