Seems as though this might turn out to be true. And with outside influences fueling them, it could be a reality:
The ChronicleHerald.ca Quote:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper harkened back to one of the stormiest chapters of Canada-France relations to remind the woman who could be the next French president to butt out of Canada’s national unity debate.
Segolene Royal, who’s been nominated to lead France’s Socialist Party in the next election, evoked echoes of Charles de Gaulle’s exhortation of "Vivre le Quebec libre" in 1967.
Asked for her thoughts about Quebec’s future after a short meeting with Parti Quebecois Leader Andre Boisclair in Paris on Monday, Royal said the province and France have common values, including "sovereignty and Quebec’s freedom."
That triggered a swift and pointed response from Harper to Royal, who has never visited Quebec.
"Experience teaches that it is highly inappropriate for a foreign leader to interfere in the democratic affairs of another country," he said in a statement from Ottawa.
"We look forward to marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of Canada at Quebec City with the next president of France.
"We expect in turn that the next president will display an understanding of our shared history, and the respect for Canada and Canadians that such an important partnership requires."
Then French president Charles de Gaulle caused a diplomatic storm in 1967 when he ended a speech at Montreal city hall with "Vive le Quebec libre (Long live free Quebec)" as the province grappled with the budding sovereigntist movement.
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How come I have a strong feeling that France has something to do with both situations?