Sovereignty will be pushed ‘with respect’
Alexandre Cloutier says he sees no contradiction in seeking more powers and full separation
QUEBEC — The province’s new constitutional point man says he sees no contradiction in trying to obtain more powers from the federal government at the same time as angling to advance the sovereignty cause.
“No, not at all,” Alexandre Cloutier, minister for intergovernmental affairs and sovereignist governance, said when asked about the dual mission Premier Pauline Marois has assigned him.
“Quebecers chose a Parti Québécois government. I recognize we are a minority government, but we are sovereignists; we proposed a sovereignist governance and in that sovereignist governance there are four stages.
“And the first one is to see that our jurisdictions are respected. I think the opposition will recognize this. Nobody is going to oppose Quebec making sure its jurisdictions are respected before the federal government.”
On his way into the first meeting of the new cabinet, Cloutier said the PQ is not trying to provoke Ottawa with its sovereignist governance plan, which specifies a PQ-governed Quebec will try and obtain as much as it can from the federation.
If it runs into a brick wall — which seems likely given Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s early remarks after the PQ was elected — it will be one more reason to push for separation.
“We’ll make Quebec’s views known,” Cloutier said. “I will do it with the necessary firmness but in respect.”
Cloutier added Marois has already been clear that Quebec intends to participate in the Council
“We’ll make Quebec’s views known. I will do it with … firmness, but in respect.”
ALEXANDRE CLOUTIER
of the Federation where the provinces hash out common positions — even though in the past she called for it to be abolished.
Cloutier, who has one master’s degree in constitutional law from the Université de Montréal and a second masters in international law from Cambridge, is seen as one of the more moderate PQ caucus members when it comes to federalprovincial relations.
Observers said Wednesday nobody really expects him to ride into Ottawa guns blazing demanding more powers.
Marois’s marching orders to Cloutier nevertheless sounded tough.
Marois said he is to “take all necessary means,” to defend Quebec’s interests, occupy all possible space in areas of its identity and economy, including “demanding new powers.”
“My government is sovereignist,” Marois said. “We are convinced the future of Quebec is that of a sovereign country. More so because it appears to us that remaining a province in Canada constitutes an unacceptable risk for Quebec.
“It is imperative to forge ahead promoting our interests and identity, not as a province but as a nation.”
Ottawa’s reaction to Quebec’s sabre-rattling remained unchanged Thursday.
According to the day’s “talking points,” produced by the prime minister’s office to help Conservative ministers respond to reporter’s questions, Ottawa’s line has not wavered from the one it staked out election day.
“We do not believe that Quebecers wish to revisit the old constitutional battles of the past. Our government will remain focused on jobs, economic growth and sound management of the economy.”
Still, Cloutier noted there are also outstanding non-constitutional issues between Quebec and Ottawa, including Ottawa’s desire to abolish the long-gun registry and reforms to the Young Offenders Act the province disagrees with.