(Quebec) Despite the defeat of the yes camp during the referendum on Quebec independence in 1995, Lucien Bouchard is still “convinced that this is the solution”. In the political contest that is leading the Legault government to demand new federal powers in the area of immigration, the former prime minister warns that “one should never count on Ottawa to concede powers to Quebec”.
Posted at 2:31 p.m.
Mr. Bouchard, who was Premier of Quebec from 1996 to 2001, was present on Wednesday in the gardens of the Parliament Building for the inauguration of a statue honoring the memory of his predecessor, former PQ Premier Jacques Parizeau. This statue, an imposing bronze work by Montreal sculptors Jules Lasalle and Annick Bourgeau, was unveiled in the presence of the widow of the former leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Lisette Lapointe, and Premier François Legault.
In a lengthy press scrum, Mr. Bouchard agreed to answer many questions about Quebec nationalism, which is “open, democratic, welcoming [et] who wants to open society to everyone, without division and without rejection,” he said.
While the government of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) wishes to obtain a “strong mandate” in the October 3 election to establish a balance of power against the federal government and claim all powers in immigration, Lucien Bouchard said this: “It will not be done with the approval of Ottawa, that’s for sure.”
Photo Jacques Boissinot, The Canadian Press
A statue of PQ Premier Jacques Parizeau was inaugurated Wednesday behind the National Assembly.
“We must never count on Ottawa to grant powers to Quebec, the powers it wants and which it needs. It has to come from political pressure, it has to come from a grassroots, collective political movement, as it has been for a long time, but it is less so now. It has to be seen,” he added.
According to the former Prime Minister, the challenge for leaders today is to design a political project that unites a critical mass of citizens and is based on democratic foundations. “It’s not easy today. It’s a real challenge. This is one of Mr. Legault’s challenges,” he said.
“I think whether you’re a nationalist or not, immigration to Quebec is of crucial importance. Its very important. And we have made considerable gains. This is nevertheless an area where Quebec has succeeded in obtaining a sharing of powers in any case, which is not perfect, but which was a very important step. So that means we have to continue,” added Mr. Bouchard.
Sovereignty still relevant
After the defeat of the yes camp in the 1995 referendum, Mr. Bouchard did not consider it possible to quickly hold a new vote. More than twenty years later, “I think it’s even less possible,” he said Wednesday, while his former political party, the Parti Québécois, proposes to hold a referendum in a first term.
That said, the sovereignist project, “it is topical because it is still in the hearts of many people, in the hearts of many Quebecers still [et] in mine too,” added the former Prime Minister.
“I am convinced that this is the solution. I very much regret that it was not adopted at the time. I respect the popular decision, but this is the solution. […] Everything becomes a problem in the management of the Quebec state because of its extremely difficult, probably impossible, relations with the federal government as it is designed,” continued Mr. Bouchard.