Selling a more open PQ
Lisée tries to court young voters in effort to revamp party’s image
Jean-François Lisée’s message to young future voters was simple: “Rediscover us; this is not your grandfather’s Parti Québécois.”
Old enough to be their grandfather, the 58-year-old PQ leader tried to sell the packed Reception Hall at Dawson College Friday on a friendlier, more open PQ, in a clear attempt to try to court young voters in the wake of an internal report that described the party as an aging, disconnected social club.
“There are many things that might surprise you about the PQ,” Lisée said, pointing to the party’s record on the economy when in power. He showed graphs that displayed higher GDP growth during the years the PQ has been in power, compared with Liberal governments.
“This is despite the fact that we passed language laws and tried to get out of the country ... twice,” Lisée said to laughter.
He also touted the party’s achievements, such as the universal affordable daycare program, and he said the PQ has worked to reduce the poverty rate when it was in power.
On CEGEP education, Lisée said the party no longer believes Bill 101 should be applied to postsecondary institutions, but there should be a French-proficiency test for students exiting CEGEP to ensure that they can function in a French workplace.
The plain-spoken Lisée appeared to be a hit, with a 25-minute English speech peppered with jokes. However, during a lengthy question period, many asked about subjects Lisée’s speech did not emphasize, like the party’s plans to promote independence and its stance on secularism in the public service.
To a question about Englishspeaking Quebecers moving away because of the province’s language laws Lisée said: “if you don’t want to be in a place where French is the official and common language, you will feel ill at ease here. So I’m saying stay. Get over it. Fit in. We’re going to have a good time.”
Djazia Bousnina, a second-year psychology student, said Lisée did not convince her.
“He was really trying hard, but a lot of us were not convinced because he didn’t answer the actual questions,” she said.
She added she is concerned about the party’s record with minorities, especially the Charter of Values, introduced before the last election campaign.
“I am Muslim, and while I don’t wear any religious signs, I still care about people who do,” she said.
“I think what’s beautiful about Quebec and Canada is that we have the freedom to choose what we want, and to limit that, I find outrageous.”
Lisée said his government would work to ensure representatives of the state don’t show outward displays of their religion.
If you don’t want to be in a place where French is the official and common language, you will feel ill at ease here. So I’m saying stay. Get over it. Fit in.