When one of Prime Minister François Legault’s political advisers called me in December 2021, shortly before Christmas, to tell me that the government of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) was definitively abandoning the reform of the voting system, which was well underway , among the pretexts and flat excuses he offered me at the time, he notably declared to me that Quebec was better served by the status quo, because it gave us, with its parliamentary majorities, a powerful report of strength against Ottawa.
Taking up this old bogeyman constantly brandished by supporters of the status quo and other opponents of a true representative democracy, this seasoned adviser was proud to tell me that the Prime Minister and his inner circle now adhered to this idea.
Today, I wonder if François Legault and his shrewd strategists don’t have their tails between their two legs, after four and a half years of rebuffs from Justin Trudeau… himself at the head of a minority government , so in principle lower! The report is implacable: two mandates with large parliamentary majorities thanks to a democratically deficient system which allows accession to power with 37% or 41% of the votes cast confer absolutely no additional balance of power on Quebec! No more than in the past, for that matter.
Clearly, a big caucus is not enough to influence the will of the central government. Barking loudly makes headlines, but does not change the established order in Canada. To move the tectonic plates of Canadian federalism, one would have to be ready not only to slam the door, but, above all, one would have to have convinced a solid majority of the population to accept the challenge of breaking the moorings definitively in order to win the case. in major disputes. However, when we abdicate before even starting the big maneuvers, we are rather badly positioned to then make real gains.
Quebec is certainly stronger in front of Ottawa when, with the unanimous support of the National Assembly, it speaks with one voice. But the recent as much as the older past demonstrates that this is not enough. And to claim that we must keep the old English electoral system to protect our distinctive character and make us win against English Canada is a fallacious argument, if not downright false.
Would a new proportional voting system, like the one proposed by the New Democracy Movement—and all the political parties that have been in power since 1976—make it possible to do better in this regard? At first, not really. But, because it would promote the advent of a more unifying political culture, based on parliamentary majorities representing popular majorities, it would create greater citizen solidarity and consolidate our cohesion as well as our collective strength.
Moreover, demonstrating Quebec’s real capacity to have distinct political institutions would no doubt create a new enthusiasm for politics. Ensuring that every vote can really count in general elections would increase citizen power and people’s confidence in their ability to face the major political challenges that challenge us a little more every day. Electoral participation, which is increasingly in decline, could experience very significant increases.
Unfortunately, by renouncing to go after his promise to realize the great democratic dream of René Lévesque, François Legault must and will have to be satisfied with a poor record in the face of History. He will have obtained only crumbs compared to all the promised gains concerning Quebec power and he will have missed the opportunity to endow his people with a modern, fair, inspiring, vigorous and exemplary democracy. That said, at the start of this legislature, there is still time for him to reconsider his decision… He and all of Quebec could gain a lot from it!