--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I belong to a generation that had so many…" description: "\"I belong to a generation that had so many choices available. In 1970, when [former premier Robert] Bourassa launched the James Bay development project,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/philippe-couillard-30880_available_i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-man_791075.jpg" --- # I belong to a generation that had so many choices… ![“I belong to a generation that had so many choices available. In 1970, when [former premier Robert] Bourassa launched the James Bay development project, nobody in Quebec asked whether we had the means to do it. Today could we launch another James Bay? Imagine the debates we'd have? We were a young…” quote by Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/philippe-couillard-30880_available_i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-man_791075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/philippe-couillard-30880_available_i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-man_791075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/philippe-couillard-30880_available_i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-man_791075.jpg) > “I belong to a generation that had so many choices available. In 1970, when \[former premier Robert\] Bourassa launched the James Bay development project, nobody in Quebec asked whether we had the means to do it. Today could we launch another James Bay? Imagine the debates we'd have? We were a young, rich society with almost no debt. The generation that comes after us, and which will lead Quebec, must also have choices. And for that, they'll need financial manoeuvring room.” [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on past abundant choices, urging future leaders to preserve financial flexibility for societal decisions. **In simple terms:** Past choices were easy; future ones need fiscal room. Key Takeaway Maintain fiscal flexibility for future generations. Themes economics public policy generational equity Mood reflective concerned Type policy political When to use this quote - government budgeting - community forums - policy workshops Key Concepts financial planning public debate regional development Questions to Reflect On - What policies can safeguard financial flexibility? - How can societies balance growth with debt avoidance? A Different Perspective Economic constraints may limit ideal choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Quebec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quebec/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [In Quebec, we can no longer increase taxes if we want to stay competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/in-quebec-we-can-no-longer-increase-taxes-if-we-want-to-stay/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [We have to redesign the finances of the Quebec state to preserve what counts: education, health and families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/we-have-to-redesign-the-finances-of-the-quebec-state-to-preserve-what/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I often repeat three numbers: 20-23-26. Quebec generates only 20 per cent of Canada's wealth; it represents 23 per cent of the population, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-often-repeat-three-numbers-20-23-26-quebec-generates-only-20-per/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I always remind Quebecers: hey, wait a minute - federalism works. If you look at the fiscal arrangements, the economic arrangements, the way the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-always-remind-quebecers-hey-wait-a-minute-federalism-works-if-you/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Quebec's distinct character makes Canada an even better country, and vice versa: being in Canada makes Quebec a better place too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/quebec-s-distinct-character-makes-canada-an-even-better-country-and/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Quebec's financial situation is serious. In terms of intensity, we're close to matching 1982 and 1997. We won't do the same things this time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/quebec-s-financial-situation-is-serious-in-terms-of-intensity-we-re/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Something I don't want to do, ever, is to put Quebec in a position of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/something-i-don-t-want-to-do-ever-is-to-put-quebec-in-a-position-of/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [In Quebec, our goal isn't to reduce daycare service - a program the entire world envies - but to make it viable so tomorrow's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/in-quebec-our-goal-isn-t-to-reduce-daycare-service-a-program-the/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I'm as proud and assertive in my Quebec identity as any Quebecer. I believe it's to Quebec's advantage to be part of the Canadian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-m-as-proud-and-assertive-in-my-quebec-identity-as-any-quebecer-i/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [The Younger Generation comes, bringing its gifts. They are the first fruits of the Negro Renaissance. Youth speaks, and the voice of the New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-leroy-locke/the-younger-generation-comes-bringing-its-gifts-they-are-the-first/) [Alain LeRoy Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-leroy-locke/) > [Every generation that comes from this family has to do better than the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinie-tempah/every-generation-that-comes-from-this-family-has-to-do-better-than/) [Tinie Tempah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinie-tempah/) > [Everything that you are taking advantage of, inventing and using, is still a generation or two behind when it comes to the U.S. government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/everything-that-you-are-taking-advantage-of-inventing-and-using-is/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Every generation comes upon the movie again, and then, invariably, the books have a spike in sales because people want to read more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hancock/every-generation-comes-upon-the-movie-again-and-then-invariably-the/) [John Lee Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hancock/) > [Babies are unreasonable; they expect far too much of existence. Each new generation that comes takes one look at the world and thinks wildly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-day/babies-are-unreasonable-they-expect-far-too-much-of-existence-each/) [Clarence Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-day/) > [Like the generations of leaves, the lives of mortal men. Now the wind scatters the old leaves across the earth, now the living timber…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/like-the-generations-of-leaves-the-lives-of-mortal-men-now-the-wind/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## More by Philippe Couillard > [In Quebec, we can no longer increase taxes if we want to stay competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/in-quebec-we-can-no-longer-increase-taxes-if-we-want-to-stay/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I'm as proud and assertive in my Quebec identity as any Quebecer. I believe it's to Quebec's advantage to be part of the Canadian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-m-as-proud-and-assertive-in-my-quebec-identity-as-any-quebecer-i/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [In Quebec, our goal isn't to reduce daycare service - a program the entire world envies - but to make it viable so tomorrow's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/in-quebec-our-goal-isn-t-to-reduce-daycare-service-a-program-the/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Something