The Parti Québécois is preparing, once again, to present the budget for year 1 of an independent Quebec. Since this “year 1” is not in sight in the near future, and since such a presentation inevitably leads to a debate on figures which quickly becomes as demagogic as it is partisan, the exercise does not seem very useful. Especially since almost everyone recognizes the economic viability of a sovereign Quebec. Even Jean Charest, Philippe Couillard and, of course, François Legault have already recognized this reality.
Regardless of the comparison table used, the gross domestic product per capita (GDP) or another scholarly method of calculation, a sovereign Quebec would rank between 35e and the 40e rank out of more than 200 countries, roughly at the level of Italy, a little above Spain, a little below Japan. From there, it is not very clear what a hypothetical budget for year one, or two, or five would shed light on. The Parti Québécois would do better to play the card of pride and the importance of assuming its own decisions and its destiny, which can be quite profitable from an economic point of view as well.
From decade to decade, Canadians and Quebecers drift apart in their way of interpreting the past and imagining the future. Canadians show little interest in Quebecers, except to convince themselves that they will eventually evolve and that they will agree to form one community among others in Canadian multiculturalism. For their part, Quebecers dream of the day when Canadians will accept them as they are, Quebecers first and of republican (French) tradition rather than American-style communitarianism, and now Canadian-style.
The CAQ government wants to be nationalist and autonomist, but within Canada. His main argument (perhaps the only one) is that it is financially advantageous for Quebec to remain a Canadian province rather than becoming an independent state. A Tanguay coalition government would not see things any other way. For its part, the Parti Québécois, instead of dizzying us around a debate on a budget for year 1, would do better to present honestly and simply the advantages for the people of Quebec of making their choices and living according to their own directions.
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