Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks
OpinionLocal NewsColumnists
The premier has been suggesting a sovereign Quebec is “viable,” however Quebecers aren’t fascinated by making sacrifices.
Article content material
Many Quebecers assist the sovereigntist dream however understand it’s not essentially life like or of their greatest curiosity. They could be seduced by the romantic notion of Quebec being an impartial nation in North America, but have been pragmatic sufficient in recognizing the financial downsides and/or nonetheless have some attachment to Canada.
Even with watered-down referendum questions, in 1980 and 1995, the No aspect prevailed anyway. Polls nonetheless present lingering assist for sovereignty, hovering round 35 per cent total — 45 per cent amongst francophones — however most Quebecers don’t wish to hear about it as a result of they’re extra preoccupied with bread and butter points.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Article content material
Nonetheless, the Parti Québécois this week dominated the information cycle with chief Paul St-Pierre Plamondon presenting the theoretical “Yr 1 finances” of an impartial Quebec.
With rose-coloured glasses he gave us optimistic financials, advised it’s in Canada’s curiosity to collaboratively sit down with Quebec to work issues out rationally after a breakup, and declared Quebec would have its personal foreign money and be one of many world’s wealthiest nations.
This whole debate has been moot for the previous a number of years. Nonetheless, with the Coalition Avenir Québec authorities exhibiting indicators of second-mandate fatigue, the door has began opening for the PQ to pose a menace within the subsequent election, constructing on the momentum of its current byelection win in Jean-Talon driving.
In current election cycles, the PQ would sometimes downplay discuss of separation as few Quebecers wish to undergo one other divisive referendum rabbit gap and see different points placed on maintain. However this model of the PQ received’t be capable to get away with that.
After devastating leads to the final two elections, the occasion had no selection however to “save the furnishings” and desperately shore up its base with a staunch pro-separatism stance. The PQ promised to current the funds of an impartial Quebec, which was performed this week, and maintain a referendum in its first mandate, if elected. So now St-Pierre Plamondon is caught with it.
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
The final time the PQ was this overt about holding a referendum in its first time period was when Jacques Parizeau grew to become chief to assist rebuild the occasion within the late Eighties, three years after struggling a crushing defeat to Robert Bourassa’s Liberals.
The PQ received the 1994 election, after greater than eight years of Liberal rule, and Parizeau was true to his phrase, holding a referendum in 1995 that the Sure aspect, which he led, misplaced by a hair.
St-Pierre Plamondon could be dreaming of historical past repeating itself with a PQ win in 2026, after eight years of CAQ rule — setting the stage for an additional referendum. However there are main variations between at times.
Within the early ’90s, Quebec politics was dominated by the failures of the Meech and Charlottetown constitutional accords, which reignited the sovereignty motion and noticed the separatist Bloc Québécois turn into the official opposition in Ottawa.
Now, the youthful 18-34 demographic, historically the spine of the sovereignty motion, is far much less supportive than it was once. Globalization, smartphones and the digital age, and quite a few different priorities, make the notion of Quebec hiving itself off into its nook appear counterintuitive.
Commercial 4
Article content material
Premier François Legault has been treading rigorously in his responses in current days, suggesting a sovereign Quebec is “viable” however Quebecers aren’t fascinated by making sacrifices.
Nobody expects Legault to turn into Captain Canada however this ought to be the chance he desperately must shift focus away from his political failings and hammer away at his important rival, level out the issues within the PQ’s raison d’être and warn of a possible nightmare if Quebecers go down that path.
However he can achieve this successfully provided that he believes it himself. Will the actual François Legault please rise up?
Robert Libman is an architect and constructing planning guide who has served as Equality Get together chief and MNA, as mayor of Côte-St-Luc and as a member of the Montreal govt committee. He was a Conservative candidate within the 2015 federal election. twitter.com/robertlibman
Associated Tales
Opinion: Safety of French a handy mantra for small-minded CAQ
Opinion: Let’s debunk myths about Quebec’s tuition hikes
Evaluation: How Quebec tuition overhaul targets Bishop’s, Concordia and McGill
Quebec college college students to protest tuition hike
Letters: Gazette readers decry CAQ authorities’s tuition hike
Opinion: Thanks, Quebec. My daughter’s McGill dream is shattered
Commercial 5
Article content material
Article content material
Share this text in your social community