Quebec Canada Government

On a packed bus rolling through the streets of Canada's bilingual capital, Ottawa, the driver called out, "Please move to the rear of the bus," in heavily French-Canadian-accented English. Out of the crowd of passengers came a loud, sarcastic retort, and a sign of the times: "Yes, move to the back and make room for French-Canadians!" Separatism is back in Canada, after a 10-year time of peace.

The Progressive Conservative national government is expected to be dealt a setback today in a special parliamentary election in Quebec. Opinion polls show the Conservative candidate running a dismal third for the seat in the traditionally Conservative province, which is the home of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Quebec voters have become disenchanted with higher interest rates and unemployment in the province; the issue of corruption in the party is also a factor in the race.