The recent decision on the part of the Canadian government to recognize the Quebec nation is one which is largely overdue / inconsequential & rather controversial. Depending on who one talks to the decision is met with varied responses. Most Francophones in Quebec are in favour of the decision while most Anglophones both in Quebec & in the rest of Canada are not in favour of the decision. The government claims that the recognition does not carry any legal weight but the fact of the matter is that it will help the Quebec sovereignists in the long run as this recognition can be viewed as the first step towards legal recognition.

The thing which most people especially in the rest of Canada seem to forget is that the reality of the Quebec nation is undeniable. The Quebecois are a nation in their own right & who are in fact the original Canadiens before the English speakers came & decided to usurp their designation & apply it to themselves. They have their own dialect of the French language & their own unique laws.

The province of Quebec is also very much a nation state. The most interesting thing about this whole thing is how inconsequential this recognition is in light of the fact that Quebec has has long been & will continue to be a nation despite any recognition or past lack of recognition.