“Pierre holds the pen, I hold the microphone.” Marc had invented this formula to describe the distribution of our tasks within Syndicalistes et progressistes pour un Québec libre (SPQ Libre). Yes, Marc held the microphone… the microphone that journalists generously handed to him at the Parti Québécois (PQ) authorities, assured of obtaining a frank, clear, honest statement, far from the formatted discourse of traditional politicians.
With other unionists and progressives, we had innovated, with the agreement of Bernard Landry, by having the recognition of political clubs included in the PQ statutes at the 2005 convention. The plan called for the creation of several political clubs. The SPQ Libre led the way, and others were in the making (business people, environmentalists, members of cultural minorities, etc.). But Mr. Landry’s unfortunate resignation called everything into question.
The PQ then had a new leader, André Boisclair, who was opposed to the existence of political clubs, hostile to the progressive program adopted at the convention, and whose entourage was inspired by Tony Blair’s New Labour, highlighting its break with the union world. “No more boozy dinners with union leaders,” Boisclair declared demagogically.
At SPQ Libre, we then found ourselves in direct opposition to the leader, convinced that this path was suicidal, which Boisclair’s electoral rout confirmed. Marc Laviolette was the main tenor of our dissent, this time at the microphones of the party authorities. On several occasions, we succeeded in defeating resolutions with a neoliberal flavor or in adopting progressive policies against the advice of the party leadership.
I particularly remember a national council where the delegates defied the leader by adopting a resolution by two-thirds in favor of the nationalization of wind power, despite opposing interventions by François Legault and Rita Dionne-Marsolais.
However, we were aware that the days of the SPQ Libre were numbered. The experience of political clubs could not be based on the existence of a single one and withstand the disapproval of the party leadership. Our contribution was to maintain a social-democratic discourse in the PQ for a decade, while maintaining the course towards independence. A discourse that Marc and I, during our last discussions, were happy to note the resurgence of under the leadership of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
Trade unionist above all
Today, I see Marc again in front of journalists whom he approached with his “How is he?” for each one, his frankness, his striking phrases, his speech never demagogic. Never demagogic because always based on his deep union convictions.
Because Marc was, above all, a trade unionist. It must be remembered that after suffering defeat as president of his union, he returned to his ” shop “, when he could have found a more prestigious niche. Recently, he sent me with great pride the texts of what will constitute a small book on the history of his union, the Syndicat national des produits chimiques de Valleyfield (SNPCV-CSN).
Marc and I have written numerous articles in newspapers, published in the collection No referendum, no sovereignty (ERQ, 2008) and The SPQ Libre and the independence of Quebec. Ten years of struggle within the Parti Québécois (ERQ, 2013).
Today, dear Marc, dear comrade, it is with deep sadness that I sign this text alone, all the more saddened that there will be no microphone held out to bring it to life, as you knew, like no other, how to do.