Bonjour-hi!
Should we be worried about Quebec separation? I have been answering this question since Mom called me on the phone the evening of Nov. 15 1976 after the election of the first PQ government. She wanted to know if we had to pack our bags.
I told her then there was no need to worry. Mom has been thriving here in Quebec ever since even although her French is limited to “Je m’appelle? “je vous aime,” “comme si, comme ca” and for some strange reason, “La plume de ma tante.”
But with the provincial election about two months away, I felt I had to get something off my chest. Allow me for a moment to address “the separatist threat.”
Let’s see. The latest polls indicate the CAQ is leading 39 to 33 overall but among francophones they score an astonishing 48% versus an anemic 23% for the Liberals.
Among us anglos, support for the governing Liberals has plummeted from the stratosphere to a mere 68 per cent.
Why do so many of us continue to flock to the Liberals? Is it because we’re so impressed with the collegial, generous and efficient way Dr. Gaetan “Wasn’t me” Barrette has handled the health care dossier?
Nope. Can’t be that.
Is because Kathleen Weil gave us anglos our very own department Secretariat, named after the thoroughbred race horse who won the Triple Crown back in 1973?
Probably not that either.
Anglos continue to support the Liberals because many of us still remain scared of the separatist boogeyman. Some, I am sure, check under the bed every night to see if a separatist is lurking there just waiting to unleash a referendum.
Separatism is about as popular in Quebec as Donald Trump would be at a Clinton family fish fry.
The Liberals have no intention of having any referendum. Legault has given up on having one since since he noticed that 65% of the entire Quebec population is virtually allergic to the idea.
For heaven’s sake, the PQ itself – the party dedicated to separation – had to promise NOT to hold a referendum on separation which used to be its very raison d’etre. They hardly even talk about it amongst themselves.
Quebec Solidaire which bills itself as sovereignist, is too busy promising to nationalize everything that isn’t nailed down to talk referendum.
Think about it. The PQ and Quebec Solidaire are separatist parties and they’re afraid to talk separatism.
Would you buy a vacuum cleaner from a salesman who doesn’t want to talk about the vacuum cleaner?
The number of times the subject of Quebec breaking away from Canada comes up at dinner tables and sidewalk cafes across the country would be – oh, I don’t know – approximately zero.
The people of Quebec are fed up with the Liberals and they are drawn to the CAQ which is viewed as the party most likely to set limits on immigration.
CAQ leader Francois Legault had enough time over the weekend to swan around the West Island. That is very telling. It shows he is so confident of the francophone vote he can afford to allot his time to the strongest of Liberal strongholds.
You will know it’s all over if you see Legault handing out apples and honey at the Cavendish Mall just before Rosh Hashanah in September.
There is more of a chance of a meteor hitting Mar-a-Lago than there is of having a referendum in Quebec.
Stop being chicken about the threat of separatism and vote for party of your choice.
#CAQ #LPQ #PQ #QS #qcpoli #polqc #lospolloshermanos
#bettercallSaul
#bettercallSaul is not part of the 68%
I have closely observed the French-speakers voting habits since the 1960’s and time and time again, when we see a drop in the popularity of Separatism (i.e. the PQ), something irritates the francophones, and the PQ rebounds. I agree that right now, separation is not a popular option, but with approximately 35% hard-core separatists, we can never overlook the potential future threat.
Hello Norman
What you refer to as the hardcore 35 per cent will answer yes to a pollster but other than that, they will not lift a finger to further the cause they supposedly hold so dear. One does not start a country with the lukewarm support of a third of the population. The option is a non starter that is dead in the water and even the most stalwart separtists know that full well.
Their children and grandchildren are much more enamored of YouTube and Instagram.
I agree 100% with you Tommy. Anglos need to stop giving the Liberals carte blanche. Separation is yesterday’s or…..last century’s news.
so true
I appreciate your opinion, coated it some well needed humour. While not voting Liberal may be a bitter pill to swollow, it is not like the PLQ was not well warned. If Couillard had the slightest courage to dump Barette on the many occasions he had, I might be thinking differently. And for many of your followers, there’s another way to have an impact. I just joined a 500$ million dollar class action law suit against the Quebec government that is seeking redress for the neglect and abuse of many long term care patients in CHSLD’s
I like that class-action suit! At least it is action, at best it might be fruitful. Apart from everything else, the LIberals lost long ago when they kept Barette. How can the premier keep him on? And why does he keep him on — the most unpopular politician in recent memory. What does Barette have to hold Couillard’s misplaced loyalty?
Couillard keeps him on because Barrette is doing everything Couillard orders him to do. Francois Legault will be the next Premier in any case since the election is decided by francophones who are fed up with the Libs and support the CAQ position on immigration issues.
If the Quimet deal would have been one of several -fine. But 1, 1/4 century ma shouting liar works more then a 1000 saying the same. Drop Barrette – he may still have a change -with us in 70s anyway.