CAQ adopts ‘new nationalism’
Legault wants constitutional talks, referendum on repatriating powers
A government led by the Coalition Avenir Québec would work to repatriate cultural, fiscal and environmental powers from Ottawa and then submit the new deal to Quebecers in a referendum.
CAQ leader François Legault broke his own promise to stay silent on the question of Quebec’s independence Wednesday and announced that his party is a new kind of federalist.
“It’s something new. It’s something that should be reassuring for the English community,” Legault said, stressing that he’ll never use the term ‘federalist’.
“The word ‘federalist’ in Quebec is attached to status quo. We want to change the situation.”
Legault said he decided to plunge into the constitutional debate after seeing a “radical” and “uni-dimensional” Pierre Karl Péladeau arrive at the helm of the Parti Québécois. Legault had promised in 2012 not to broach the topic for at least 10 years.
“We now have Mr. Péladeau who’s talking only about a referendum, so I think that right now, we have to change our position,” Legault said at the end of the party’s two-day caucus in the Beauce region to prepare for the fall session at the National Assembly.
“At the next election, there will be three options on the table. The Liberals’ status quo federalism, the PQ’s imaginary country and the CAQ’s nationalism, which stands for change and a strong Quebec identity inside Canada.”
Legault told reporters a ‘strong Quebec’ would subject the 130,000 federal employees working in the province to Bill 101.
It would also repatriate immigration powers: “Currently, Quebec chooses less than 70 per cent of its immigrant workforce,” explained Benoît Charette, the CAQ intergovernmental affairs critic. “It is not sufficient. We would like to do more to reunite families. We’re talking about several thousands of people.”
Moreover, the CAQ would argue for a single income tax return, to be filed in Quebec, and for the repatriation of environmental evaluation powers. “We will ask that projects on Quebec territory only be evaluated by provincial authorities,” Charrette added.
Legault said after negotiating a new deal with Ottawa, he would submit the proposal to Quebecers for approval.
“Absolutely. I think that a new agreement with Canada should be ratified by the population in a referendum,” he said.
Three weeks ago, Premier Philippe Couillard agreed Quebecers would need to be consulted should the Canadian constitution ever be reopened, but didn’t dare utter the word “referendum”.
Antonia Maioni, a political scientist from McGill University, said the CAQ faces an uphill battle.
“The CAQ is a party that, until now, has been more on the economic side. So we’ll have to see going forward, by repositioning itself not only on the economy but also on this fundamental divide, whether or not there is room for this kind of message.”
Health Minister Gaétan Barrette was more scathing. He said he believes the CAQ doesn’t have a leg to stand on. “My personal feeling is that Quebecers will not believe that this change of attitude is something solid enough to go in their direction,” he said.
CAQ rank and file members are scheduled to meet on Nov. 7 and 8 to flesh out their party’s new political position.