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Quebec Should Form it's Own Sovreign Nation

I thank my opponent for the interesting topic. Burden of proof: My opponent, as the instigator and the one who is advocating for change from the status quo, has the burden of proof. Framework: My opponent seems to be arguing that the round should be weighed based on what policy action is most beneficial to the citizens of Quebec. I accept this standard, but further assert that my opponent must also defend the implications of allowing secessions. The topic says "Quebec should form," not "Canada should allow," so secession should be assumed. Definitions: Quebec, according to Princeton's Wordnet, is a province in Canada. Sovereign nation: a nation that governs itself and is independent from other nations. [1] Refuting my opponent's case: He says: "Quebec is often referred [spelling corrected from original] to as ‘A Nation within a Nation.'" I will prove that there are dangers to taking metaphorical language literally. For example, hopefully a child will not take the following statement literally: "you look so happy you could fly." My opponent points out that French speakers are a majority in Quebec. If language majorities are a sufficient reason for a province or city to become its own sovereign nation, then all the Chinatowns in the U.S. should become their own sovereign nations. Any area in California, Arizona, or Texas that has a majority of Spanish speakers should become its own nation. California, when Spanish speakers eventually overtake English speakers, should secede from the Union and potentially rejoin Mexico. His logic is a very slippery slope. In addition, my opponent makes it seem like these French speakers are isolated from the rest of Canada, by virtue of the language they speak. However, it is a legal requirement that they all learn English, so they are actually all bilingual. Claude Belanger of Marianopolis College says, "Bilingualism is both a legal requirement and a fact of life in Quebec." [2] My opponent seems to be advocating that these Francophones not learn English. This would, however, put them at a huge competitive disadvantage when most of their trading partners and business opportunities would be in nearby English speaking areas. In addition, English is the language of international business. People in many other countries would die for the opportunity to learn English, since it opens up so many opportunities. Creating a situation where French speakers in Quebec are encouraged not to learn English would actually have detrimental impacts for the people of Quebec. Building my case: 1. Border security/passports If Quebec became its own nation, it would have to issue passports to its own citizens and it might even require that its citizens renounce Canadian citizenship. This would make it either difficult or impossible to work outside the province and commute back-and-forth. In addition, it would choke off commerce and business dealings between Quebec and the rest of Canada, since businessmen will find it more difficult to travel to Quebec if they must go through border security and present a passport. Many businesses would begin to locate outside of Quebec, for convenience's sake. In addition, tariffs would make it more difficult to trade. If Quebec were to adopt its own currency, this would further exacerbate the problems. This is a move in the wrong direction. For example, the Eurozone has successfully made itself more prosperous by REMOVING barriers to trade, such as eliminating tariffs and adopting one currency (the Euro). Becoming a sovereign nation with its own passports, tariffs, and currency would make trade between Quebec and Canada more difficult, choking off much economic activity. 2. The cost of secession If Quebec were to secede from Canada, it would suddenly need to pay a number of costs, such as the bureaucracy costs of forming its own sovereign government (such as setting up a tax collection system), as well as the costs for social services, such as universal health care. Quebec would actually be worse off in this regard because its citizens are poorer than the average citizens in Canada, meaning that they currently enjoy a disproportionate share of social services. According to Quebec's official immigration site, the average income in Quebec is $17,740, versus $19,310 for Canada generally (in 2005 US $). [3] If Quebec left Canada, its citizens would receive fewer (and lower quality) social services because they cannot afford the same living standards that Canada currently provides to them. 3. Civil War The United States' Civil War began when the South tried to secede from the Union. It can be assumed that Canada would not look favorably upon Quebec's breach of Canadian sovereignty and authority. A Canadian civil war would result in countless unnecessary and preventable deaths. Because Quebec's citizens would clearly be worse off from secession, I urge a vote for the con.