There is a beautiful sentence in the novel The elegance of the Hedgehogby Muriel Barbery, which is also an important life lesson…
“Diplomacy always fails when the balance of power is balanced. We have never seen a stronger person accept the diplomatic proposals of the other…”
Empty-handed
In other words: it’s not enough to politely ask for something to get it.
We have to establish a balance of power, apply pressure and make the party opposite understand 1) that it is in their interest to respond to our demands or 2) that any refusal on their part will entail a cost that risks to be high.
Like a strike, a revolt or a work slowdown.
To quote a film which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, you have to make an offer that your interlocutor cannot refuse…
This is why Justin Trudeau did not hesitate for a second to slam the door in the face of François Legault when the latter politely asked him that Ottawa transfer all powers over immigration to Quebec.
Because Legault showed up there empty-handed and in a weak position.
Whatever the little rabbits think, life is not a rose garden populated by unicorns, but a balance of power.
It’s not whoever has the prettiest eyes who wins, or whoever is nicer, it’s whoever applies the most pressure.
As the saying goes, “Beggars can’t choose…”
The Joker
Before, when we were negotiating with Ottawa, we had an essential card in our game.
The sovereigntist threat.
Even Robert Bourassa brandished it the day after Meech died!
“English Canada must understand very clearly that, whatever one says and whatever one does, Quebec is, today and forever, a distinct society, free and capable of assuming its destiny and its development. .”
I remember where I was when I heard that speech. I was driving my car and I almost had an accident, this outing surprised me so much!
Today, where is this card?
We’re about to tear it up!
To burn it!
The PKP threat
The problem today is that Quebec no longer scares anyone.
Why do you think English Canadians no longer hesitate to call us names in their newspapers?
They know that we are in a weak position.
Legault says it loud and clear: he will not play the sovereignist card.
He will content himself with knocking on Ottawa’s door, like a little guy on Halloween… Hoping that the feds will put a lot of candy in his bag.
Remember how Canadians reacted when Pierre Karl Péladeau became leader of the PQ.
They shit in their panties.
Could PKP have pulled the PQ out of limbo? Could he have revived the sovereignist option?
Unfortunately, we will never know.
But he scared them in Simonac.
This is what is missing in Quebec.
Monsieur Legault is a good guy.
But you don’t reverse the balance of power by being good.