The nationalism of the Legault government can stimulate the independence flame of Quebecers, believes the widow of former Prime Minister Jacques Parizeau, whose statue was unveiled today.
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“I think so. I see some very good in that,” said Lisette Lapointe when questioned on the subject. She believes that “this renewed interest in Quebec culture” under the Legault government is beneficial for the sovereignist movement.
“I wish so, anyway,” she said.
A former PQ member herself, Ms. Lapointe salutes the work of her former colleague, with whom she sat on the benches of the Parti Québécois. “I think that since Mr. Legault has been in office, there has been a new vigor among Francophones who say to themselves: yes, our language is important. So, for us who want to protect our language and our culture, I think it’s going well. I’m not saying that everything is perfect, there is nothing perfect in life. But will there be a success in Ottawa…”, she added without specifying her thoughts.
Ms. Lapointe also had a message in the speech she delivered shortly after the unveiling of the statue of her spouse. “Don’t be afraid of your dreams,” he said. His was immense, the greatest of dreams: to make Quebec a country. And he almost realized it, ”concluded the widow of Mr. Parizeau, a few steps from the Prime Minister and other dignitaries.
The PQ, the right vehicle?
Former Premier Lucien Bouchard also believes that sovereignty is still the way forward for Quebec. “It is still a necessity for me, but which for the moment must be reviewed, perhaps transformed into other projects. Maybe there will be other vehicles to achieve it,” he says.
Mr. Bouchard had pessimistic remarks for his former training. “It’s true that he had a party which was identified with the sovereignty of Quebec, which has come a long way, to which we owe a lot, because it has enriched sovereignty – the people who managed the Quebec under the sovereignist flag have not only dreamed – but only vehicles in politics, it can be replaced. They are vehicles, it lasts as long as it serves, as long as people accept it, want it,” he said.
Hard wins in Ottawa
But the approach of Prime Minister François Legault, who notably wishes to obtain from Ottawa all the powers in immigration, risks hitting a wall, according to Lucien Bouchard. “It will not be done with the approval of Ottawa,” said the man who was also a Conservative minister under Brian Mulroney before founding the Bloc Québécois.
“We must never count on Ottawa to grant Quebec the powers it wants and which are necessary for us,” he added. It has to come from political pressure, from a grassroots, collective political movement, as it has been for a long time. It’s less so now, you have to see it.”
Mr. Bouchard still believes that immigration control is “of crucial importance”. Quebec has already made gains in this area and “we must continue”.
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