After a series of electoral disasters at the turn of the 2010s, a considerable number of independence activists took the risk of a major change of direction in their affiliation and their political strategy. Many thus deserted the classic vehicles, the Parti Québécois (PQ) and the Bloc Québécois (BQ), to explore new avenues. The urgency of having an uninhibited independence party justified the creation of a sovereignist coalition that would not compromise on its reason for being. Thus was born Option nationale (ON).
At the dawn of the 2017 electoral campaign, Option nationale voted for a merger with Québec solidaire (QS): ONist activists then noted the abandonment of a tangible independence approach under the leadership of Jean-François Lisée. Any attempt to achieve independence being removed from the PQ platform of 2018, several sovereignists then identified Québec solidaire as a potential vehicle that could push the idea upwards. The left party then extended its hand to them, and they chose to give it a chance.
Although the idea of a merger was laudable at the time, it must be admitted that it did not have the desired effect. Today, with only 35% of Quebec Solidaire voters calling themselves independent, the latest Léger poll demonstrates the full extent of this failure. Worse still, only 14% of solidarity voters want to see their party promote independence more. What would be our opinion of an environmentalist party of which only 14% of voters would like to see more done for the climate? To ask the question, is to answer it.
We therefore return here to what was, for many of us, a breaking point with the PQ in 2012. We, founding members of Option nationale, no longer wanted to give our time and our support to a party that would hide the independence project in his closet, occasionally waving it at activist evenings to consolidate his hold on a certain base of voters. Today, history is repeating itself at Québec solidaire.
Let’s analyze the current situation now. After a purgatory during which it seemed to have come close to death, we must admit that the Parti Québécois is back. After a campaign resolutely focused on independence, followed by a series of key actions, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s reduced team demonstrated, through its simple political courage, its true striking force. By eliminating any form of compromise on article 1, it only took a little will for the abolition of the oath to the king to be effective.
Faced with the disappointing results of the merger of Option nationale and Québec solidaire, we are speaking today to our former comrades from Option nationale, still part of the solidarity machine. It’s time to come together and converge on a vehicle that is not afraid to make independence its priority. This was our reason for being, remember!
We too have invested time and energy in Option nationale. It is very difficult today to see that this political heritage is monopolized by a party which puts this fundamental issue in the gutter of its list of priorities. Noting that what was once the vanguard of the independence movement is relegated to the rank of a small group in a party with a federalist majority hurts our hearts.
It is time to repatriate your colors to a party worthy of your convictions. In our eyes, the Parti Québécois of PSPP will have succeeded, in a short time and with few resources, in concretely advancing the independence of Quebec. Now imagine what would be possible by converging our forces within this same party. It is time to make the right choice, so that the rest of the story does not become a sad repetition of our past mistakes.
*Also signed this letter: Thomas Rodrigue, former member of Option nationale; Gabriel Gauthier, former National Option candidate (L’Assomption); Yannick Paquette-Gendron, former president of Option nationale (Terrebonne); Pierre-Alexandre Bugeaud, former National Option candidate (Masson); Maxime Poulin-Pomerleau, former treasurer of Option nationale (Terrebonne); Samuel Dubé Roussy, former member of Option nationale; Olivier Lacelle, former Option nationale candidate (Gouin); Éric Laforce, former member of Option nationale; Jean-Philippe Nadeau Marcoux, former member of Option nationale; Catherine Hervieux, former secretary of Option nationale (Laval-des-Rapides); Yannick Racine, former member of Option nationale; Patrice Racine, former member of Option nationale; David Provost, former member of Option nationale.