The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Back on the 27th of November I got pissed off about the whole “Quebec as a Nation within a Nation”, and wrote an email to the Prime Minister’s office. The email I wrote certainly wasn’t a rant or a tirade and in an effort to be taken seriously I included my name and phone number. Apparently I was taken seriously because I got a response from the PM’s office. Perhaps my earlier assessments of our Prime Minister were off?
I can’t say for certain that the PM actually replied himself but it did come bearing his name and is reprinted in its entirety below. Below that is a copy of the email I sent to the PM.
January 5, 2007
Dear Mr. Romhanyi:
I would like to thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the recognition of the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada by the House of Commons. I am aware that this is a matter of significance to Canadians across the country and I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to your concerns.
As you may be aware, on November 23 the separatist Bloc Québécois introduced a motion in the House of Commons to recognize the Québécois as a nation with no mention of Canada. This was a confrontational attempt to divide Canadians and to present the Québécois as being outside of Canada, which is something that could not be allowed to happen. I therefore acted in the interest of national unity and worked in consultation with the other federalist parties in the House of Commons to introduce a motion that would reaffirm the strong place of the Québécois within a united Canada. I simply was not prepared to let the separatists define the debate.
Our motion is important for all Canadians because it recognizes the historical reality that the Québécois have a unique history, language, and culture, which constitutes a sociological nation within Canada. As I said when I presented this motion in the House of Commons; do the Québécois form a nation within Canada? The answer is yes. Do the Québécois form an independent nation? The answer is no and the answer will always be no.
I am glad that the federalist political parties in the House of Commons rose above partisanship and stood together to support this historic motion with 266 Members of Parliament voting in favour and only 16 voting against.
Please be assured that this Prime Minister and national government will continue to defend national unity not with cheap rhetoric or sponsorship programs, but through concrete actions that improve our federation.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write.
Sincerely,
The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Here is a copy of my original email…
My name is Les Romhanyi and I am from BC.
I have to write to you to tell you that your movement to give Quebec Nation status is a really bad idea that will have lasting, negative affects. As a person from BC I can not believe that Quebec is getting coddled once again by the PM offices. When will it stop?
As far as I am concerned, if this nonsensical idea is passed I will actively be seeking out a western separatist party and will be joining them whole heartedly as it seems this is the only way to get anything from Ottawa. I don't want to see this country come apart at the provincial borders but what can I do about it from the west except join in this madness?
Sincerely,
Les Romhanyi
I can’t say for certain that the PM actually replied himself but it did come bearing his name and is reprinted in its entirety below. Below that is a copy of the email I sent to the PM.
January 5, 2007
Dear Mr. Romhanyi:
I would like to thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the recognition of the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada by the House of Commons. I am aware that this is a matter of significance to Canadians across the country and I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to your concerns.
As you may be aware, on November 23 the separatist Bloc Québécois introduced a motion in the House of Commons to recognize the Québécois as a nation with no mention of Canada. This was a confrontational attempt to divide Canadians and to present the Québécois as being outside of Canada, which is something that could not be allowed to happen. I therefore acted in the interest of national unity and worked in consultation with the other federalist parties in the House of Commons to introduce a motion that would reaffirm the strong place of the Québécois within a united Canada. I simply was not prepared to let the separatists define the debate.
Our motion is important for all Canadians because it recognizes the historical reality that the Québécois have a unique history, language, and culture, which constitutes a sociological nation within Canada. As I said when I presented this motion in the House of Commons; do the Québécois form a nation within Canada? The answer is yes. Do the Québécois form an independent nation? The answer is no and the answer will always be no.
I am glad that the federalist political parties in the House of Commons rose above partisanship and stood together to support this historic motion with 266 Members of Parliament voting in favour and only 16 voting against.
Please be assured that this Prime Minister and national government will continue to defend national unity not with cheap rhetoric or sponsorship programs, but through concrete actions that improve our federation.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write.
Sincerely,
The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Here is a copy of my original email…
My name is Les Romhanyi and I am from BC.
I have to write to you to tell you that your movement to give Quebec Nation status is a really bad idea that will have lasting, negative affects. As a person from BC I can not believe that Quebec is getting coddled once again by the PM offices. When will it stop?
As far as I am concerned, if this nonsensical idea is passed I will actively be seeking out a western separatist party and will be joining them whole heartedly as it seems this is the only way to get anything from Ottawa. I don't want to see this country come apart at the provincial borders but what can I do about it from the west except join in this madness?
Sincerely,
Les Romhanyi
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