Looking for Clarity on Mulcair’s referendum math
Re: Calling Out Mulcair On Quebec, editorial, July 23. The New Democratic Party’s constitution requires a super-majority for at least one internal party process. How can something as important as Quebec separation logically be triggered by what amounts to the whim of one last solitary voter?
Also, the NDP should explain which “50 per cent plus one” will decide the next referendum: will it be half-plus-one of all votes cast, or half-plus-one of those accepted by the returning officers, who are appointed by the Quebec government?
After the 1995 sovereignty referendum, the 86,000 disputed ballots were destroyed. But all available evidence suggests well more than half of them were, in fact, legitimate No votes. At the time Mulcair spoke of “an orchestrated effort” to invalidate many No votes. The frightening risk that a referendum could be stolen in this way is another powerful reason why a supermajority must be the standard.
Brian Kappler, Montreal.
Mulcair does not have a realistic view of the political situation in Quebec. Parti Québécois Leader Pierre Karl Péladeau has significant support (34 per cent) in the May 2015 Quebec Sondage Leger-Le Devoir poll. The Liberals are at 32 per cent. Péladeau is a charismatic leader, who has a real chance to form the next government of Quebec in 2018. Mulcair ignores the very real possibility of a separatist government being elected.
Péladeau has stated quite clearly and often by electing him leader the PQ has given a clear mandate to transform Quebec into a country. He has every intention to plunge the province back into the constitutional quagmire.
Mulcair defends the NDP Sherbrooke Declaration of 2005 by stating Quebec should be granted specific powers and room for manoeuvring. As prime minister of Canada, he would recognize a referendum victory of 50 per cent plus one to break up Canada.
He claims that just by insuring middle-class prosperity, he would counter any thoughts of a sovereignty referendum in the future by Quebecers. What crystal ball is he looking into? Mulcair is playing a dangerous game with the unity of Canada to just to garner votes in Quebec.
Russell O’Brien, Waterloo, Ont.