Prime Minister Mackenzie King once remarked that while some countries had too much history, Canada had too much Geography.  The second largest nation on Earth, Canada occupies 9,922,000 square kilometres of land.  It has been described as a nation of superlatives.  This geography would, however, be irrevocably altered if the province of Quebec were to become independent.  This separation would affect all facets of Canadian life, not just geography.  To separate one portion of this change would be impossible since all the portions are intertwined so closely.
    The province of Quebec is the largest of all the Canadian provinces, comprising 15.5% of the nation.  It lies between Newfoundland and the Maritimes and the rest of Canada.  It also contains some 26% of the population.  If it were to leave Confederation a huge, gaping hole would be torn in the nation.  The Maritimes and Newfoundland would be physically cut off from the rest of the nation.  Already disadvantaged when compared to the rest of the nation, this separation would be fatal to the fragile economies of these provinces.  Once Quebec were independent from Canada, the western provinces might also decide that they would be better off outside of Canada as well.  The nation would unravel at the seams, leaving nothing but bitter feelings and sorrowful memories in the mind of the world.
    This outcome is one of many speculated upon however.  If Quebec were to separate from Canada now, they most certainly not go as a whole.  In light of the 1995 referendum on sovereignty's outcome, a much different view of an independent Quebec appears: one of a much smaller nation.  After the narrow loss of the Yes vote, many members of the Parti Quebecois (Quebec's provincial level nationalist party) advocated an agreement whereby those electoral ridings which voted against seceding from Canada in the next referendum would be allowed to remain within Canada, while the rest of Quebec became independent.  This would result in a vast different independent Quebec.  If one were to plot those ridings that voted No on a map, large area of Quebec would remain under Canadian control, most notably the Island of Montreal, Northern Quebec, and areas on the south shore of the St. Lawrence near the American border.  If areas of marginal victory of the Yes vote were included then independent Quebec would be a largely rural nation straddling the St. Lawrence Seaway, one third it's current size.
    These areas, independent of Quebec, would be comprised of mostly English-speaking peoples. Ethnic peoples, and aboriginals.  Most likely these areas would become new provinces, or be added to those that already exist.  This loss of area would be unacceptable to a newly independent Quebec for one reason: the north, an area that would remain in Canadian hands, is the location of it's most lucrative natural resource and form of capital, Hydro-Quebec's so-called "Mega-Projects."  A newly independent Quebec would need these projects to raise much needed capital.  And so this plan for some ridings to remain in Canada is doomed to failure.
    However, if Quebec were to attempt to separate as a whole from Canada they would face the loss of the North.  It is comprised mostly of the Ungava Territory which was given to Quebec by Ottawa to govern over in 1912.  If Quebec were to secede from Canada, Ungava would return to Canadian control.  Although this is contested by the Quebec government, the inhabitants of this area, the Cree, have declared publicly that they would go to war with a newly independent Quebec for control over their (the Cree's) right to return to Canada with their land.
    If some sort of deal were to be struck between a newly independent Quebec and Canada over the North and control of the land and hydropower opportunities, then those other ridings which voted No would most certainly be allowed their independence from Quebec.  If this were the case then Canada would only shrink in land area by about 6%.  Our population would probably only shrink by 10%.  The Maritime provinces would still be physically isolated from Canada but they would make gains in areas absorbed from Quebec.  The physical separation would also not be that great, less than 100 km, none at all if the marginal areas voted No in the next referendum.
    Canadian Geography would indeed be irrevocably altered by the loss of Quebec, but other things must be brought into consideration before a final decision can be made.  Canadian losses of territory would not be as severe as some would claim.  Canada would probably loose it's status as second largest nation of Earth, although we would not fall very far.  Too much Geography would be a malady which will continue to plague the nation.
    Oh Canada.