The Morning After

Back on my resolution to read more CND history and politics.

I was ten when the election happened but I have no specific memory of the event. Maybe I remember Charest giving a stump speech? But that could have been after, unsurprising that child me didn't pay to much attention to current politics. I think the closest I've come to thinking about it at all was reading Bottle Rocket Hearts by Zoe Whittal.

Hébert and Lapierre, almost two decades later, interview a number of the main players and what they think would have happened in the event of a Yes win. There were a number of terms I'd never heard before (federal mandarin, chattering class) and a realisation of how much I'd let Canadian politics happen in the background of my life. What a tense time! The various interviews highlight many of the tensions and fears around a potential yes vote (nevermind an actual separation) for both side of the campaign.

The “appendix” where each author talks about their interactions with each of the interview subjects is hilarious.