Like a Pokémon, François Legault is evolving.
At the start of 2000, he was one of those sovereignists in a hurry. The national question had to be resolved immediately, now, he said.
At the beginning of 2010, he moved towards autonomy. Had to deal with Canada and get rid of the Liberals.
At the start of 2023, even though he had obtained a strong mandate which would, according to him, allow him to repatriate immigration powers, he was transforming into a tired federalist. No question that his political legacy is one of incessant battles against Ottawa. Reforms in health, education and energy being more important, the rest had to be left aside.
Then at the end of 2023, facing a reinvigorated PQ, he was momentarily reincarnated as “Captain Canada”.
Here he is now as a “lamentable” federalist on the question of asylum seekers. He complains, moans, grumbles against the Trudeau government which, floating in the air above reality, looks down on the government of Quebec.
Screenings
This brings us to PM Legault’s attack on the Bloc Québécois.
“What is the Block for?” thundered the PM three times.
Despite his various reconversions, François Legault had never attacked the Bloc, had never alluded to the liberal or conservative argument which says that having more deputies from Quebec would be equivalent to more influence in their party.
And yet, the Bloc is often the only one to bring its government’s demands to Ottawa. On immigration, on health transfers, on Bill 21, on Bill 96 and official languages, on Davie…
PM Legault is more of a projectionist.
He projects his own helplessness. He is looking for culprits, with the PQ, the Bloc and the PLC.
It’s as if for the PM, Canadian federalism was a people affair.
And not a structure which ensures that on the issue of asylum seekers, for example, the power is in Ottawa and the responsibilities in Quebec.
From the diagonal, our PM gives a sort of support to Pierre Poilievre.
Surprising, given that the Conservative leader is the one who, objectively, has offered the least to Quebec for 20 years.