( Note: This post is formed by the merger of two texts, which I completed in 2005 and 2007. )
I was thinking recently that the Beauce has often voted against sovereignty and I think we can find the causes in the particular history of the region. After the Conquest, Beauce was found outside the British sphere of influence. A few strides from the city of Quebec was then a valley that was, paradoxically populated but isolated from the rest of "Country French". Why the quasi-voluntary isolation? The British master saw no economic potential to the region ... but there is more.
AN ACCIDENT OF HISTORY
In 1775, while attempting to conquer U.S. troops back along the corridor formed by the boiler, Beauce help the revolutionary forces. The people of the island of Orleans and Bellechasse also helped them. Small detail dodged in formal treaties of history "canadian", where the good little French-Canadian aid without hesitation the British colonial power ...
isolation of the Beauce is an accident of history, we can find a similar situation in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. This region has also, in fact, developed a fierce sense of identity. Found to a lesser extent, this feeling in Témiscouata.
The rest of francophone Quebec shows a lot more cohesion, the axes of the St. Lawrence or the Richelieu River, major, have long been welded at the social and cultural development. Beauce, meanwhile, is located outside the main axis of communication, in a small inaccessible. The "black legs" were those who Beauce, to sell their produce to market in Québec, would circumvent the rapids of the river boiler through marshlands!
The latest settlement areas as the Laurentians, Outaouais, Abitibi example, show no such peculiarities - they were colonized by extension of the main settlement area.
It should be noted that the Beauce has developed very largely in turning his back on the economic power of Montreal. As for Quebec, the city is seen as a client than as a purveyor. The Beauce Valley commercial dynamism, can export in two directions: the city of Quebec and the USA. The valley opens out at both ends, on two complementary markets.
WHY DO FLOWERS IDEAL SOVEREIGNTY NOT BEAUCE
The economic development plan of the Beauce should take a prominent place in a sovereign Quebec. Not because we do want to "buy" the vote Beauceron, but because this region has developed its economic potential and optimally ... original.
A first observation: the Beauce is a region which exports. Some area businesses have experienced very strong growth and are "success stories" and the export is as much regional and continental and even international.
The Beauceron are bilingual, on average, than people in other regions of Quebec. This bilingualism is not one of assimilation or cultural weakness, it is simply to master the language of business in North America. The social fabric is still very homogeneous, immigration is relatively small and easily integrated, we do not find phémomène assimilation into English. The result is that the Beauceron does not feel threatened, they do not feel that French is in danger or even be an issue in their region. Since
Beauce developed without reliance on investment of Quebec or Ottawa, sovereignists arguments concerning interference in Ottawa or on the Harms of economic federalism are well smile Beauce, who are throwing hand. We see how the political discourse of the Bloc did not care. To summarize: the "black legs" as the crows are not afraid of scarecrows waving to them. To get the Beauceron, it takes a positive approach, concrete and preserve the achievements of the region. In other words, it must change promises an accentuation of the characteristics that make this region so dynamic Beauce.
It is easy to understand why the discourse on the sponsorship scandal received a mixed reception in the Beauce, they did not feel at all concerned. The Beauceron thinks: "The Liberals have wasted taxpayers' money? Us replace them, do an investigation and punish those responsible. Otherwise, business is business ..."
Instead of criticizing our busy little squirrels, our jovial capitalist, it would be better to offer them something interesting. Business is business, we repeat ...
BUSINESS PLAN IN 8 POINTS FOR BEAUCE
1. Quebec International Airport.
Studies show that the vast majority of multinational companies settled in less than an hour's drive from an international airport. If you like, for example, attract a national office of Nestle, one must have a direct flight to Switzerland. Currently, Toronto monopolizing direct flights, the headquarters moved to North York or Mississauga. It is also one of the reasons for economic decline of Montreal (since transferred numerous flights to Toronto).
The same logic works in reverse: to export its production to third countries, should ideally be able to invite customers to visit its facilities.
Until Quebec is not independent, there will be no international airport in Quebec, and Saint-Georges de Beauce remain disadvantaged by the current situation. A company that becomes a very big Beauce might even be tempted to move its international offices in Toronto or Montreal.
The ideal solution is, clearly, to have an international airport in Quebec.
2. Completion of regional rail and road infrastructure.
It is very important that Highway 73, on 4 channels, be continued to Saint-Georges. This highway is essential for the trucking, so for exports.
A railroad to transport containers (and passengers) may also be constructed on the axis of the highway. Prime Railway sovereign Quebec, it might work using conventional electric locomotives, quiet, clean and very efficient. This would boost exports, allowing the transport of large volumes of freight (about 100 containers per train, against 4 per truck).
3. The valuation of the ports of Quebec and Rivière-du-Loup (Cacouna).
Exporting firms require port facilities to export efficiently. Instead of depending on the port of Montreal (poorly located) or Halifax (too far), exports could be done by Quebec Cacouna or, depending on season and availability. The port could log onto the rail and truck route to create a genuine "motorways of the export". Because of its location, St. George could also serve as a springboard to the Atlantic city of Portland (Maine), an ice-free port in winter.
4. Enhancement of the Kennebec-Chaudière International Corridor.
The ongoing construction of Highway 73 to the U.S. border and beyond would provide a direct path to export to the United States. Funded jointly, the highway side of Maine would join the 95 in Waterville. This connects the Beauce to a highly efficient motorway network, the U.S. side, and would also give access to the Atlantic port of Portland, another interesting route for exports and a port "all seasons". Beauceronne prosperity would be shared with Maine and with our National Capital Region, Quebec.
