Legault struggles to shake his PQ past
CAQ founder supports Quebec as part of Canada but remains soft on federalism
QUEBEC François Legault says he has reconciled himself to the idea of Quebec being in Canada.
But he concedes his past as a prominent Parti Québécois cabinet minister hangs over his head — largely because of what he said is the “fear campaigns” run by his opponent, Premier Philippe Couillard.
“Off the top, it’s important to say, for me, it’s Quebec first,” Legault, the leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, told reporters. “But a Quebec within Canada.
“I have reconciled myself with Canada and it’s clear in Article 1 of the CAQ program that we envision Quebec’s future within Canada.”
Legault explained why he prefers to be called a nationalist and has always refused the tag of a federalist.
“Being a federalist is associated with the status quo, and I would like additional powers for the Quebec government, including powers over immigration,” he said.
The story of Legault’s PQ past floats to the surface regularly but even more so now that the CAQ appears to be within striking range of forming the next provincial government.
The provincial general election is scheduled to be held on Oct. 1.
To get there, Legault needs many more federalist and minority votes.
Thursday, following a news conference to announce businesswoman Svetlana Solomykina will be the CAQ candidate in the downtown Quebec City riding of Taschereau, Legault was asked about his transformation.
He said the switch took place over the course of a few years starting in his last days in the PQ when he talked the talk but didn’t actually believe Quebec would become a country.
When he founded the CAQ in February 2011, saying Quebec voters needed something other than the Liberals and the PQ, Legault tagged the party as nationalist.
By 2012, Legault told reporters that he would vote “No” in an eventual referendum.
Finally, in November 2015, the CAQ adopted a new Article 1 for its program, which stated the CAQ believes in an “in-Canada” future for Quebec. At the time, he said Quebec’s anglophones now have a new option.
But in an interview with the Journal de Québec last week, Legault appeared to struggle to answer a simple question: why he feels pride in Canada.
“I am comfortable with Canada and I would like Quebec to do business, more business, with Canada,” Legault answered.
Under further questioning, Legault said French Canadians played a big role in the founding of Canada and he is comfortable with that.
By the end of the interview, Legault fell back on the idea Canada takes good care of its citizens.
“Whether it is children or seniors, I think we have an enviable social net in Canada, so on this I think that is an area where I am proud,” he said.
His opponents, however, accuse Legault of being soft on federalism.
“He tolerates Canada,” Couillard said last week, adding an allegiance to a country goes beyond seeing it as economically advantageous.
Thursday, Legault tried to deflect Couillard’s attacks by saying that for the first time in 40 years, a Quebec election will not be fought over the sovereignty-federalism debate and that has the Liberals unhinged.
“Mr. Couillard is in a kind of panic now,” Legault said.
The increase in the polls, however, presents fresh challenges for the CAQ, which is to meet this weekend at a policy convention in Lévis across the river from Quebec City.
Expectations — inside the party and among voters — are running high with Legault strategically softening some of the more controversial ideas in the CAQ’s playbook before they become a problem for him.
On May 2, Legault backed away from a CAQ plan to make unions more democratic by forcing them to open up their books. Two weeks ago, he softened the CAQ’s plan to deport immigrants who fail language and values tests.
Now the CAQ will refer the cases to Ottawa, which can decide what to do with non-status immigrants.
To further its image as the government-in-waiting, CAQ members will debate a series of 20 resolutions, including several on the issue of integrity.
On the more populist side, one resolution says a CAQ government would not increase taxes or fees or the costs of permits beyond the rate of inflation.
Taxpayers will be treated with respect by Revenue Quebec under a CAQ government, says another.
The CAQ does not appear to be having any trouble attracting star candidates, either, including Point-Aux-Trembles Mayor Chantal Rouleau, former Charbonneau commission prosecutor Sonia LeBel, former Liberal cabinet minister Marguerite Blais and economist Youri Chassin.
The CAQ has now nominated 40 candidates — 20 women and 20 men — for the election. There are 125 ridings in Quebec.
The danger stalking the party, Legault admitted Thursday, is overconfidence.
He has already said the upcoming 2018 election will be a historic one.
“We have to make sure people not only vote against the Liberals and for change,” Legault said. “We have to explain what change we propose. We have to talk about our program.
“We have to make sure that we don’t take anything for granted right now. We still have to work hard and make sure that we get the support and the confidence of the population, including the anglophone community.”