Many people who rubbed shoulders with François Legault at the time when he distinguished himself as an eager sovereignist must have choked on their coffee while reading that Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon now identified him as the best Captain Canada.
Who would have thought it, but according to Mr. Fitzgibbon, his leader is best positioned to defend Canada and block a referendum on the independence of Quebec. You read correctly.
The minister was reacting to a statement from Denis Coderre, who is positioning himself for the leadership race of the PLQ and who proclaimed himself Captain Canada in an interview with Duty.
And to say that François Legault doesn’t like being compared to Jean Charest…
Quite a margin
Of course, Mr. Legault distanced himself from sovereignty a long time ago to become the defender of nationalism and autonomy.
In 2008, a year before his resignation as a PQ MP, he embarrassed his leader Pauline Marois by asserting that this option should be put on the back burner. He then spoke of a crisis of confidence and justified his position because of the cynicism of voters towards politicians.
But from there to being seen and perceived as the best Captain Canada, there is quite a margin. The CAQ leader, who has maintained ambiguity about his constitutional positions since he founded the CAQ, will have to clarify his thinking.
Find your compass
The popularity of François Legault, like that of his party, is in free fall in the polls. The disappointed PQ members are returning home.
With the rise of the PQ, sovereignty and Quebec’s place in Canada will indeed occupy an important place on the Quebec political scene until the next elections in 2026.
Mr. Legault will no longer be able to afford ambivalence and double meaning statements. Here again, he will really need to find his compass.