Silver Lily and Golden Maple Leaf

[Evangeline Anovilis]

 

The air in the Ville de Québec was filled with aspiration, as the people went to the polling stations. While many were still looking towards the times in the past when Quebec had been a proud nation, only in the last few weeks, a larger movement had formed to call for restoring the heritage of North America's premier francophone country. Under the auspices of the Faraway National Restauration Congress, hundreds of thousands of Quebecois would be mobilised for the idea of independence and a notification would be sent to the Commonwealth authorities in Washington about these intentions.

 

Heading the CNRF (Congress Nationale de la Restauration de Faraway) was its president, Helena de Grenville, a politician with a good name, an affluent background, connections to the local elites and most of all, a vision for a strong country in the North. With the statement that the CNRF would restore the prestige, influence and power of the people in this region, which had not seen any meaningful and lasting development since the fall of Faraway, she could built on a broad sentiment among the Quebecois, that this land was to be more than just a forgotten protectorate space.

 

It thus would be rather unsurprising that, despite the free and fair elections among the Congress Nationale de la Restauration de Faraway, the Parti Liberal and the Parti Quebecois, the most prominent Helena de Grenville emerged victorious. Before the assembled crowd in front of the Hôtel du Parlement, she would proudly proclaim the results.

 

"Citoyens! It is with great joy, that I hereby announce, the result of the latest polls regarding our independence. In the last hours, millions of our fellow countrymen have went to the polling stations, casting their votes, voicing their will, the will of the people of Quebec. And as it stands, the vote has concluded, with a clear 94.8% in favour of this move. This fills me with pride, as this is the clear and undeniable will of the people to restore a great heritage once more. I already have filed the petition to Washington, for them to acknowledge our desire to once more establish a strong country in the North, a proud and free nation, filled with the glory of the past, the present and of things to come.

 

Also, I want to thank the people of Quebec, as they have elected my humble person to head this great nation for the time to come. With a majority of 68.9%, the CNRF has been entrusted with bringing this country up again. My colleagues and I shall work hard to fulfill this mission dutifully. We have not chosen the proud name of Faraway without reason, but we have done so, because it was then, that our nation was great for the last time. One may say a lot about the methods that were employed by the Faraway state, by the repression and the lack of democracy. But it is without doubt, that the Faraway Realm has been a golden era, the fall having reduced our status to that of a mere protectorate. And it is without doubt, that this country has left its mark. I would not say that we will have to restore the Realm as it was. It would be foolish to copy the failures of old. But we ought to set for ourselves an example, which to surpass we shall strive for. Vive le Faraway libre!"

[MostGloriousLeader]

With free elections held under observation by Commonwealth monitors, the process was deemed complete and the Commonwealth Protectorate Administration would begin to hand over the reigns to their new Faraway counterparts and Commonwealth troops would begin withdrawing from the country.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

The duties of keeping public order and providing security against foreign forces would be taken over by the newly created police and the Milice nationale, the improvised version of the armed forces, which would serve in that role until a proper army was created. The withdrawing soldiers would be given a message thanking them for their safekeeping and telling them to just send a message, should they ever want a meeting. Officially, the country would be proclaimed as the Faraway Realm of Quebec, with both the former flags of Quebec and Faraway being representative of the new entity. A unicameral parliament would be established, embedded in a presidential system. The new constitution would line out the Faraway Realm of Quebec as a "unitary constitutional state".

 

Meanwhile, a first government would be established, with a cabinet of CNR politicians. Some already had been working in the administration of the territory in the past, thus being no strangers to their new agendas. The ministries would be based upon the old Faraway ministries (Lower row, middle column) and while there would be a democratic control, the Faraway culture would see a certain revival.

[lkfht]

"The government of the United Republic of Ireland recognizes the newly formed independent and sovereign state of Faraway Realm of Quebec."

 

- Foreign Minister Kendal Mayers

[Mogar]

"The Cape welcomes Faraway back to the world, it is good to see the people of Quebec ruling themselves once more."

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"Our people appreciate the international recognition and well-wishes and hope to soon be able to live up to our honourable name. We thus thank all those who extented their greetings and hopefully, there will be good future relations."

