The Liberal Party of Quebec can once again govern Quebec. But for that, it must remain faithful to its history and its values.
It is not easy to know today where the Liberals stand in terms of the economy, federalism, language and secularism. In many ways, the identity of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) is ambiguous.
Allowing the ambiguity to hover over one’s identity is dangerous for a political party. A party whose values and commitments do not elicit either approval or disapproval from the electorate runs the risk of falling into indifference.
However, the identity of the PLQ has not changed. It is based on three fundamental values: identification with Quebec, Canadian belonging and individual freedoms.
Identification in Quebec is the keystone of the identity of the PLQ. It refers to democratic institutions, the French language and the history of Quebec.
It refers to the francophone majority, linguistic and cultural minorities as well as aboriginal nations.
This is why the Liberals created the Ministry of Culture (1961), made French the official language of Quebec (1974) and negotiated the Treaty of James Bay and Northern Quebec (1975). .
This is also why the Liberals advocate a model of integration and development of diversity, interculturalism, which promotes a common culture while respecting individual freedoms and cultural diversity.
Identification in Quebec is closely linked to being Canadian. For the Liberals, the Canadian federation is an essential condition for the defense and promotion of Quebec’s interests.
If the Liberals are federalists, it is because they believe that Canada is the best condition for the survival and development of the Quebec nation.
This is the vision defended by Honoré Mercier, for whom the legitimacy of the federation rested mainly on the provinces. For Mercier, these had created the federal government and they were sovereign in their fields of jurisdiction.
This is what motivated Quebec to convene the first conference of provinces in Canadian history (1887), to demand that these conferences become annual (1960) and to propose the creation of the Council of the Federation (2003).
In addition, there are individual freedoms. For the liberals, it is essential that the individual enjoys the most extensive system of rights and freedoms.
It is in the name of this ideal that Adélard Godbout passed the law granting women the right to vote and to be elected (1940), that he made compulsory school attendance until the age of 14. years and that he introduced free primary education (1943).
It was also in the name of this ideal that Robert Bourassa adopted the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms (1975), which considerably influenced the drafters of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Identification with Quebec, Canadian belonging and individual freedoms form the heart of liberal identity. They must determine other liberal values, in particular economic development, social justice, intergenerational equity, respect for civil society and democracy.
Liberals must not give in to the temptation to want to be like their opponents in the hope that it will bring voters back to them: not only because voters always prefer the original over the copy, but also because they would not. not faithful to the values which, since 1867, have defined their identity.
Unlike the ultranationalism of the Coalition futur Quebec and the extreme left sovereignty of Quebec solidaire, the PLQ is the only party likely to unite Quebecers.
It is the only party that can truly bridge the gap between Montreal, Quebec and the regions, the francophone majority, anglophones and allophones, Quebec and the Canadian federation.
In short, the PLQ remains the best political vehicle for bringing Quebecers together.
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