4 over THE EDGE-Monday October 17, 1994 COMING UP In order for this newspaper to be a success we also | need YOU. If you have some spare time come by and join us. This newspaper is a lot of fun; there's never a dull moment. We meet every Wednesday at the Wintergarden and from there we go to our "office". Come by and talk to us. We'd really appreciate any suggestions that you might have. We're always looking for ways to improve (even in this first issue). If you can't make any meetings then please write to us or send us messages through e-mail. Our number is over-the-cdge@ugrad.unbc.edu. Letters to the editor should be sent to sidhu@ugrad.unbc.edu or hogg@ugrad.unbc.edu. Sorry, we don't have a phone (yet). Future issues will have a Students Page where students can voice their concerns about anything. There will also be a Faculty Page where we interview a member of our faculty or a faculty member writes an article. There will also be a Classifieds section. The ads will only be $1.00 for a 4-5 line block. Advertise for love, lost books or chemistry notes for a dollar an issue. Non-profit campus clubs can advertise for free. Take this opportunity and let everyone know when and where you meet so that others can join you. We look forward suggestions. to hearing your Coeditors Karin Fennell Charles Hogg s Manpreet Sidhu Advertising David Beck Angie Dale Karin Fennell Hans Rosenlehner Staff David Beck Peter Buxton Aaron Cummings Angie Dale Kevin Driscoll Brad Ellis Cicely Pritchard Hans Rosenlehner Adrienne Sales § Manpreet Sidhu Sean Simmons Marvin Vasquez QUEBEC: SEPARATION OR CONFEDERATION? By Charles Hogg The recent election to power of the separatist Parti Québecois under . Jacques Parizeau in Quebec has left many Canadians concerned about the future of our country. In the eyes of many Canadians the separation of Quebec seems more likely now than at any other time in our history. This simply is not the case. The election of the PQ to power had only 44.7% of the popular vote and was only slightly more popular than the 44.4% received by the Liberals. The election results are only part of the story. In a recent article in the opposite editorial page of the Globe and Mail, a group of Francophone businessmen between the ages of 25 and 40 reported their strong feeling that their interests were best served by Quebec continuing to be part of Canada, These observations are significant because they occur in a section of Quebec society often thought to support the separatist movement. Recent polls in Quebec have also shown increased support for separation amongst Francophone youths, but this statement can be misleading. For instance, these polls also show that people who supported separatism in their youth fall away from it as they get older. The implication is that the older you are and the greater stake you have in your community remaining stable the less separation appeals to you. Considering this evidence, it becomes apparent not all Francophones are separatists, and that many consider Canada's role in Quebec to be a positive one. Another factor to be recognized is the changing attitude of Anglophones working and i living in Quebec. The Anglophone community has often been at odds with the Francophone community. The line was clearly drawn in the days when 90% of Anglophones were not able to oo HAVE YOU LOST A BOOK, COAT, DOG ETC. ? E-MAIL YOUR REQUEST TO OVER THE EDGE: OVER-THE-EDGE@ UGRAD.UNBC.EDU $1.00/PER ADVERTISMENT (MAY BE EDITED FOR CLARITY & CONTENT) DO YOU NEED TO BUY OR SELL ANYTHING? ARE YOU HAVING A PARTY? speak French. This is clearly becoming a distinction of the past. Currently about 90% of Anglophones under 40 are bilingual. With the language barrier being broken, communication between the two linguistic universes has increased and friction decreased. It is also important to realize that the root cause behind-the push for a sovereign Quebec is the same one that has led separatist movements to form in BC and Alberta. Quebecers, like people in the west, are disillusioned and angry with a federal government continually disregarding the constitution in pursuing its own national interests. The primary difference is that Quebecers have placed great importance on the cultural violations against them by the anglophone majority in the federal government. According to Ed Black, professor of political science at UNBC, Francophones understood confederation to be a contract which has been repeatedly broken by Ottawa, especially in cultural areas. But the question remains: how likely is it that Quebec will vote yes on a referendum on sovereignty? Black says," the chances are somewhat better than BC's (ability to vote yes on a separation referendum) , but not by much." He says he has faith in the common sense of Quebecers who may be romantic but are also hard nosed and practical. Black also points out that two very important factors must be watched in the months leading up‘te the election. Both the economy and political accidents have the potential to change the expected results of the referendum, which could be held at any time in the PQ's term but is expected to come some time in 1995. In the meantime, remember _ that Quebecers have many of the same concerns we do and that Canada is as important to most of them as it is to us.