I love Quebec, but hate sepratists.
I know this idea has been tossed about a bit, but now that it's back in the news again, I wanted to post it here and see what you all think.
Personally, I think it's an atrocious idea. For this lawyer to suggest that Quebec players are being excluded from international tournaments (though the main focus is hockey) is ludicrous. Some of the nation's best athletes are from Quebec - but then again, so are the athletes from the other nine provinces and three territories.
I'd be just as miffed if there was a Team Ontario or Team Nunavut or something in such a competition, like the Olympics and whatnot; why should the rest of the country be overlooked just cuz some people in Quebec - not even the majority - have a sepratist agenda? As long as they're a part of this country - and I say they have to stay whether they like it or not - they cannot send their own team of athletes, hockey or otherwise, to the Olympics or any other international competition.
I know back in the day - like the 50's and whatnot, back when Team Canada won a lot of gold medals - we sent full teams from different parts of the country. Teams that were a team already on their own, such as the Edmonton Mercuries (who I think won in 1992), rather than a composition of different, but the best players currently in the pros or amateur leagues. The question is, is this idea of Quebec's any different? Personally, I don't like it, but it's worth thinking about.
Anyway, I plain don't like the idea, nor do I think it will actually happen. It's just another sepratist activist blowing hot air - something I don't have any time for, since the people of Quebec already get more federal benefits than any other people in the country. My family hails from Quebec (the english part of the west island of Montreal, however), so I know this is something they've seen first hand for decades.
So, what say you?
Source at the Vancouver Province.
Team Canada or Quebec?
Separatist wants La Belle Province in tourney
The Canadian Press
Published: Friday, November 03, 2006
QUEBEC -- If lawyer Guy Bertrand has his way, Canada could be represented at the 2008 world hockey championship by Team Quebec.
Bertrand, who is again proclaiming his sovereigntist faith after embracing federalism for several years, said Thursday he wants Quebec's hockey elite to play a pre-tournament best-of-three or best-of-five series against players from the rest of Canada.
Up for grabs would be one spot at the 2008 world championship, which will be held in Quebec City and Halifax.
Bertrand's scenario would see some of the losing players allowed to represent the winning team at the worlds.
Bertrand, who ran for the leadership of the Parti Quebecois in 1985 before he put on his federalist hat after the 1995 referendum, made it clear he's back in the separatist camp.
"If Quebec can't play hockey with the greats of the world at international competitions, just because it isn't sovereign, what do you think is left for us to do? To be crushed or to be free?
"Hockey in Quebec is part of popular culture and has been so for more than 100 years. And Quebec has always been recognized as the hockey master of the world."
Hockey Canada once again rejected the idea of a Team Quebec.Hockey Canada once again rejected the idea of a Team Quebec.
"From Hockey Canada's point of view, our purpose and our intention has always been to ice the best Canadian team and that would include players from every province including Quebec as well as the Territories," said Scott Smith, senior executive vice-president.
"We continue to stay on that approach and that's our intent -- to take the best players available for 2008 and be as successful as possible for that championship, which will be in Canada for the first time."
He said the composition of recent teams at major events has had representatives from all regions of the country.
Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson rejected the idea of a Team Quebec last December when Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe mentioned it in the federal election campaign.
Nicholson said International Ice Hockey Federation rules allow for only one entry per country at world championships and Olympic Games.
At the time, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier, a Quebec native who has represented Canada on several occasions, said he'd choose to play for Canada. Superstar goalie Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils also backs a united Canada in his recent book.
Bertrand wrote Nicholson a letter last week asking him to review his decision last year to reject the proposal of a Quebec team.
Quebec City will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2008, and Bertrand said it would be a beautiful "gift" if the city could see a Quebec team in action.
© The Vancouver Province 2006