A Léger poll published this week reveals that if a referendum were held on the repatriation of immigration powers by the Quebec government, 65% of Quebecers would be in favor. The same survey tells us that only 34% of Quebecers are in favor of holding a referendum on the repatriation of immigration powers. Special, han???
This means that Quebecers want the repatriation of immigration powers, but do not want a referendum to be held to affirm that they want the repatriation of immigration powers. In short, we want the repatriation of immigration powers, but not to the point of having a referendum to obtain them. More powers? OK. More referendums? No ! No ! Arrk! Pooh ! Everything but not that!
This proves the visceral aversion that Quebecers feel towards referendums.
We would ask Quebecers if they want to pay less tax, and they would answer 90% yes. We would ask them if they want a referendum on tax cuts, and the majority would answer no. It’s at that point.
If we held a referendum on referendums, the abstention rate would win.
Referendums are to Quebecers what bullfights are to bulls: an activity to be avoided.
However, we cannot say that we are having a sickening number of referendums. For example, the oldest among us have experienced as many referendums on sovereignty as total solar eclipses: two. Two is only two more than zero.
In Montana, in just one year, they had five referendums. In Alabama, in one year, they had seven referendums. In Colorado, in one year, they had 11! In California, in one year, they had 13 referendums! It ranged from voting rights for convicted felonies to rent control. And we would rather not have a first referendum in 29 years than get something we want.
People all over the world are happy to be asked for their opinion. Not here. Here, it gives us hives. For what ?
Of course, the first referendum on sovereignty had something to do with it. Let’s remember the context. In 1976, Quebecers elected the PQ to power. It’s euphoria. We wave our flags. We applaud. We are perhaps something of a great people. From today, tomorrow is ours. There are six million of us, we need to talk. My dear Quebec, it’s your turn to let yourself talk about love. René Lévesque gives a speech in New York. Quebec Power! It’s going well. In 1977, Camille Laurin arrived with the Charter of the French language. The use of French in Quebec is saved. No more stops. We are going forward. Proudly. Everybody is happy. Then, in 1979, the PQ announced the holding of a referendum, on May 20, 1980, on the sovereignty-association project. And there, law 101 or not, the shit hits the fan.
Until then, national affirmation was like a wave that carried us; suddenly it becomes like a pot of boiling water. Before, it was us against the world. Now it’s us against us. We yell at each other. Federalist Quebecers against separatist Quebecers. We’re not used to that. At that time, we all played for the same team: the Montreal Canadiens who always won the Stanley Cup. We voted for Lévesque in Quebec, then Trudeau in Ottawa. Two little guys from our area. There you have to choose between the two. We don’t like that.
Referendum, for Quebecers, equals chicanery. And the Quebecer hates chicanery. Even on our talk shows, everyone has to agree. For us, life is like Fan Schoolin the end everyone has to win.
It took us a decade to recover from the 1980 referendum. In the 1995 referendum, the No vote won by fear. Then came the sponsorship scandal revealing all the irregularities of the federalist clan’s referendum campaign; one would have thought that a third referendum called then would have tipped the scales towards the sovereignists. Why wasn’t there one? Not because the world wanted to know nothing about independence, because the world wanted to know nothing about a referendum! What the world likes least about independence is the referendum. Independence would be obtained by accumulating Aeroplan points, people would subscribe to them more. But going through another referendum is beyond their strength.
It is certain that social networks have probably accustomed Quebecers to chicanery. The next generations should be much more resistant to harsh exchanges, since it is part of their daily life. Referendums should not terrorize them, as long as they are held on TikTok.
In the meantime, to push through the holding of a next referendum, it will take a lot of tact. Ultimately, what Quebecers abhor is not the referendum, it is the referendum campaign. Should have a surprise referendum. Tomorrow, we vote for or against sovereignty! No stubbornness, no attacks, no stupidity.
A referendum is for the people to tell politicians what to do.
A referendum campaign is for politicians to tell the people what to tell them to do.
All the nuance is there. And the problem, too.
Deal with it!