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“We are a nationalist party within Canada,” the premier countered. “What does nationalist mean? Among other things, protecting and promoting the French language.”
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Jun 02, 2022 • 10 hours ago • 3 minute read • 58 Comments Premier François Legault delivers the closing speech at the CAQ policy convention in Drummondville on May 29, 2022. Photo by CHRISTINNE MUSCHI /Reuters
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QUEBEC — The sovereignty versus federalism debate roared to life in the National Assembly Thursday after the Parti Québécois dared Premier François Legault to take his beefs with Ottawa over immigration to the next level and invoke the idea of independence as a pressure tactic.
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The PQ’s bold attack forced Legault to explain again that his Coalition Avenir Québec party stands for Quebec within Canada, and not for independence.
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon set the cat among the pigeons at a morning news conference. Given the constant refusal of Ottawa to surrender immigration powers to Quebec, he said, it’s time for Legault to make a dramatic move: Make a profession of faith in sovereignty.
“The premier says it is a question of survival for the future of our nation,” St-Pierre Plamondon said. “I am appealing to his sense of duty.
“At some point as premier, you have a responsibility toward your people, in the larger scale of history. If it’s such an important question, he has to be able to do what Robert Bourassa, Daniel Johnson and Maurice Duplessis to a certain extent were capable of doing, saying: ‘If you don’t give me the essential, I will have to consider our freedom.’
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St-Pierre Plamondon said he would find solace in Legault just saying the word “independence.” Legault can say he has tried to make things work in the federal system for four years, the PQ leader argued, but now time is pressing.
Asked if he thinks at some point it will be too late for Quebec to become independent, St-Pierre Plamondon grew emotional. He said he has heard Legault, a former PQ cabinet minister, ridicule the option for years in the legislature, and that it smarts.
“By constantly repeating that Quebecers are no good, that they are not capable, by being constantly pessimistic, at some point that has an impact,” St-Pierre Plamondon said as he choked up. “We are capable of being a country, and we have no choice if we really want to ensure linguistic and cultural sustainability.”
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St-Pierre Plamondon conceded it’s probably easier strategically for the CAQ, which has a massive lead in the polls, to play on the ambiguity of Quebecers on such issues “to try and keep the population in a form of denial and (think) everything is going to be fine.”
The remarks sparked a malaise among the CAQ MNAs. When Legault founded the party 11 years ago, he drew both federalists and sovereignists into the fold. But at last weekend’s policy convention, the lines between the CAQ and the PQ grew blurry, with a number of party members openly calling on Legault to hold a referendum on getting immigration powers. Adding to the drama was Legault’s assertion that if nothing is done, Quebec could become like Louisiana.
Hovering in the background Thursday were comments made by former premier Lucien Bouchard, who said at the previous day’s unveiling of a statue of Jacques Parizeau that Legault will probably hit a brick wall in his attempt to get more immigration powers.
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Chased in the halls of the National Assembly for reaction by reporters, CAQ MNAs nevertheless stuck to their party’s talking points.
“We are part of Canada,” said Chauveau MNA Sylvain Lévesque. “Right now I would say we are part of English Canada and French Canada, and together our objective is to move Quebec forward.
“For the moment, we are part of Canada and there is no issue of separation. We are a nationalist party.”
Junior economy minister Lucie Lecours said the best thing to do “is ensure Quebec is respected, but within Canada.”
“Canada is a beautiful country,” she said. “I love Canada. I have travelled in Canada.”
Family Minister Mathieu Lacombe insisted the values of Quebec and Canada are compatible.
“Quebecers decided on this question (of sovereignty), and what is important now is to work at reinforcing Quebec’s place in Canada,” said Environment Minister Benoit Charette, a former PQ MNA who jumped to the CAQ. “I am very comfortable with the nationalist position of the CAQ.”
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Moments later, walking into the legislature for question period, Legault was forced to clarify his own position.
“We are a nationalist party within Canada,” Legault said. “What does nationalist mean? Among other things, protecting and promoting the French language.
“I want to be nationalist within Canada. There is no appetite (for a referendum).”
pauthier@postmedia.com
twitter.com/philipauthier
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