Quebec

OTTAWA -- Canadians on both sides of the nation's deep linguistic divide say they were stunned by President Clinton's unexpectedly passionate appeal here for national unity and federalism.Clinton traveled to the flash point of separatism in North America and, without mentioning Quebec nationalism, argued Friday that "the United States and Canada are among the most fortunate countries in the world because we have such diversity."If every major "racial and ethnic and religious group" won independence, "we might have 800 countries in the world and have a very difficult time having a functioning economy," Clinton said, addressing a forum on federalism that earlier in the week had become a platform for complaints by Quebec separatists.

IF QUEBEC VOTERS decide in a referendum to secede from Canada, that would not be the final word. But it would oblige the federal government in Ottawa to negotiate the terms of independence with officials in Quebec City. That was the decision handed down recently by Canada's Supreme Court.In a remarkable 50-page opinion, the Canadian high court unanimously spelled out a reasonable procedure, discussing the meaning of federalism, democracy and other politically sacred concepts along the way. The ruling would turn this often violent question into a sober political process.

THE CANADA that we see from south of the border is bilingual and multicultural coast-to-coast. It has its own constitution with its version of a bill of rights. It goes its own way in foreign policy, often as United Nations peace-keepers. Canada was not always that way. Pierre Elliott Trudeau introduced all this while prime minister from 1968 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984. It was not easy to achieve. Many English-and French-speaking Canadians were dragged along kicking and screaming. But his vision of Canada was the only alternative in Quebec to a language-, heritage- and religion- based provincialism, rebelling against second-class citizenship, which would have destroyed Canada for something else that, even now, is difficult to imagine.

J.P. Shilling of Baltimore, a member of the U.S. Olympic team, was one of four U.S. skaters to qualify for the World Allround Speed Skating Championships to be held this weekend in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Last weekend, Shilling skated races of 500, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters as part of the Continental Cup competition in St. Foy, Quebec, and finished fourth overall with a cumulative 170.027 points. The Continental Cup is the North American regional qualifying event for the world championships.

LANDOVER -- Kelly Miller scored two goals to power the Washington Capitals to a 5-3 victory over the Quebec Nordiques last night before 15,492 at the Capital Centre.The victory moved the Capitals back into a fourth-place tie with the idle New Jersey Devils for the final Stanley Cup playoff spot in the Patrick Division. The Capitals are 9-2-4 in their past 15 home games.Miller had his first two-goal game in six weeks as he scored the tying goal in the second period during a power play and gave Washington an insurance goal at 4 minutes, 19 seconds of the third period.

If you find Paris impossibly romantic, don't miss Quebec. Street mimes and caricaturists cluster around the cobbled squares at the center of Old Quebec -- much like the Montmartre district of Paris. Boutiques brimming with charming knick-knacks line the winding streets -- reminiscent of the Mouffetard district. Hundreds-year-old tables, sea chests and porcelains fill the windows along a row of antiques shops -- recalling the Left Bank. Add the lilt of French accents and menus filled with promises of moules frites and escargots, and you may think you simply slept through the body-wrenching six-hour time change between here and France.

MONTREAL -- It is an article of deepest faith among Canadians that Americans know little about this country, and care less.So it was with emotions ranging from astonishment to outrage that Canadian TV viewers yesterday found stations cutting live to a U.S. congressional hearing on this country's political future, or lack of one.There were no really new developments in Canada's unity crisis. But in a strange sort of way the severity of that crisis was driven home to Canadians as they heard a panel of U.S. experts testify in Washington that Canada could be headed for meltdown and perhaps mayhem.

What if Canada loses Quebec, and gains Baltimore?

It takes two to tango. -- Old North Korean proverb.What if Canada loses Quebec and gains Baltimore?Just because the IRA stopped shooting is no guarantee the UDA will stop shooting back.

Robert Bourassa, 63, who confronted separatist violence, language disputes and Indian militancy during four stormy terms as Quebec's premier, died of skin cancer Wednesday in Montreal.Although opposed to Quebec's secession from Canada, he struggled to find a balance between federalism and Quebec nationalism.He was elected four times as Quebec's premier, serving from 1970 to 1976 and from 1985 to 1994. In 1970, at 36, he was the youngest premier ever elected.After taking power, he was plunged into Quebec's worst political crisis when Quebec Liberation Front separatists kidnapped and killed his labor minister.