Bernard Landry raised the paradox: the economy was not René Lévesque’s cup of tea, but that did not prevent him from playing a fundamental, crucial and structural role in the field.
He understood that the destiny of Quebec was first played out on the economic scene. And its major choices and major orientations came from a humanist impulse, not from any materialist motivation. “We are capable! he never ceased to proclaim.
From survival to nationalism, passing through the desire to be master of one’s destiny… in an international vision. This sentence taken from the Internet summarizes both the man, the politician and his contribution to the emancipation of economic Quebec. Was he on the left? Of right ? Rejecting labels, all as reductive as each other, René Lévesque called himself a progressive.
He and his economic team hammered like a mantra that we must first create wealth before redistributing it. And that had to start with taking control of our natural resources — what René Lévesque called “natural wealth.”
The nationalization of electricity, which gave birth to Hydro-Québec, came to heal the wounds of any feeling of inferiority afflicting French-speaking Quebecers, who found no talent or predisposition for economic matters (thus leaving others the Direction des entreprises et du développement du Québec). Hydro-Québec quickly became a catalyst for regional economic development. The state corporation has also accelerated Québec’s economic influence and the expansion of a supply chain, accelerating Québec’s control over whole swathes of related industries.
During its first term, the Lévesque government multiplied reforms with the intention of convincing the population to vote Yes in a referendum on sovereignty. This period, which began in 1976, “recalls in many ways that of the Quiet Revolution through its laws (funding of political parties, car insurance, agricultural zoning, law 101 on language, anti-scab)”, one can read on Wikipedia.
The second term, which began in 1981, was politically most difficult, with the Lévesque government’s response to the severe recession that raged leading to a painful direct confrontation with the unions. This did not prevent this government from supporting the creation of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, in order to broaden the support for the capitalization of Québec companies already provided by the stock savings plan.
Today, some 60 years after the outbreak of the Quiet Revolution, first under the impetus of René Lévesque within the Liberal government of Jean Lesage, then thanks to the inspiring momentum of the two terms of the Lévesque government which accelerated the momentum for transformation, “economic Quebec has arrived where it should be”. “There were failures, but we succeeded. We have gained economic independence. The progress has been extraordinary, remarkable. Quebec’s economy has experienced a rapid acceleration unique in the world, and its society is one of the most dynamic in North America,” marveled Michel Nadeau during his very last interview. “We took our place. »
Although this is simplistic, Bernard Landry said that Ontario is Ford, GM, Chrysler and Toyota, while Quebec is Bombardier, CGI, Desjardins Group, the Solidarity Fund, SNC, its large agricultural cooperatives…
While René Lévesque knew or had little interest in the primer of economics, the Prime Minister was able to put together a qualified team recognized for its expertise in the field: Jacques Parizeau, Rodrigue Tremblay, Bernard Landry, Pierre Marc Johnson, Yves Bérubé, to name a few.
He also said of Jacques Parizeau that he was right nine times out of 10, “but one time out of 10, watch out “, has already reported Bernard Landry, whose mission was to “validate” the conclusions of Mr. Parizeau. The disastrous operation to nationalize the asbestos industry, begun in 1981, has become the emblem of this “ watch out “.
He was also seduced by the European model combining economic and political spaces while respecting the integrity and national aspirations of each. He defended the emergence of such an open space within which the country of Quebec could flourish. He was unable to complete this political project, but he was a great architect of the place now occupied by Quebecers in the ownership of their economy.
If the economy was not his favorite field, René Lévesque still left his main legacy there.