system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why does Quebec want to secede from Canada, and what are the implications of it does?
gpt
Quebec wants to leave Canada because of a long running divide between the English speaking majority and the French speaking minority. The roots of this go back to colonization, during which the English defeated the French and kicked them off the continent, more or less.

Quebec considers themselves to be culturally unique, to the point where they pushed for recognition as a 'country within a country'. They believe by seperating, they will be able to better protect their cultural identity and achieve greater independence from the Anglo ruling class who holds them back.

In reality, there is no such conspiracy. Should Quebec leave, they'll also leave with a substantial debt and faltering revenue -- currently, the province relies on transfer payments from the other provinces to maintain the balance sheet.

They have a pipedream that they'll be able to access the rest of Canada without a passport, that tourism dollars will actually flow into Quebec and that they'll be able to continue using the Canadian dollar with a seat at the Bank of Canada. So far, none of these seem to be realistic expectations.

50/50 odds that within 20 years, the country of Quebec would be bankrupt and rejoin Canada out of desperation; 60/40 we invade them within the century and annex the territory.

On a practical note, they are unlikely to be able to pass the referendum: current levels of support for separatism are around the same levels they were in the 1980s -- substantially lower than their last vote [1994?]. There is also the complexity of dealing with the Natives and their treaty rights, who would likely side with the Federal government, and the Anglo-Quebecois who will never vote for separatism.