“But why still believe in it?” »This question, many of us, activists of the Parti Quebecois, have heard it since 2018. In each survey, in each article, we are always asked the same question. And yet, the simple fact that we are still present to answer it speaks for itself: our cause is greater than the upheavals imposed by political reality.
Some will agree that the past year has not been the easiest for political parties confined to the opposition. However, it did not prevent the militants and the leader of the Parti Québécois from taking the field by storm. Wherever he goes, our leader attracts many Quebecers open to the question of independence, regardless of their age. Activists take or take back their cards; our fundraising campaign clearly demonstrates our ability to mobilize. Among these activists, many are those whose initiatives to promote independence are successful, such as the poster campaign of the YES camp.
A year of challenges, therefore, but also a year in which the Parti Québécois, under the leadership of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, refocused on its main mission, the one that distinguishes it from the other parties represented in the National Assembly: constantly promote the issue of independence.
The Parti Québécois remains the only party to highlight and denounce the numerous refusals by the federal government in response to legitimate requests from Quebec, in particular the refusal of health transfers of 6 billion per year, the refusal of the application of the law 101 to federal companies, the refusal of a single tax return managed by Quebec, the refusal to give us full powers in culture and immigration, the refusal to collaborate during the pandemic on fundamental questions, such as the control of borders and airports or the maintenance of the army.
The Parti Québécois is also the only party that wants to act to change things over the long term and get us out of a federalism that is suffocating us. It is the only party to tell Quebeckers the truth on essential issues, such as the French language. It is the only party that clearly aspires to offer our generation and those that follow a green, proud and dignified country. It is the only party to have ambition for our culture and our language. For us, the promotion of these involves the application of Bill 101 to CEGEPs, and we have been able to observe the listening as well as the team spirit of our leader and our members. opportunity for debate on this issue. By rallying to the position of the young people of the PQ, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has shown his openness to questioning, but also and above all his desire to “stir the cage” and to propose daring ideas to advance Quebec.
This openness, this daring and this fighting spirit are essential for anyone who has the ambition to forge a country. We are therefore confident that Quebeckers will appreciate the work of our leader just as they already appreciate that of our parliamentary wing.
Despite adversity, all those involved in the Parti Québécois are pursuing their efforts, with combativeness and determination, under the leadership of our leader. The challenges ahead are many, we are all aware of them. But we are moving forward with the conviction that we are heading in the right direction. Telling Quebeckers the truth is to lead them towards the best path for our future: towards our national independence.
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* Signatories:
Alexandre L’Italien, Champlain
Alexis Bastien, Mont-Royal – Outremont
Anthony Trépanier, Joliette
Charles-Hubert Riverin, Jean-Talon
Charlotte Lévesque-Marin, Mercier, National Youth Committee of the Parti Québécois
Clarence Corbeil, The Plains
Clément Boudreau, Taschereau, president of university campus
Cynthia Therrien Verchères, young territorial president
Dave Lagarde, Joliette
Derek Miner, Bourassa-Sauvé
Éden Bélanger Sherbrooke, young territorial president
Edouard Fournier, Bellechasse
Émile Simard Dubuc, young territorial president
Félix Trudeau-St-Cerny, Verchères
Florence Gosselin, Groulx
François Gervais, Mirabel
Gabriel Venne, Joliette
Gabrielle Desjardins Chauveau, National Youth Committee of the Parti Québécois
Gabrielle Gagnon, Blainville
Hubert Lebel, Jean-Talon, young territorial president
Jasmin Bernier, Hochelaga, National Executive of the FJBQ
Jean-Bernard Chrétien, Chicoutimi
Jean-Philippe Molnar, Chambly, President of the National Executive of the FJBP
Jérémy Racicot, Mirabel
Jonathan Mattson, Ungava
Jordan Craig-Larouche, Blainville, National Youth Committee of the Parti Québécois
Josiane Paradis, Blainville, National Youth Committee of the Parti Québécois
Justin Fortier, Charlesbourg, young territorial president
Laurence Massey, Groulx
Laurent Poulin-Moisan, Jean-Talon
Liam Buell, Lévis, National Youth Committee of the Parti Québécois
Loic Nadeau, Arthabaska
Marc-Antoine Lemay, Sainte-Marie – Saint-Jacques
Marie-Laurence Desgagné Marie-Victorin, President of the National Youth Committee of the Parti Québécois
Mathieu St-Pierre Castonguay, Taschereau
Michaël Potvin, Jean-Lesage
Mikaël Lalonde, Terrebonne
Nathan Hurteau, Iberville
Nicolas Senneville, Sherbrooke
Olivier Bouchard, Chauveau
Olivier Dupuis Gaspé, young territorial president
Philippe Maltais-Guilbault, Jonquière
Pier-Luc Diamond, Pointe-aux-Trembles
Pierre-Gilles Morel, Lévis
Rosalie Gosselin, Groulx
Sabrina Mercier-Ullhorn, Gouin
Samuel Gervais, Labelle
Samuel Loranger, Trois-Rivières, young territorial president
Sébastien O’Bomsawin, Hull
Soledad Orihuela-Bouchard, Taillon
Timothée Langlois, Laviolette – Saint-Maurice, National Youth Committee of the Parti Québécois
Victor Dubuc, Taschereau
William Fradette, Lac-Saint-Jean
Yastene Adda, Bourget, young territorial president