Posted at 5:00 a.m.
All-Nordic solidarity
Is it the cold that brings us together, that creates this cohesion within the Quebec population? In any case, it seems that social democracy grows well in northern climates, because Quebec is a champion of the redistribution of wealth, like the Scandinavian countries. It is this social safety net that allows us to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor and also to offer services that benefit everyone. Joyful? Oh yeah ! Because inequities, it is widely documented, are detrimental to collective happiness, to health, to democracy… So, let’s continue to bet on this beautiful solidarity which is to our credit.
Stephanie Grammond
Gender equality
The rollback of the right to abortion south of the border makes us realize how fragile women’s achievements are. In Quebec, the daycare network has been one of our finest achievements in achieving gender equality. But beware, here too the achievements are fragile, as we can see with the shortage of places which forces families to make heartbreaking choices. Even if there are still battles to be fought — pay equity, discrimination, sexual violence, etc. — Quebec-style equality has little to envy to the Nordic countries. It is one of the strengths of our society and it must be protected.
Nathalie Collard
Living together
The economist Mario Polèse said all the good things he thinks of our province in an essay published a few months ago. The title of his book? The Quebec miracle. Nothing less ! At the heart of his thesis is the success of our model of living together. ” Not so long ago [le Québec] was a divided society, on the verge of social explosion, the French-speaking majority having a strong feeling of inferiority, and for good reason. While today, French-speaking Quebec has known how to “liberate itself and impose itself without sacrificing living together with other peoples”. Is it always easy? No. Is the situation of French still precarious? Yes. And it is important to take care of it. But please, let’s not underestimate our luck and let’s not lose sight of our successes!
Alexandre Sirois
The unique cultural life
We are in 2022. The planet is invaded by the culture of the American giant. All ? Nope ! A province populated by irreducible creators resists. On the stage, on the small and big screen, on the page or in our ears, and even on our tables, Quebec creators are accomplishing a tour de force: offering us a rich and dynamic cultural life while making a name for themselves everywhere on the planet. Many of our creators have been hit hard by COVID-19 as they “saved our souls” during the most difficult times of the pandemic. They should not be forgotten.
Nathalie Collard
Quebec inc. 2.0
The Quiet Revolution allowed Quebec, which was sleeping in its cocoon, to turn into a butterfly to take off economically. In this regard, we must salute the creation by Jacques Parizeau of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the flagship institution of the Maître chez nous which saw the birth of Québec inc. Of course, some jewels like Alcan, Rona or Bombardier have been acquired, each time raising fears of the erosion of the precious head offices in Quebec. But other entrepreneurs are taking over, particularly in the field of techno. Hats off to Quebec Inc. 2.0! Let’s promote entrepreneurship among our young people. The future goes through innovation.
Stephanie Grammond
The great outdoors
Quebec is also the beauty of our wide open spaces, so numerous that we sometimes forget our luck. And our responsibility to preserve them for future generations. Parc national du Bic and its access to our majestic river. Forillon. The Grands Jardins and Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie walking trails, in Charlevoix. Orford. Mont-Tremblant National Park. In urban areas, Gatineau Park. During the pandemic, many Quebecers took refuge in federal parks and SEPAQ national parks, on vacation or simply to clear their minds. National parks recorded 10.1 million visit days in 2021-2022, a SEPAQ record and an annual increase of 27%. Go breathe the air of our large parks: this is a pandemic resolution to keep.
Vincent Brousseau-Pouliot