-Florence de Pétèvellier, Minister of the Exterior

[Evangeline Anovilis]

The so-called "State Corporations and Monopolies Act" would be passed as one of the first acts of the new États-generaux. With the cited intent to regulate establishment and management of state-owned enterprises in accordance with the volonté général of the people, it decreed the founding of state media (the Courrier de Québec), the Société de postes de Faraway/Faraway Post Corporation, the Banque de Québec (with attached Monnaie de Québec), the Direction des Arsenals quebecois (DAQ, concerned with procurement of military systems and supplies), as well as the renationalisation of Hydro-Québec, the local railway network, organised as Société de chemins de fer de Faraway (SCFF), transportation infrastructure on the northern side of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which would form the Direction de la Voie maritime de Saint-Laurent. State monopolies would be created for the postal service, the state mint, the energy sector, the railway and Seaway transportation infrastructure, as well as for the gold and silver mining sector, which would be nationalised and put under the control of the Monnaie de Québec. A further "Quality Services Act" would decree that private services in those areas where state-owned businesses operated, but held no monopoly, were required to provide services of "equal, if not superior quality" and to "work cooperatively with the local authorities".

 

To lay the foundation of the national defense, the États-généraux passed the "Army and Militia Act", which enacted an effective system of conscription and reserve service. In the Faraway tradition, every Faraway female, upon reaching the age of 18, was to serve a basic three years within the Armée de Québec and was afterwards eligible to be called to arms again in times of crisis till they reached the age of 55. Reservists would be called upon twice annually for a two weeks of training, in order to keep a basic level of readiness. In order to provide these added trainings, but also to increase the capabilities of the armed forces, the Milice was created. Tasked with bolstering the defenses of the country in times of emergency, members of the Milice would not be regular soldiers, but would recruit itself from the reservist pool. Having a stricter training regiment than the normal forces, the Milice was supposed to provide an early rapid mobilisation force, as well as a paramilitary force to assist in keeping internal order, should a state of emergency arise. The number of active duty soldiers would be estimated at 400,000, with an additional 300,000 in the Milice and a total of approximately 4.5 million available for military service.

Edited March 30, 2014 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Horo the Wise Wolf]

Meihua sends its regards and well-wishes to the faraway country.

[Lynneth]

"The Principality of Tikal wishes Faraway success and prosperity in the future."

[Captain Enema]

"Legion wishes Faraway well and we fully appreciate a good rebirth from the ashes and all that sort of thing."

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"The Realm thanks all those who wish us well and may there be fruitful relations in the future."

-Florence de Pétèvellier, Minister of the Exterior

 

[hr]

 

Altough Québec was still young, the Monnaie de Québec would mint a special commemorative gold coin with one quarter ounce of gold. Officially valued at 250 Faraway Pound, the coin would bear the Three-pronged Maple leafs of the Faraway coat of arms with the inscription "Royaume de Faraway" on one side, and an image of the Faraway banner flying above the destroyed Wisconsin State Capitol, with the inscription "Madison Rebellion". A total of 100 coins would be minted, one for each of the armed instigators that was at the very core of the uprising.

 

A simple variant not including gold, as a variant of the 1 Faraway Pound coin would also be minted, for more widespread usage among the regular coinage, in order to remind the Faraway people of the blood that was shed in the name of Queen and country and to teach them the harsh cost of letting chaos rein free.

 

One each of the golden coins would be sent to Caledonia and the American Commonwealth, in remembrence of the shared history.

Edited March 30, 2014 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Evangeline Anovilis]

Not public

 

Québec had joined the realm in the past in the years after the initial isolationist period. Prior to the union of Upper and Lower Canada, it had been a sovereign state, in many areas superior to the rest of Faraway and the regime also had treaded it differently. Compared to the degraded provinces of Villiers, Iowa and the Southern Provinces, Québec, and also Acadie, enjoyed a broad autonomy. It was thus not unsurprising when many rather associated Faraway with a certain grandheur and not with terror and poverty. However, while the order back in the day prevented any serious uprising, the leniency shown by the crown had allowed for certain institutions to survive the Faraway period. One of them was the Parti Québecois, which rather would do away with the "Faraway" in front of the country's name and who were one of the two opposition parties. Calling for a return to a strong Québec such as during the time of the Grande Republique, altough their conservative outlook would make them seem natural allies of the CNRF, the fundamental differences in what the new state should be, Québec or Faraway, Republic or Monarchy, Conservative, Reactionary or even Dalianist, these disputes would soon cause there to be a strong divide between the ruling CNRF and the PQ. And so it would not be too surprising, when the first mission of the newly-created Faraway Higher Police would be to keep tabs on the PQ behind the scenes, to avoid "radicalism directed against fundamental principles of the state".

