It is unrealistic to hope that the ROQ will change its collective point of view. Its culture, while unique, is also profoundly Canadian, but it is subject to ROQ priorities, an irreconcilable difference that accounts for the flight of many talented workers. This is the essence of Montréal’s dilemma. In Montréal, as in the rest of Canada, the individual has cultural primacy and multiculturalism is the accepted framework. In the area of immigration, for example, the ROQ values assimilation. This leads to stark differences in the choice of policies each jurisdiction thinks appropriate to pursue. Montréal, by contrast, home to more than 80 different ethnic groups, is cosmopolitan and multilingual, with most citizens speaking at least two languages. With few exceptions, the ROQ is culturally homogeneous, virtually unilingual and economically concentrated in forestry, mining, agriculture and primary manufacturing. Since the 1970s, even though Montréal accounts for 50% of Québec’s population and about 65% of provincial tax revenues, the city has been forced to abide by generic rules and practices applied by successive governments throughout the province with no consideration for Montréal’s essential difference from the rest of Québec (ROQ).

But that is unlikely to happen without a dramatic departure from the status quo in Montréal’s relationship with the provincial government. Montréal would have to double its current economic performance even to match - not surpass - its municipal peers. A recent study by Quebec’s Conseil du Patronat gave Québec an overall grade of C on economic factors such as the availability of a quality labour pool, the cost of labour, regulation and public finances. (In fact, the same is true of Québec’s performance overall compared to Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia). Its growth performance over the last 20 years has been about half that of comparable Canadian cities such as Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Out of 25 North American cities of comparable size, Montréal is the poorest (as measured in GDP per capita). Stating the truth about Montreal to Quebec nationalists - that its character, needs and interests have little in common with those of the rest of Quebec (ROQ) and that, by implication, Montreal deserves special status - is simply a taboo.īut Montréal is not prospering. Every face around the table turned to stone. The temperature of the room seemed instantly to go down 30 degrees. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Manage Print Subscription / Tax Receipt.

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