From the 'only in Quebec' department comes a singularly amusing bit of political news. There is a rumour floating around the provincial capital suggesting Quebeckers may soon have a fourth option in the next provincial election. At the centre of the rumour storm is former Parti Québecois cabinet minister François Legault. Legault walked away from his job as PQ finance critic last year over what he deemed Quebecker's apathy to politics in the province.
Gee, I wonder why that would be?
Among the cast of characters involved in the rumoured new party are another former PQ cabinet minister, Joseph Facal, businessman Charles Sirois, former Grand Prix Canada president Normand Legault and Philippe Couillard, the former Liberal health minister. It is an intriguing group, one that on the surface seems like strange bed fellows. Businesspeople, members of a political party known for its socialist agenda and a member of a party whose agenda is rather nebulous at the moment.
For his part, Legault has confirmed that a group of about twenty people have already met to discuss what, if anything, this party would represent. The consensus so far: a right of center party with the province's economy high on the agenda and all discussions of sovereignty off the table. If this sounds familiar, this is the identical description of the Action Democratique du Québec (ADQ) party. In 2007, under the leadership of young Mario Dumont, the party stormed to official opposition status. Unfortunately, also under Dumont's leadership, the party quickly lost its way, mostly due to inexperience, and was routed in a 2008 snap election. Inexperience does not appear to be the case with the proposed new party.
While the ADQ is about to vanish from Quebec's political map, the other two major provincial parties are claiming that this new player spells doom and gloom for the other. Truth is, if this party can convince the population that they are indeed different and committed to solving this province's economic quagmire, they could well relegate both parties to opposition status.
A recent poll gave clear indications that the population is fed up with the same bilge flowing downstream from Quebec City. When asked about the new party (which, by the way, is still a rumour) 30% of respondents said they would give their support, compared to 27% for the Parti Quebecois and 25% for the Liberals. The Leger Marketing survey also gave Francois Legault a 54% approval rating well ahead of both party leaders, even though he is not a sitting member of the National Assembly and once again, does not actually have a party.
Only in Quebec.
So what are we to make of all of this? Well, as an anglo-west-islander my reaction to anyone associated, or previously associated to the PQ is trepidation. That said, anglos and allophones have come to expect little if anything from Quebec city, so any agenda other than non-stop debates of culture would be welcome. As a Quebecker, we've heard provincial politicians promising not to discuss sovereignty, referenda, or Quebec identity (meaning what can we do to protect the Francophone majority to the detriment of every other culture in the province). Somehow those issues still manage to surface again and again. Cynicism abounds on all of the solitudes.
The truth is, our economy coupled with our reputation in the ROC (rest of Canada for my non-Canadian friends) is dismal. There is a massive deficit, rapidly decaying healthcare system and infrastructure and seemingly rampant political corruption. It's no wonder people are flocking to the first supposed political voice of reason this province has heard in decades.
All I can say is that Legault had better be sincere in his intentions because I don't think Quebeckers have much tolerance left. Otherwise the next discussion of separation will likely be the population separating the politicians from their jobs.
I'm pretty sure that idea would get at least 75% approval.
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