[Margrave]

MESSAGE OF RECOGNITION AND FRIENDSHIP TO THE PEOPLE OF QUEBEC

FROM: THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE NATIONAL COUNCILORS, AND THE COMMUNITY CONGRESS

 

 

MESSAGE: ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE FREE STATE, GREETINGS. CALEDONIA RECOGNIZES THE SOVEREIGNTY OF QUEBEC AND WAITS UPON YOUR CONVENIENCE TO RECEIVE AMBASSADORS. AS A YOUNG NATION, THE FREE STATE FEELS THAT THE RETURN OF SUCH A PRACTICED HAND TO THE SHIP OF STATE MEANS ONLY GOOD THINGS FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND FOR ALL OF CANADA. AS A GOOD WILL GIFT, AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO CONSTRUCT A GUEST HOUSE IN WINNIPEG FOR THE USE OF QUEBEC'S DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

 

 

ON BEHALF OF THE FREE STATE,

 

 

NATHAN STAR BLANKET,

 

EXECUTIVE COUNCILOR

NATIONAL CHIEF OF THE FIRST NATION TRIBES

 

Enclosed with the diplomatic correspondence would be the following personal message.

 

 

Greetings to our cousin on Canadian soil, and the governmental body of Quebec. As National Chief of the First Nations and Chief of the First Nations Congress, I would ask that you allow travel visas for members of the First Nation tribes who may be residing in Quebec so that the native sons of Canada may gather as a people and confer upon the makeup and leadership of the First Nations Congress, and the next National Chief. As the elected representative of the Tribes, I must seek the consensus and representation of all native people of Canada, I would greatly appreciate it if you would facilitate my request.

 

 

Signed,

Nathan Star Blanket

[Evangeline Anovilis]

To: The Executive Council, the National Councilors and the Community Congress

From: Florence de Pétèvellier, Minister of the Exterior of the Faraway Realm of Québec

 

Mr Blanket,

 

We thank you and your people for your welcoming words and likewise extent our well-wishes for a good relation between our countries in the future. The Realm has decided to dispatch Madame Elodie Lavasseur to your country as ambassador to your nation and we would invite you to likewise send an ambassador to our country. Maybe, at some point, a meeting between our Canadian countries could be arranged, to establish closer ties between our countries.

 

With regards,

Florence de Pétèvellier

 

Attached would be the following message.
 

Greetings,

 

The Faraway Realm of Québec understands your point and will ease travel visas for recognised First Nation tribes when their stay abroad is related to the First Nation Congress and can be proven as such at the time of applying for a visa. We however might state that such visa shall be issued only for a duration of up to two months, visa requests shall be denied in case of individuals who are charged with criminal offenses and we reserve for ourselves the option to revoke this regulation, should it prove to be detrimental to the internal security and stability of the Realm. We hope that this will be taken into consideration, however else, there should be no issues.

 

With regards,

Florence de Pétèvellier

 

Not public

 

The Faraway Higher Police would now also be tasked with keeping an eye on the indegenous people, conducting background checks on everyone who applied for a visa and preparing for reprisals in case the natives would abuse the new regulation.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

An even more rigorous system would follow soon in the form of the Migration Management Act, in order to keep the population stable and growing. It would allocate a budget for the purpose of financing integration courses for immigrants, in order to assess their ability to become part of the Realm. These cost-free courses would teach them basic understandings of the state, the Faraway society, Faraway history, ideological foundations, loyalty to state and crown, as well as, if required, basics of French and English language. Additionally, immigrants would be allowed access to greater parts of the industry and agriculture, in order to allow quick establishment of an economic basis in their new home. This would also be assisted with a small one-time payment to prospective citizens, which was meant as a further incentive of settling in Faraway. This payment, set at 400 Faraway Pound, would be a loan at 5% interest rate, though once citizenship was acquired, the sum would no longer have to be repaid.

 

However, the state would also try to stop any means of capital flight from Faraway through expatriation, setting a tax on the act of emmigration. Upon emmigrating, the individual in question would be assessed by the newly created Financial Assessment Bureau of the Treasury, which would create a report on the posessions of the individual in question. Based on the report, an individual would have to pay a minimum of 500 Faraway Pound, as well as a set percentage of their wealth, if it surpassed a certain treshold. The percentage would be progressively increased as the individual in question would be more affluent, starting out at a mere 50% at 5,000 Faraway Pound and ending with 95% at 100,000 Faraway Pound or beyond. Individuals would be required to pay the tax in Faraway Pound, as neither foreign currency, nor any other objects were accepted as viable method of payment at full value. Foreign currencies would be categorically excluded as a payment, while objects of value could be used, but only at half their assessed value, in order to account for the possibility that the state would be unable to sell possessions acquired this way to third parties afterwards. Any kind of debt would not be factored into the assessment, though a person would need a certificate from the Banque de Québec to prove that they did no longer owe anyone money within Québec. This was mostly to prevent any hassle with people trying to borrow money from the state, in order to maybe no longer pay it back once crossing the border.