It is much easier, in the Coalition Avenir Québec, to proclaim oneself “proud Canadian” than to openly admit to being a sovereignist, a colleague pointed out to me yesterday.
This axiom will be verified again today, I bet you, during Bernard Drainville’s press conference, which will formalize his candidacy in Lévis for the training of his former colleague François Legault.
Yesterday, Caroline St-Hilaire, former Bloc member and CAQ candidate in Sherbrooke, squirmed to avoid saying whether or not she still hoped that Quebec would become sovereign.
Syndrome
Call it the “Rebello Syndrome”. Then PQ MP in La Prairie since 2008, François Rebello decided, more than 10 years ago, to move to the CAQ.
It was in the early days of January 2012. The CAQ had just turned into a party and swallowed up the ADQ.
In an interview, Rebello, a new defector, certifies that his move to Legault’s party does not imply any renunciation of sovereignty. On the contrary, the CAQ, when it came to power, would strengthen Quebec to such an extent that it would be “better placed” to become a country.
Then, he confides this: “Mr. Legault told me: “You can be a sovereigntist in the Coalition” and “the door of sovereignty remains open”. That’s what’s important, in my opinion. But how do we get there? […] Quebec must be strong enough. The economic strength of Quebec has consequences on the will for people to want to assert themselves politically. It is a question of confidence in us, the sovereignty of Quebec. »
red anger
The declaration had raised the ire of the most “Canadian” of the caucus of the new party, Gérard Deltell and Janvier Grondin (although from the ADQ, a party that campaigned in the Yes camp in 1995).
Quickly, Rebello is forced to clarify his position: “Legault will not do it [sovereignty], it is not his goal to do it”.
And if ever, one day, sovereignty becomes possible again? Rebello then promises that he would leave the CAQ: “It will be outside, if ever one day I have to ask Quebecers to hold a referendum again. It will not be with the coalition”.
Would Bernard Drainville be ready today to make the same commitment?
Cleavage
Some will be amused that a party that promised to transcend the “old” sovereignist-federalist divide is the one that brings it back to the fore these days.
But really, there’s nothing surprising about that. The political status of Quebec continues to be problematic. This makes the national future increasingly uncertain, especially for the sustainability of French. The CAQ in power realizes this.
Quebeckers got nothing from the changes to the Dominion demanded by the No side in 1980 or by Quebec federalists in 1987 (Meech) and 1992 (Charlottetown). Sovereignty also failed in 1980 and 1995.
Can Quebec really agree to give up forever on its two great dreams: renewed federalism or sovereignty?
