United for the independence of our country
This is an unofficial translation by Mathieu GP of the manifesto published for the independence march organized by the Cap sur l'indépendance network and held in Montréal on October 29, 2011[1].
The CAP SUR L'INDÉPENDANCE network, which unites 22 pro-independence movements, invites citizens of Québec to participate, on October 29, to a great, united, non-partisan, peaceful and joyful demonstration for the independence of our nation.
The event will begin at 1:30 p.m. on "Place du Canada" (renamed for the occasion "Place de l'indépendance"), located at the corner of boulevard René-Lévesque and rue Metcalfe, near métro Bonaventure and will end with speeches around 3:30 p.m. near the City Hall of Montréal.
Why get together and walk for our freedom?
Because our nation, despite all the progress made in recent decades, remains in 2011 a dependent nation, a nation politically colonized by the State of Canada, a nation seriously threatened, in particular, it is urgent to become aware of it, by the rapid anglicization of our metropolis.
Let's say things as they are: our nation for 30 years now, has been subjected to an illegitimate fundamental law, the Canadian constitution, which was imposed to us and which deprives us of our political freedom. We are not free. We are not "masters in our own house".
To meet the challenges that we face today, even in areas as vital to our existence as the defence and promotion of our language and culture, control over communications and immigration, the protection of our environment, we can neither freely vote the laws that we deem necessary (when we do, the Supreme Court of Canada gives us a stark call to order), nor sign treaties with other nations that would strengthen our actions, nor use to our own purposes all the taxes collected on our companies and our workers.
While we run out of money to provide quality education and health care services, we send every year $50 billion ($500 billion just in the past decade!) to the Canadian State which, to the detriment of our values, our environmental and socioeconomic interests, disposes of it all at its will, notably in supporting the oil industry in Alberta, the automobile and nuclear industries in Ontario, hydropower in Newfoundland, the development of Toronto as an important financial centre.
No matter that we are overwhelmingly opposed to the military presence of the Canadian army in Afghanistan, opposed to the opening of military bases abroad, opposed to the purchase of high tech fighter aircrafts to participate to the offensive wars of the future, we are not free to make other choices. On the contrary, we are forced to fund, through our taxes, for nearly five billion dollars a year, these costly military adventures of Canada.
Meanwhile, we are not even free to decide for ourselves to replace the Champlain Bridge, an infrastructure essential to our economic activities, which is falling apart. In this as in so many other things, we must depend on the good pleasure of the Canadian State.
Subject to the Canadian Constitution and a Charter of Rights founded on the dogma of multiculturalism, we are not free, whether we want it or not, to give ourselves a charter of secularism. Would we do that, this charter would suffer the same fate accorded to the Charter of the French language since its inception: a steady erosion under the repeated blows of judgements from the highest court in Canada.
We are not free, either, to participate under our own identity in the life of nations. Everywhere, we're missing. Everywhere we are silent. We cannot delegate our athletes to world competitions, nor speak for ourselves and with our own voice in international institutions where our future as Quebecers and as citizens of the Earth is being played.
Despite pessimists and naysayers, the Jean Charest and François Legault of this world, the independence of Quebec is more necessary and more urgent than ever.
Moreover, despite the corruption problems and other difficulties it faces, our nation has never been, in all its history, as strong and in a better position, in all respects but especially economically, to declare its independence. We are better equipped to assume our political freedom than most of the 192 nations today members of the United Nations.
It's up to us, citizens of all ages and all conditions, to roll up our sleeves, put an end to our divisions, gather in a great non-partisan coalition to resume and complete our journey toward our national independence.
We send an invitation, for October 29, in the streets of Montréal, to all our citizens who have Quebec and its freedom at heart.
Long live freedom!
Long live independence!