Why isn’t Quebec as successful as Norway?
Norway is blessed with hydro, forestry, fisheries and oil & gas. Quebec is blessed with hydro, forestry, fisheries, mining and now natural gas and possibly oil.
Norway has a successful social model and a world renowned reputation for the environment. Quebec has a successful social model and a world renowned reputation for the environment.
Dominic Champagne once asked me at one of our community meetings in Lotbiniere ‘can we assume that Quebeckers are as smart as Norwegians?’ Mr. Bouchard said in his recent speech that Quebeckers must be willing to take intelligent risks.
Norwegians have aggressively combined technology with environmental objectives. They have made evidence based decisions to take intelligent risks. They develop their resources with respect for the environment. They are the richest country on earth measured by GDP per person.
I always say that what you get when you cross a Viking with a socialist is a modern Norwegian. I wonder what you would get if you crossed a coureur des bois with a socialist?
Would it be a modern Quebecker, willing to take intelligent risks and like Norwegians, become technological leaders in sustainable resource development of all kinds?
On this point Mr. Champagne and I agree, there is no reason Quebeckers can’t be as smart as Norwegians. Quebec is certainly no less blessed with resources.