“What good is it for a man to win the universe if he has no pants to get through the winter?” says a Quebec proverb.
On Saturday, the Youth Commission of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) is holding its important annual convention on the theme “For a renewed federalism”. I believe it is relevant to offer my point of view on this subject.
It is no secret that I have been travelling across Quebec for months—what am I saying, years!—to meet Quebecers. With these thousands of kilometres under my belt, I can tell you that if there is one thing that does not interest many people, it is the Constitution. What interests people is the protection of Quebec’s unique character and the prosperity of its nation.
However, it is clear that the theme of federalism remains an easy subject to address for those who seek to define our party on this basis alone. But let us remember that at the PLQ, we are fundamentally great Quebec nationalists who want to work to build a strong Quebec in an effective Canada, in partnership with our friends, brothers, sisters, and neighbours.
This is why I much prefer, for my part, to speak of “assumed” federalism.
Make a choice
As Quebecers, I believe that we have the duty above all to choose our battles and to concentrate on what really matters to safeguard our specificity, namely our culture and the way in which we disseminate it.
It was Daniel Johnson Sr. who said, more than half a century ago, that the fundamental element of the nation is not race, but culture. Jean-Paul L’Allier was also an inspiration and a visionary when he wrote an important document in May 1971, For a Quebec communications policywhich not only is still relevant today, but also gives us a clue to a solution.
Mr. L’Allier wrote at the time that “it is up to Quebec to develop a global communications policy first.” “This policy is inseparable from the development of its education system, its culture and everything that is specific to Quebec. If this policy is coordinated with that of other governments and is consistent with the North American environment, it must first be integrated with Quebec’s priorities and thus remain a guarantee of maintaining the normal evolution of our society as a dynamic part.”
Renovate rather than demolish
In my career in various federal departments and as mayor of Montreal, I have always preferred to act as a “renovator” rather than tearing down and starting over, with the risks that entails. This is why I believe that Quebec must take its place in the Canadian federation without falling into the trap and the maze of endless constitutional negotiations.
Which does not mean that we cannot strengthen our position. The key is to equip ourselves with a robust communications policy that restores the nobility of our culture and all its disseminating agents. We already have all the means to achieve this, and this is what I want to propose when the PLQ regains power.
First of all, in the field of broadcasting, the CRTC already recognizes Quebec’s specificity, as demonstrated by case law and past decisions. I am deeply convinced that it is possible to reach an agreement with the Government of Canada so that any CRTC decision that concerns Quebec is made by Quebec commissioners recommended by the Quebec government.
The beauty is that the protection of Quebec’s culture and media can be resolved simply by administrative agreement, like labour or immigration issues. This protects our culture and avoids the addition of a Quebec CRTC, which would, in any case, disadvantage Quebec on the market.
By also establishing a Ministry of Communications that lives up to all its ambitions, with the necessary powers, we should draw inspiration from the great ministers who held this position and who made Quebec shine, in full respect of our history.
The power to spend
Furthermore, I fully support the idea of my colleague, the Member of Parliament for Marguerite-Bourgeoys and potential candidate in our party’s leadership race, Frédéric Beauchemin, who wants to regulate the Canadian government’s spending power in our areas of jurisdiction by creating a parliamentary commission on the subject.
We are at a crossroads. The world is becoming more radical and, even at home, we are increasingly falling into an identity-based nationalism, with the immigrant becoming the perfect scapegoat for all the world’s ills.
Our health care system is bogged down, the social crisis is upon us and we have forgotten the words “respect” and “dignity” for our elders. Cynicism among our youth is also rife, and, as the late Karl Tremblay sang, “if this is modern Quebec, well, I’ll fly my flag at half-mast.” But I think we can still take action to correct the situation.
The PLQ must stop trying to be like the others and find its fundamental reason for being. Every time our party tried to follow the others, it was a guaranteed debacle in the elections. Moreover, during the last election, let’s be honest: it was not the Francophones who abandoned the PLQ, but the opposite. Same thing for the regions…
The time of unicorns is over!