Le Code Québec reveals some awkward truths

The book’s portrait of Quebecers undercuts some sovereignist beliefs

As Quebec’s rudderless sovereignty movement struggles to inspire public confidence, its promoters play the identity card, repeatedly, attempting to reinforce the belief that Quebecers are not only distinct, but have dramatically different values than their Canadian neighbours. A fascinating book published last week, Le Code Québec, may demonstrate that sovereignist arguments on identity — which underpin much of the sovereignist project — are irreparably flawed.

I’m making an admittedly superficial, preliminary assessment, but it seems clear that the book stands to have important implications for Quebec’s political landscape. Reaction to it from the political class has been mostly cautious and tepid, however.

One exception has been Mario Dumont, a political analyst and former leader of the opposition Action démocratique du Québec who played that identity card with some success during the 2007 election campaign. As one of the fathers of the reasonable accommodation debate, Dumont might have been expected to try to poke holes into the study and the logic of its authors, pollster and economist Jean-Marc Léger, HEC Montréal professor emeritus of marketing Jacques Nantel and Pierre Duhamel, political commentator and executive director Fondation de l’entrepreneurship.

Last week, I was critical of Dumont for promoting divisive rhetoric between the so-called two solitudes in the wake of controversial comments on cultural integration from entrepreneur Mitch Garber (comments that, paradoxically, have so far generated more chatter than the landmark Code study).

In fact, Dumont praised Le Code: “It’s a timeless book that will be a reference in the world of politics, marketing, advertising and communications,” he told La Presse, “for the next 10 to 15 years.”

The study’s most counterintuitive conclusions seem refreshing, and consistent with Quebec’s oft-overlooked historical cross-cultural mélange. The book paints a picture of a people whose identity is complex, yet still mostly Canadian.

Some observers may be astounded to learn that the study’s examination of 500 political and social attitudes and behaviours — values indicators — found significant similarities in the responses of Quebecers and other Canadians.

It would require some rhetorical acrobatics for sovereignists to effectively spin the Code’s findings as positive for the movement. The book suggests that Quebecers are indisputably distinct. But its findings don’t provide convincing support for the view that Quebec is distinct enough from Anglo North America to justify a sovereignist movement that has relied heavily, if not predominantly, on cultural and linguistic questions.

Léger, the brother of Parti Québécois MNA Nicole Léger and son of former PQ MNA Marcel Léger, concluded Quebecers describe themselves as a hybrid people, splitting their cultural sympathies three ways: “modest French, playful English and peaceful American.”

Post-Quiet Revolution, after decades of being told they are drowning as minorities in the Anglo North American sea, Le Code posits Quebecers seem comfortable, even happy to be juggling at least three cultures at once.

Not only do the findings undermine the PQ’s brand of sovereignty, but also the economic and cultural nationalism that Quebec Liberals, ostensibly federalists, are nearly as eager to promote. If, for argument’s sake, two-thirds of Quebec’s cultural identity is rooted in the anglo world, it stands to reason that policies suppressing the English language (and others seen as competing with French), including those enforced by the Office québécois de la langue française, could use some revision.

Joie de vivre, easygoing, non-committal, victim, villagers, creative and proud are cultural characteristics identified by the authors, but caution is in order: Polling, though enlightening, is not an exact science. Stereotyping and generalizations based on the findings are to be avoided, but what Le Code does offer Quebec is well-substantiated insight and a reminder that serious introspection is overdue.