Sovereign Quebec, PSPP version

Producing a year 1 budget for a sovereign Quebec is an imposed task for a PQ leader. It is a document, especially for internal use, which proves that the Parti Québécois (PQ) and its leader still believe that the reason for the party’s existence is to achieve the sovereignty of Quebec.

But this year’s exercise also aims to annoy François Legault, author of the last version of the document, in 2005, who became leader of a party that can be described, for lack of a better term, as “a party which ‘is not sovereignist’.

Except that the current exercise lacks rigor and often cuts corners. Thus, the PQ study estimates Quebec’s share of the federal debt at 19.8%, without explaining its calculation. But it could be its share of the Canadian population (22%) or its share of Canada’s gross domestic product (21%) or 18%, i.e. federal assets in Quebec. Differences of billions of dollars.

A somewhat useless calculation, moreover, since the final result would be determined by negotiations with Canada, the outcome of which cannot be predicted.

Let’s quickly move on from his dubious comparisons to prove that separations can be economically beneficial, and that it could even “propel” Quebec’s economy.

The PQ leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, gave the example of Slovakia, whose break with the Czech Republic “propelled” the economy. Except that Slovakia’s rise was essentially caused not by its separation, but by the fall of the communist regime and the massive privatization of its poorly managed industries by the state.

But this year’s exercise also contains a series of shortcuts on federal government policies and their effect on costly overlapping jurisdictions estimated at nearly $9 billion.

It is true that, under Justin Trudeau, the federal state spent a lot, even if it meant going into debt. But the denunciation is so strong – even regarding emergency aid during the pandemic – that one can wonder if Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon is not bored of Stephen Harper’s austerity.

Which means that the year 1 budget announces, for sovereign Quebec, a shift to the right which would necessarily result in job losses and budget cuts.

Note that for the first time, the PQ is not committed to guaranteeing equivalent employment to federal civil servants whose positions have become redundant.

It’s an old file. Already, in the 1995 referendum, many said that it was difficult to denounce duplication when the jobs of all federal civil servants were guaranteed. But, for Jacques Parizeau, it was a question of honor: the first gesture of a sovereign Quebec could not be to dismiss people who had loyally served the State.

During the last elections, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon promised them “jobs just as interesting, but in their own country.” Now he is talking about closing five federal departments, where jobs would no longer be guaranteed.

In fact, the PQ document reveals a sovereign Quebec subject to a slimming regime. Five federal departments would be completely abandoned: Immigration, Revenue, Health, Canadian Heritage and Employment and Social Development. With inevitable layoffs.

In the first two cases, this is easily explained. The Quebec government already controls most of its immigration, and if there is a ministry that would be redundant after sovereignty, it is that of Revenue.

But when we talk about Canadian Heritage, we are talking about funds allocated to culture and which are distributed by organizations like Telefilm, the NFB, Radio-Canada, the Arts Council, the Museum Assistance Program, etc.

Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon has taken a dislike to this ministry because it also finances official language programs, the promotion of diversity or institutions linked to the monarchy.

But which functions of the Ministry of Heritage would be maintained by a sovereign Quebec and which would be abandoned? The PQ did not see fit to list them, even in an issue as important for Quebec as culture.

Likewise, the Ministry of Health would fall by the wayside. And it is correct that it does not deal with primary care. But, in a sovereign Quebec as in federal Canada, it will necessarily be necessary to create and finance an organization to authorize new drugs or vaccines, for example.

Which brings us to the transition costs, which are also largely avoided. Just one example: Foreign Affairs. Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon predicted that the national capital of Quebec would gain “200 embassies”. It would be a little less, since there are only 197 member countries of the UN…

But above all, the great principle of diplomacy is reciprocity. Countries are said to “exchange” ambassadors. If we want these embassies in Quebec, we will have to open as many around the world. It will come as no surprise that the PQ did not want to quantify this commitment.