5. Obtaining the status of "free zone" for the southern part of the Beauce. A
zone is an area in a strategic location, where they removed some legal or tax to stimulate the economy and transnational operations. Beauce would, in a sovereign Quebec, the best candidate for such status. In recent centuries, free zones such as Monterrey (Mexico), Trieste (Italy), Hong Kong or Djibouti have experienced great prosperity. More recently, small countries like Macedonia have established zones near major cities and airports in order to stimulate economic development. We will return later in this article.
6. A policy favoring the installation of international offices throughout along the Quebec - Saint-Georges.
A targeted economic development policy will promote the construction small office buildings, respecting the regional architecture and preferences of local people in the axis of the Chaudiere River. Companies will certainly settle in the interest of less than an hour from the national capital, near a major port and international airport, along a highway to facilitate exports, and ideally in a free zone .
7. Increased political clout for Beauce.
One of the most immediate consequences of independence will be an increasing political weight of the Beauce. Currently, Beauce County has one federally (1 / 308) and two provincial ridings (2 / 125), which makes it a political weight by about 0.9%. The calculation may seem a little brutal, even simplistic, but you realize very quickly that this is a fairly reliable indicator of the weight of a region, the prioritization of their needs when it comes time to take economic decisions. In a sovereign Quebec, the initial weight of the Beauce would be 1.6% (almost double). It could increase rapidly with the population, through economic incentives discussed here.
8. An area model for Quebec and for the world.
Beauce could become a model and pride, a window on the economic dynamism of Quebec. The entrepreneurial spirit having established very early, a sovereign Quebec could boost the spirit and allow it to be accomplished to reach its full potential. According to his model and building on its success, other zones could be created, in the Brome-Missisquoi for example (see below). It has much of the desired characteristics. The Estrie region has already begun to explore its potential in areas relating to engineering, plastics and biotechnology. Some industries also settle at or near Magog of medium-sized cities, proximity to the United States as an incentive. Current priorities in regional development are unfortunately not favorable, we can blame the passage Industry Canada.
WHY QUEBEC HAS NEED OF FREE ZONES?
By studying the economic development of various regions of Quebec, I finally identified two areas (counties, actually) that have enormous economic potential, but has not yet fully developed: the southern Beauce and the southern county of Brome-Missisquoi.
The idea with Beauce would establish a free zone in the south (between St. George and the border), then expanding the motorway and rail Beauce and through Maine (along the valley roads in Quebec and 73/173 201/295 / 95 of the U.S. side) to create a major economic corridor between Quebec City and the axis Waterville-Augusta-Portland. This opens the Quebec market for food arriving by the deadweight of Portland (ice free) and stimulates the development of transport infrastructure on the Quebec side (eg, increased volume of cargo at the airport in Quebec). Obviously, export commodities produced in the area produces enormous commercial benefits.
the side of Brome-Missisquoi, we take advantage of the interconnection with Interstate 89 on the American side to establish a large industrial park halfway between Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Cowansville cities would also benefit economically. Rail links are also interesting in this sector. And infrastructure are currently under-utilized, which gives them a good growth potential.
To realize such projects, Quebec would likely have on hand the economic levers needed to carry them out (because there are many skills involved and no federal precedent in Canada, I think). Hence the place that this kind of project could have in a sovereignty argument.
However, I quickly identified the main obstacle to this kind of project: attitudes. Talk about free zones or tax holidays, and people go to the barricades, leaving the insults of the day ("colonized!", "Neo-liberal!") And evoking the image of Mexican maquiladoras and the resulting unsanitary . Apocalyptic images of a huge brown cloud floating above the green pastures of our accursed fallow valleys. People do not understand. A free zone is still subject to the standards here, be they environmental, social or security. Simply settling industries in free zones enjoy tax arrangements interesting, in addition to customs processes (import-export) simplified. Who benefits from
ZONES?
A free zone is an area of limited size, in which a template is reduced tax applied to companies, manufactures, and in some cases to workers. In short, these incentives Fiscal much bolder than those found in programs such as the timid "Cité du multimédia" (in Montreal).
The free zone is usually a major industrial park on the edge of a port, airport or border bribery. No fee / tax / duty is retained on manufactured goods that are exported. No tax is applied on income reinvested in development. Reduced bureaucracy and a business culture focused on exporting help attract industries.
Who Benefits? Workers primarily provided (to my opinion) to establish standards of decent employment within the zone. Everyone is glad to see the industry moving locally, right? The community will recover its investment through local prosperity, taxation on non-traded goods (local markets), taxation (albeit small), possibly also through tolls on roads nearby.
The recipe exists, with variations, and it was used by a lot of countries, usually with success. This stimulates the development and concentration of industries. In my view, however, it is better to install a free zone in a well defined, good area, close to mid-sized cities BUT relatively empty at the start.
Obviously, the initial investment involves the construction of basic infrastructure and improving transport routes. For this reason, I identified the axis south of 73/173 in the Beauce. Same for the north end of Highway 89 (USA), which effectively gives on Route 133 in Quebec. The north-east of Missisquoi Bay, at the intersection of Routes 133 and 202, is a strategic location.
CONCLUSION
" (...) two areas related to the U.S. border, Beauce with almost full employment and the Eastern Townships, have clearly contributed to the internationalization of the economy of Quebec. It is undeniable that Montreal has been the locomotive of change, but there was also the effect of secondary engines. "
Jean-François Lisée" Is Quebec a North American Region-State? " in the journal Policy Options, 2003
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