Canadian House of Commons passes Quebecois nation motion
{{date|November 28, 2006}}
{{Canadian news}}
The [[Canada|Canadian]] {{w|Canadian House of Commons|House of Commons}} approved a motion recognizing the {{w|Quebecois|Québécois}} [the people of Quebec] as a nation within [[Canada]], Monday night, by a margin of 266 to 16. The government motion was supported by the opposition Liberal, New Democratic and Bloc Québécois parties although 15 Liberal MPs voted against it along with Independent MP {{w|Garth Turner}}. Several Conservative MPs abstained from the vote including {{w|Michael Chong}} who resigned earlier in the day as Intergovernmental Affairs minister due to his opposition to the motion. While the dissenting Liberal MPs do not face censure by their party, Conservative backbenchers who opposed the resolution could only go as far as abstaining if they wished to remain in the Tory caucus, according to Mr. Chong. 

The surprise motion was introduced by Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] on November 22 in response to a motion by the {{w|Quebec sovereignty|separatist}} Bloc Québécois that the House recognize Quebec as a nation. The government resolution substituted the word Québécois for Quebeckers and added the words "within a united Canada". The motion reads: "That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada."

The government has stated that they have no intention to amend the {{w|Constitution of Canada}} to recognize Quebec's national status although several political analysts have argued that such an attempt is now inevitable. 

Recognizing Quebec as a nation is a concept that has divided the {{w|Liberal Party of Canada}} in the period leading to its leadership convention this weekend with leadership contender [[Michael Ignatieff]] proposing that idea earlier this fall. Leadership candidates {{w|Ken Dryden}} and {{w|Joe Volpe}} voted against the House of Commons resolution and contender [[Gerard Kennedy]] also expressed his opposition while [[Bob Rae]] and [[Stéphane Dion]], who have both been critical of Ignatieff's call for a constitutional amendment have expressed their support for the House of Commons resolution. 

==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Harper to recognize Quebec as nation within Canada|date=November 23, 2006}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Canadian Cabinet Minister resigns over Harper's Quebec motion|date=November 27, 2006}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/11/27/nation-vote.html|title=House passes motion recognizing Québécois as nation|author=|pub=CBC News|date=November 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1164625146991&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154|title=Quebecois motion passes, 266-16|author=Canadian Press|pub=Toronto Star|date=November 27, 2006}}
{{publish}}

{{archived}}
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Quebec]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Stéphane Dion]]
[[Category:Gerard Kennedy]]
[[Category:Bob Rae]]
[[Category:Michael Ignatieff]]
[[Category:Stephen Harper]]
[[Category:Canadian House of Commons]]
[[Category:Canadian Parliament]]
[[Category:Constitution of Canada]]

[[fr:Adoption de la motion reconnaissant les Québécois comme une nation au sein d'un Canada uni]]
The Canadian House of Commons approved a motion recognizing the Québécois the people of Quebec as a nation within Canada, Monday night, by a margin of 266 to 16. The government motion was supported by the opposition Liberal, New Democratic and Bloc Québécois parties although 15 Liberal MPs voted against it along with Independent MP Michael Chong who resigned earlier in the day as Intergovernmental Affairs minister due to his opposition to the motion. While the dissenting Liberal MPs do not face censure by their party, Conservative backbenchers who opposed the resolution could only go as far as abstaining if they wished to remain in the Tory caucus, according to Mr. Chong. 

The surprise motion was introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on November 22 in response to a motion by the separatist Bloc Québécois that the House recognize Quebec as a nation. The government resolution substituted the word Québécois for Quebeckers and added the words "within a united Canada". The motion reads: "That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada."

The government has stated that they have no intention to amend the  to recognize Quebec's national status although several political analysts have argued that such an attempt is now inevitable. 

Recognizing Quebec as a nation is a concept that has divided the Ken Dryden and  voted against the House of Commons resolution and contender Gerard Kennedy also expressed his opposition while Bob Rae and Stéphane Dion, who have both been critical of Ignatieff's call for a constitutional amendment have expressed their support for the House of Commons resolution.
North America Canada Quebec Politics and conflicts Stéphane Dion Gerard Kennedy Bob Rae Michael Ignatieff Stephen Harper Canadian House of Commons Canadian Parliament Constitution of Canada