Quebec sovereignty remains the solution against bickering with the federal government, former Premier Lucien Bouchard said on Wednesday.
Mr. Bouchard was present at the National Assembly on the occasion of the inauguration of a statue commemorating the contribution to Quebec society of Jacques Parizeau, who was Minister of Finance and Prime Minister.
After the ceremony, in which Premier François Legault and the leaders of the other political parties took part, Mr. Bouchard, who was head of government for five years, believes that the sovereignty project still has its raison d’être, despite the defeat in the 1995 referendum.
“It’s still in the hearts of a large number of Quebecers, not a majority, and in mine too,” he told reporters. I have always thought, I am convinced that this is always the solution. I very much regret that it was not adopted at the time. I respect the popular decision. But this is the solution. »
According to Mr. Bouchard, who succeeded in 1996 as head of the government and of the Parti Québécois (PQ), fulfilling relations are almost impossible with the federal government in its current form.
“Look at the endless bickering here and there, between Quebec and the federal government,” he said. Everything becomes a problem in the management of the Quebec state because of these difficult relations. »
Mr. Bouchard did not want to comment on Mr. Legault’s chances of recovering the immigration powers he is asking for from the federal government.
“Look at the history of the premiers of Quebec,” he said. Not many have regained powers. We have more often lost than won. In particular with two referendums which made us lose powers because we had lost two referendums. »
Further details will follow.