The (Other) October Crisis

Writing a historical account of Canadian politics is a pretty thankless task. While we need a written account of our political past, no sooner do we come to something resembling a credible conclusion—something we can learn from—than we find ourselves cycling through the same events yet again. As a result, reading political history has become akin to watching reruns, intermittently pausing to ask, “Haven’t I seen this all before?” A tiresome prospect, indeed, for anyone who has ever hoped that an issue had, once and for all, been decided.

Few things illustrate this problem quite so dramatically as the question of Quebec sovereignty. It is a question that has been addressed twice by referendum, and, even when not the subject of direct democratic action, is ceaselessly debated by ardent sovereignists, moderate autonomists, heart-wrenched federalists and the irritable “Fine. Leave!�...