Globe columnist Marcus Gee writes a column in keeping with the tone of talks this week between John Tory and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre — that is, peace is at hand. It will be a blessing if this Entente Cordiale brings prosperity, as peace often does. The differences between the cities are profound. For a century Quebec (and Montreal) have been promising to permit Ontario tradesmen and others to cross into that province to do business. But it was always a one-way street. If separatism is truly dying we may never again see the flight of business from Montreal that occurred in the 70s. Rene Levesque changed the map of Canada in a way he never intended by making Toronto the headquarters of all five of the banking big sisters. Worried executives had to ponder doing business with Canada from a foreign state. Let’s hope the solitudes are over. Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail
