There's an almost zero percent chance of the Maritimes joining the United States, the Americans won't float their bills the way Canada does, and now they're far more influential politically since the second largest province has voted to secede. And, a Canadian province is infinitely more powerful than an American state, why give all that up? Lastly, they don't want to be Americans.
A lot depends on the negotiations. How everything plays out with the northern dams and Montreal will be the biggest question concerning Quebec's economic future.
I think that the Canadian federal government will end up keeping the debt, but make the new Quebec government pick up the tab for the federal infrastructure. Expect a full year of negotiations as the dollar's free-fall will make the price of anything suspect.
The Liberals will be dead for a generation, and I'd expect either a Reform majority or a Reform/Conservative coalition in the next election. Being French wouldn't be cool, and I'd think that a much harder stance gets taken on bilingualism in the coming years.
Without the cheap power and equalization money the Quebec economy is in for the shock of a lifetime. There could very well be a run on the banks and a massive capital flight as businesses who do heavy business outside the province flee.
A lot depends on the negotiations. How everything plays out with the northern dams and Montreal will be the biggest question concerning Quebec's economic future.
I think that the Canadian federal government will end up keeping the debt, but make the new Quebec government pick up the tab for the federal infrastructure. Expect a full year of negotiations as the dollar's free-fall will make the price of anything suspect.
The Liberals will be dead for a generation, and I'd expect either a Reform majority or a Reform/Conservative coalition in the next election. Being French wouldn't be cool, and I'd think that a much harder stance gets taken on bilingualism in the coming years.
Without the cheap power and equalization money the Quebec economy is in for the shock of a lifetime. There could very well be a run on the banks and a massive capital flight as businesses who do heavy business outside the province flee.