As the election campaign approached, the Quebec Liberal Party brought out the scarecrow that had made its fortune for half a century. According to Dominique Anglade, the offensive that Prime Minister François Legault launched at the end of last week to force the Trudeau government to cede new immigration powers to Quebec aims to establish “separatist governance”.
Many believe that Mr. Legault is simply a cowboy who practices a facade of nationalism to satisfy his ambitions and that, even if the opportunity arises, he will not dare to go all the way, like Robert Bourassa, who failed to take advantage of the window opened by the failure of the Meech Lake Accord.
Others fear, like the Liberal leader, or hope, like the many sovereignists who have joined the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), that Mr. Legault has never renounced independence and that, on the pretext of seeking to ensure prosperity of Quebec and to preserve its identity, it is in fact working to bring together the “winning conditions”.
During his first term, it cannot be said that he behaved like a crypto-separatist. The professions of faith in federalism to which he had to consent lacked a bit of fervor, but his demands were in line with those of his predecessors, and he suffered rebuffs from Ottawa with no more, no less impatience. His counterparts in the other provinces had nothing to reproach him for when he assumed the presidency of the Council of the Federation.
Those who nevertheless suspect him of dark designs will not be reassured by the text that the Deputy Minister for Electoral Reform under the Lévesque government, André Larocque, published in the May issue of National Action under the title “Will the dream of René Lévesque abandoned by the Parti Québécois be realized by François Legault? “.
Mr. Larocque recalls an interview in the form of questions and answers that the head of the CAQ had granted to News on the eve of the 2018 elections. It seems more relevant than ever.
Question : Why are you ceasing to be a separatist?
Answer : I am not ceasing to be a separatist, I am ceasing to be a PQ member.
Question : So why are you ceasing to be a PQ member?
Answer : Because the PQ will not succeed. The PQ will not be able to muster the numbers needed to win a referendum.
Question : What do you need to get the number?
Answer : Three things. We need to take control of immigration; we need to strengthen the control of the French language; we need to be more aware of our national identity.
We cannot accuse Mr. Legault of lacking continuity in ideas. It does require immigration skills; “Law 96” remains undoubtedly insufficient, but it constitutes a step forward; Finally, we certainly cannot blame him for being too restrained in proclaiming his “pride” in being a Quebecer.
There is a fourth condition to which he has returned invariably since becoming Prime Minister. Whenever there is a question of sovereignty or a referendum, he objects that “social acceptability” is lacking, but he works to cultivate it.
No offense to the PQ members who are currently fighting for their survival, it is in him that André Larocque sees the true heir of René Lévesque. “For what is probably the most important factor for the mission he has given himself, François Legault, following the example of René Lévesque, has positioned himself at the heart of political life in a democracy, not first at the level of the defense of ideas, but first and firmly at the level of the people themselves, of whom he constantly speaks with great pride of solidarity, tenacity, discipline, resilience,” he wrote. .
When he was in the PQ, many – and not the least – looked down on this accountant from the business world, less skilled in handling major concepts such as the self-determination of peoples or civic nationalism than in aligning the columns of figures. Even today, some find his way of saying that “this is how we live” a bit simplistic, but everyone understands.
Whether this is all part of a well-determined plan for “separatist governance” or not, Ms.me Anglade may not be wrong to worry. By saying things so simply, Mr. Legault could manage to convince Quebeckers that this is not just another federal-provincial squabble that seems to be the pastime of idle politicians, but that there is is in real danger in the delay.