It is not because some of its activists have told it that it would benefit from being more nationalist that the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) will abandon its federalist convictions. The political formation will continue to boast of Canadian unity, drawing inspiration in particular from Jean Charest, said Friday the interim Liberal leader, Marc Tanguay.
“It was with Jean Charest that we went to get our share of the loot against Paul Martin when we wanted federal transfers in health,” said the elected representative of LaFontaine during his report at the end of the parliamentary session, at the ‘National Assembly. “That is a success of a Mr. Charest […], who said: “no, it won’t work the same way” and put his foot down, federalist though he was. »
During the general council of the Liberal Party, at the end of May, some activists criticized the current leadership for its cautious support for Quebec nationalism. In an open letter published in The Pressthe activist Jérôme Turcotte, ex-president of the political Commission of the party, had announced that he was putting away his membership card in particular, because the formation had “lost its ability to embody québecitude”.
However, on Friday, when asked about the fundamental values that drive her party, the current co-chair of the QLP revival committee Madwa-Nika Cadet named three: the economy, the defense of individual rights… and federalism.
“The Liberal Party of Quebec must regain its ability to change Canada,” insisted Marc Tanguay.
“We, the solution to our problems, is not the big night of the separation of Quebec,” he continued. “It is within the Canadian federation, a Quebec society, a Quebec nation that has had the opportunity to flourish. Then that, you have to find that. »
“Find a Liberal Nationalist”
This position of the PLQ was the subject of some taunts from Prime Minister François Legault on Friday. During the traditional greetings at the end of the session, in the Blue Room, the head of government wished Marc Tanguay that he would take advantage of the summer to “find at least one liberal nationalist somewhere in Quebec”.
Then, an hour later, Mr. Legault added, sending an arrow to the other co-chair of the Liberal recovery committee, the former journalist and senator André Pratte. “We continue with a very clear plan,” said the elected CAQ when asked about his own record. “We don’t need André Pratte to tell us where to go. »
The Liberal Party has found itself without a leader since the departure of Dominique Anglade last year. Rules for the party’s leadership race won’t arrive until the fall, and only a handful of MPs have signaled an interest in running. Asked again about his intentions to start, Marc Tanguay reiterated Friday that he was not thinking about it.
“I don’t use the interim chiefdom as a springboard,” he said. “When the rules are known, as I have always said, I will have the opportunity to say whether I am going or not. »
Mr. Tanguay maintained that he would remain in the interim leader’s seat “as long as [qu’il aura] the trust of [ses] caucus colleagues and party confidence.