Yeah, I have heard some about the economic issues there. I also played WoW with a guy from New Brunswick who had moved to Alberta to work in the oil sands, and I learned from him about how young people don't stay on the east coast because there's no work. (Ducks filled in some of the gaps when I read it years later.)

I think Quebec's lack of enthusiasm for being part of Canada is something that has entered US popular consciousness, at least vaguely. Sometimes people here joke about how great it would be if Quebec seceded and annexed Vermont, so New France could be together again.