The Bloc should be at the end of its run

Last week the Conservative Party of Canada began attacks against the Bloc Quebecois with the intent of crushing the party which is, according to commentators, already suffering at the polls.  It’s about time the Bloc Quebecois seriously reconsidered its goals.

The Bloc Quebecois came into existence after the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords went down in disaster, shortly afterward it formed the official opposition in the House of Commons.  Since the referendum of 1995, however, the wind in the nationalists sails has diminished some.  Both the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois are having trouble remaining relevant.  Support is waning for the federal party and, in Quebec, the Parti Quebecois finished third in the last election.

Despite the fact that a resurgence in support for Quebec nationalism is entirely possible, this movement and nationalist movements like it are rapidly losing relevance in today’s world.  Further, dividing along any lines, be they ethnic or not, could prove disastrous in the face of a globalizing economic reality.

The ethos of nationalism is one of exclusion; it is an idea that runs counter to our modern ideas of social justice.  Finding an area in the world where identifying racially has yielded positive and peaceful results can prove to be particularly challenging.  I am left wondering why Quebeckers would even risk creating a country whose first task would be to determine who is Quebecois.

Nationalism is easily hijacked by the powerful for their own interests.  Consider the opener to every party leader in Canada’s policy statements: “Canadians want better health care,” “Canadians support the mission in Afghanistan,” “Canadians are outraged with the government’s carefree spending habits.” Etcetera.  Who would have thought our political leaders were so in touch with the very essence of the Canadian identity.

Nationalism is a tired old philosophy that belongs back in the 19th century and the days when Eugenics was a serious science.  It built the nations of Italy and Germany, but it pitted the French and Germans against each other for nearly a hundred years and its effects are still destabilizing the Balkans.

However, there is a greater concern than the antiquated notions of race relations.  It is the rate that economic institutions are globalizing around the world.

Labour Unions around the world have not been successful in preventing the lifting of trade barriers between countries.  And why would they?  It’s a great feeling to know that just a two minute walk to the local grocery store is all it takes to find cheap, fresh oranges or mangoes.  Global trade has brought us products at  reasonable prices from across the world.  But it has also brought easier and quicker movement of international capital- the capital our economy relies on to provide us with jobs.

Canada is involved with many trade organizations.  We are a member of NAFTA, the International Monetary Fund, and after the election we will be negotiating free trade with Europe.  All of these organizations want to limit barriers on the movement of capital between countries.

The net effect of having no limits on capital flow means that increasingly Canada has to compete with other countries to provide the cheapest place for international corporations to do business.  This is why Stephen Harper had to cut the Corporate tax and why if the stars magically align and Jack Layton is elected he will not bring the tax back.  It means that increasingly the people of Canada will have to foot the bill to provide the commercial infrastructure to ensure international capital flows our way.  Essentially if we want jobs we have to pay higher taxes or take lower wages to entice corporations to choose to set up here rather than in Mexico.

The Bloc Quebecois wants to create a new country.  It would be one more country against which we would have to compete in order to bribe the most possible international business.  It would likely be worse for Quebec because they would be a smaller country but it could go either way.

Global capital owners will likely increase their habit of holding jobs as hostages in the battle between government and business.  This is why countries must no longer talk about division.  In fact we should be moving in the opposite direction; toward integration.  People of every country around the world should have representation in global bodies that will ensure that we can still go to our grocery stores in Canada and pick up fresh oranges at any time of the year, but at the same time we shouldn’t have to financially prostrate ourselves before multinationals.

I like the Bloc and Gilles Duceppe.  In fact, I usually like Duceppe more than all the other party leaders.  I generally agree with the Bloc’s principles on social justice and so I am often very surprised by their stance on separation.  I think the party is behind the times and rather than creating economic and ethnic divisions should be working toward integration with Canada and, to a larger extent, with the world.