I don't want to do, ever, is to put Quebec in a position of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/something-i-don-t-want-to-do-ever-is-to-put-quebec-in-a-position-of/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I think this is a line in the sand for many Quebecers and Canadians: That if you're going to give services or receive services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-think-this-is-a-line-in-the-sand-for-many-quebecers-and-canadians/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Quebecers are happy in Canada. We are benefiting economically and fiscally from belonging to Canada. We're proud of being Canadian. It's a great country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/quebecers-are-happy-in-canada-we-are-benefiting-economically-and/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Hey, the bait is here. Get in Quebecers, get in the lobster trap, and then we’ll close the door. And you’ll have a referendum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/hey-the-bait-is-here-get-in-quebecers-get-in-the-lobster-trap-and/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Quebec's distinct character makes Canada an even better country, and vice versa: being in Canada makes Quebec a better place too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/quebec-s-distinct-character-makes-canada-an-even-better-country-and/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I always remind Quebecers: hey, wait a minute - federalism works. If you look at the fiscal arrangements, the economic arrangements, the way the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-always-remind-quebecers-hey-wait-a-minute-federalism-works-if-you/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I often repeat three numbers: 20-23-26. Quebec generates only 20 per cent of Canada's wealth; it represents 23 per cent of the population, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-often-repeat-three-numbers-20-23-26-quebec-generates-only-20-per/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [We have to redesign the finances of the Quebec state to preserve what counts: education, health and families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/we-have-to-redesign-the-finances-of-the-quebec-state-to-preserve-what/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Quebec's financial situation is serious. In terms of intensity, we're close to matching 1982 and 1997. We won't do the same things this time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/quebec-s-financial-situation-is-serious-in-terms-of-intensity-we-re/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [I've repeated it 100 times and I'm going to look you in the eye, tonight, Mr. Couillard: there will be no referendum as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-ve-repeated-it-100-times-and-i-m-going-to-look-you-in-the-eye/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [Not only in Canada but in other countries where we have to rely on immigration for our growth, the question of coexistence of values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/not-only-in-canada-but-in-other-countries-where-we-have-to-rely-on/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [A big mistake in politics is to think that because an issue appears to have been settled, it doesn't exist anymore. You just sweep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/a-big-mistake-in-politics-is-to-think-that-because-an-issue-appears/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) [Explore all 17 Philippe Couillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) ## More Available quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [Tell the truth about your wound, and then you will get a truthful picture of the remedy to apply to it. Don't pack whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/tell-the-truth-about-your-wound-and-then-you-will-get-a-truthful/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used practically all the money I had available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-used-practically-all-the-money-i-had-available/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [But we need to be very clear: because of our decades of collective denial, no gradual, incremental options are now available to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/but-we-need-to-be-very-clear-because-of-our-decades-of-collective/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [I m Single , Eligible But Not Available .. Limited Edition :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faisal-khan-neal/i-m-single-eligible-but-not-available-limited-edition-d/) Faisal Khan Neal > [I do worry because it takes all types to make our culture, to make our art. We need it to be available to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-mcintosh/i-do-worry-because-it-takes-all-types-to-make-our-culture-to-make-our/) [Neve McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-mcintosh/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The internal peace of every country depends upon the knowledge that force is available to uphold law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/the-internal-peace-of-every-country-depends-upon-the-knowledge-that/) [Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/) > [It is truly amazing that, with much less neuroscientific knowledge available, Hayek's model comes closer, in some respects, to being neurophysiologically verifiable than those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-fuster/it-is-truly-amazing-that-with-much-less-neuroscientific-knowledge/) Joaquin Fuster > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [I'm in production year round. I work long hours. I have a dog and a wife. There's not a lot of available time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-in-production-year-round-i-work-long-hours-i-have-a-dog-and-a/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) Browse all 2,134 Available quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I belong to a generation that had so many choices available. In 1970, when [former premier Robert] Bourassa launched the James Bay development project, nobody in Quebec asked whether we had the means to do it. Today could we launch another James Bay? Imagine the debates we'd have? We were a young, rich society with almost no debt. The generation that comes after us, and which will lead Quebec, must also have choices. And for that, they'll need financial manoeuvring room.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philippe Couillard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-many-choices-available-in-1970/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Available" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-many-choices-available-in-1970/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/philippe-couillard-30880_available_i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-man_791075.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/philippe-couillard-30880_available_i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-man_791075.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/philippe-couillard-30880_available_i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-man_791075.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I belong to a generation that had so many choices available. In 1970, when [former premier Robert] Bourassa…” — Philippe Couillard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Philippe Couillard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I belong to a generation that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-many-choices-available-in-1970/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-belong-to-a-generation-that-had-so-many-choices-available-in-1970/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```