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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Bloc Quebecois supports Canada PM | Bloc Quebecois supports Canada PM |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The leader of Canada's separatist Bloc Quebecois has said his party will back a government motion that Quebecers form a "nation within a united Canada". | The leader of Canada's separatist Bloc Quebecois has said his party will back a government motion that Quebecers form a "nation within a united Canada". |
| Gilles Duceppe said Prime Minister Stephen Harper's motion was a victory for separatist aspirations in Quebec. | Gilles Duceppe said Prime Minister Stephen Harper's motion was a victory for separatist aspirations in Quebec. |
| Francophone Quebec has previously held two referendums on separation, in 1980 and 1995, but rejected the idea. | Francophone Quebec has previously held two referendums on separation, in 1980 and 1995, but rejected the idea. |
| Mr Harper's Conservatives won Canada's general election in January to end 12 years of Liberal rule. | Mr Harper's Conservatives won Canada's general election in January to end 12 years of Liberal rule. |
| Quebec debate reopened | Quebec debate reopened |
| In a parliamentary debate on Friday, Mr Duceppe said the Bloc will join Canada's other opposition parties in supporting the motion that Mr Harper announced on Wednesday. | In a parliamentary debate on Friday, Mr Duceppe said the Bloc will join Canada's other opposition parties in supporting the motion that Mr Harper announced on Wednesday. |
| "We are delighted by the fact that Canada will become the first country to officially recognise the Quebec nation," Mr Duceppe said. | "We are delighted by the fact that Canada will become the first country to officially recognise the Quebec nation," Mr Duceppe said. |
| The government motion says that the House of Commons should "recognise that Quebecers constitute a nation within a united Canada". | The government motion says that the House of Commons should "recognise that Quebecers constitute a nation within a united Canada". |
| The Bloc Quebecois is the third-largest party in the national parliament after the Conservatives and Liberals. | The Bloc Quebecois is the third-largest party in the national parliament after the Conservatives and Liberals. |
| The debate over Quebec's status was reopened earlier in the week when the Bloc announced it would table a motion in parliament calling for recognition of Quebecers as a nation. | The debate over Quebec's status was reopened earlier in the week when the Bloc announced it would table a motion in parliament calling for recognition of Quebecers as a nation. |
| Gilles Duceppe's Bloc Quebecois is Canada's third-largest partyThere was no mention of Canada. | Gilles Duceppe's Bloc Quebecois is Canada's third-largest partyThere was no mention of Canada. |
| Mr Harper then introduced his motion on Wednesday. | Mr Harper then introduced his motion on Wednesday. |
| "The real question is simple," he said in the House of Commons. "Do Quebeckers make up a nation of their own in a united Canada? The answer is yes. | "The real question is simple," he said in the House of Commons. "Do Quebeckers make up a nation of their own in a united Canada? The answer is yes. |
| "Do Quebeckers make up a nation independent from Canada? The answer is no and will always be no." | "Do Quebeckers make up a nation independent from Canada? The answer is no and will always be no." |
| On Thursday the Bloc tabled its motion but with an amendment to say that Quebecers should be recognised as a nation that is "currently within Canada". | On Thursday the Bloc tabled its motion but with an amendment to say that Quebecers should be recognised as a nation that is "currently within Canada". |
| On Friday, Mr Harper welcomed the Bloc's decision to back the government. | On Friday, Mr Harper welcomed the Bloc's decision to back the government. |
| "This is the third position the Bloc has taken on this in three days," Mr Harper said. | "This is the third position the Bloc has taken on this in three days," Mr Harper said. |
| "They moved a motion, they made an amendment to a motion and now they're supporting our motion." | "They moved a motion, they made an amendment to a motion and now they're supporting our motion." |
| He said the motion would not amend the constitution. "This is merely a declaration of recognition and an act of reconciliation." | |
| Constitutional experts say the motion carries no legal weight and would be unlikely to give Quebec separatists a lever to extract more political powers from Ottawa. | Constitutional experts say the motion carries no legal weight and would be unlikely to give Quebec separatists a lever to extract more political powers from Ottawa. |
| The motion is expected to pass easily in parliament next week now that it has the backing of all the major parties. | The motion is expected to pass easily in parliament next week now that it has the backing of all the major parties. |