The political class in Quebec has spoken a lot about sovereignty and its counterpart, federalism, over the past fortnight. The arrival of Caroline St-Hilaire and Bernard Drainville, not so much repentant as self-censored sovereigntists, has certainly revived interest in this familiar dichotomy, but it must be said that François Legault had in a way prepared the ground for the congress of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) with its release on the survival of the Quebec nation and the prospect of a Louisiana destiny.
The eruption of Bernard Drainville allowed Liberal MP Marc Tanguay to brandish once again in the National Assembly the specter of this referendum “hidden because it is scary”, while we learned that the elected then a young Bloc member, was a Yes activist in 1995. Youthful giddiness, no doubt.
Which would prove for Simon Jolin-Barrette, who has had a blast with these jackets that we turn inside out, that only fools don’t change their minds. That a fervent federalist like Marc Tanguay could one day pose as a dashing sovereigntist puts into perspective the fact that the strong independence convictions of a Bernard Drainville can evaporate and be lost in the stench of power.
François Legault repeated it: the CAQ is a coalition of federalists and sovereignists who advocate nationalism “within Canada”. Ten years ago, at the start of this coalition, it became clear that, while the federalists within it could express their love for the Rockies without hesitation, the sovereignists had to leave their convictions in the locker room or, worse, seem like they no longer exist. It must be said that the former are satisfied with the status quo while the latter aspire to change the order of things. Doing nothing requires neither effort nor a special gift.
And then there are several elected caquistes who are neither. “I am not a federalist. I am not a sovereigntist. I am resolutely nationalist,” the Minister responsible for Canadian Relations, Sonia LeBel, told the National Assembly on Thursday, thus describing a sort of zero degree in politics. In Quebec, everyone calls themselves a nationalist. Even Philippe Couillard, a dyed-in-the-wool communitarian, called himself a nationalist. Even members of Québec solidaire who once sang The International, call themselves nationalists. Everyone is unhappy, sings Vigneault. In fact, everyone is a nationalist. To assert oneself as such does not mean much.
At the CAQ, it is maintained that the opposition between federalism and sovereignty is over. In this regard, Bernard Drainville did not mince his words: a “cul-de-sac”, an “old debate” which is “outdated”. In a sense, however, it is surprising that the caquists hasten to bury the sovereignist option, and for good. Historically, since the 1960s, Quebec governments have been able to count on the existence of an independence movement, on a popular desire for emancipation, to claim powers from Ottawa and “make gains”, to use the CAQ expression. . Robert Bourassa insisted on this “distinct society, free and capable of assuming its destiny and its development”.
At the CAQ congress, demanding more powers in immigration, François Legault asked for a strong mandate from the population to build a balance of power. With a population that he seems to consider forgetful, satisfied, docile, toothless. As if the national question was settled, as if federalism did not continue to evolve in a direction contrary to the interests of the nation. Finally, it is perhaps the suggestion of Bernard Drainville that the chief caquist intends to follow, that of being satisfied with “the autonomy that we have”.