Asking Quebec to leave

“A bomb,” was how La Presse described it.

Over the years there has certainly been no shortage of books and essays by francophone intellectuals pleading the case for separation, but as one of the very few Anglo voices speaking out in favour of an independent Quebec, Scowen could not be dismissed. It was one thing for French-speaking Quebecers to explain the importance of sovereignty, but when a similar argument suddenly came from the pen of an English-speaking Westmount author, the debate took on a whole new dimension.

Now Scowen has re-released Time to Say Goodbye, updated with a significant amount of new material, and his argument is stronger than ever.

Given the book’s highly charged political message, some might find it suspicious that its release has coincided exactly with the current provincial election campaign—when the issue of another referendum is at the forefront of the Parti Québécois platform. But since book publishing schedules are determined well in advance, Scowen is quick to point out that the timing is merely a coincidence. “The election date was Mr. Charest’s decision,” he said last week.

Scowen’s analysis of this “major unsolved Canadian problem” and its conclusion that a stronger Canada and happier Quebec would result from a split make for a compelling discourse—but still a highly controversial one. His fundamental assertion that “the political values of Quebec are incompatible with those of Canada” is something that people may not want to hear, but he boldly presents his argument based on that statement, and ends up establishing a solid case for the separatist cause.

As for Anglo-Quebecers, Scowen readily admits that they will always be a tough sell when it comes to breaking away from the rest of the country. “It is obvious that they will not instinctively embrace any project that could result in separation,” he writes. “Their emotional ties to the status quo will be strengthened by some very practical concerns: a possible drop in the value of their homes, job losses, the accelerated departure of their friends and family from Quebec. We can’t expect them to accept our proposal.”

Currently promoting this updated version, Scowen said the reception from the first edition of Time to Say Goodbye, published in both English and French versions in 2000, was generally varied along linguistic lines.

“French-speaking readers in Quebec agreed with the conclusion but not the analysis,” he said, “while English readers agreed with the analysis but not the conclusion.”

He added that in places like Westmount, where staunch federalism remains embedded in the social fibre, he has received nothing but positive response from readers—despite the book’s message.

“The conclusion is heart-wrenching for a lot of people,” he said. “They can’t get their head around it.”



Time to Say Goodbye by Reed Scowen is published by McClelland and Stewart, and is available at most bookstores.