Citizens reject Tories' nation motion

Nov 29, 2006
Canadian Press
Printed in Calgary Sun

MONTREAL -- Canadians overwhelmingly rejected the concept of Quebec nationhood in a new poll released yesterday.

The poll came out a day after all parties in Parliament declared the Quebecois a nation within Canada.

Outside Quebec, 77% of Canadians rejected the idea the province forms a nation, suggested a Leger Marketing survey.

Among regional, linguistic and Liberal party breakdowns, French-speaking Quebecers, at 71%, were the only group to "personally consider that Quebecers form a nation."

The question in the Nov. 16-26 poll was, "Do you personally consider that Quebecers form a nation or not?"

Canadians from every region outside Quebec, non-francophone Quebecers (62%), Liberal party supporters (72%), francophone Canadians outside Quebec (77%) all resoundingly rejected the idea.

Support for Quebec nationhood ranged from 11% in the Prairie provinces to 19% in Alberta.

The poll also indicated Liberal leadership hopeful Bob Rae would be set to win if Canadians or Liberal supporters made the decision instead of delegates at the party convention this week.

Rae led the field with 17% support among Canadians and Liberal party supporters.

Michael Ignatieff, Ken Dryden and Stephane Dion all stuck around 10% support with both Liberals and Canadians in general.