PQ chief says independence wouldn’t imply sacrifices

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ST-HYACINTHE — The federalist argument for Quebec remaining a part of Canada has “by no means been weaker,” the chief of the Parti Québécois mentioned Sunday.

And whereas Paul St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned he thinks sacrifices related to the independence possibility are unlikely, if there have been any they’d be far outweighed by the bounce together with in satisfaction — proper all the way down to new nationwide hockey group — Quebec would get because the folks flip to the duty of building the brand new state.

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Taking over Premier François Legault’s remark final week that an unbiased Quebec is viable however would require a number of years of sacrifices, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon rotated his phrases to say it has come to this: the federalist camp is so weak it’s all the way down to floating tales about the price of transition for the brand new Quebec nation.

This can be a far automobile from the previous days when federalists had been saying Quebec would turn out to be a Third World nation and pensioners would lose their federal retirement cheques within the occasion of independence, St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned in a speech to 400 péquistes closing a two day social gathering nationwide council.

Simply final week, the Nationwide Meeting — together with the federalist Quebec Liberals — adopted a movement “recognizing that the vitality of the Quebec financial system would make sure the monetary vitality of an unbiased Quebec state,” he famous.

“I observe above it all of the federalist argumentation has by no means been weaker,” St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned. “The political context has modified.”

He mentioned whereas the fears of independence right now are largely “theoretical and hypothetical,” the sacrifices of staying in Canada are actual and, in his thoughts, properly documented.

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“The sacrifice of being a minority experiencing a language and cultural decline, the place its political and financial pursuits aren’t taken into consideration in Canada … it appears to be whenever you examine this to a 12 months or two of transitional sacrifices the reply (of independence) is as clear as day,” St-Pierre Plamondon informed delegates.

“We (right here within the PQ) determined way back. Going to work, working arduous and making an additional effort the day after for an unbiased Quebec doesn’t scare me as a result of I’m within the strategy of constructing, with my family and friends, my nation, our nation — the day after one of the crucial lovely, blissful moments a folks can have; that of our independence.

Earlier than 400 social gathering members who waved flags and shouted “On veut un pays,” St-Pierre Plamondon went full out in his speech, including satisfaction to his mixture of arguments for separation.

“I do know I can not put it within the 12 months 1 funds but when I might quantify it I’d have,” St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned. “Inevitably there could be issues to be negotiated, to regulate on this transition interval. However working, figuring out that we’re writing a brand new chapter, figuring out we’re going to the United Nations and we’re going to have our nationwide hockey group … it appears to be motivating to me.”

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To get there, St-Pierre Plamondon returned to a theme he raised Saturday: the PQ should not return to its previous rancorous days of infighting and maintain their eye on the horizon and, extra particularly, the 2026 normal election.

“We’ve a rendezvous with historical past forward of us,” St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned. “That is what we’ve got to focus on. We’ve to remain humble, modest and work more durable.

“Quebecers are encouraging us. We really feel it on the bottom. Let’s dwell as much as their expectations and hopes. And out of this difficult work, the reality will emerge, a easy reality: we are able to do it.”

Later, at a information convention, St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned he needed to “throw the ball” again at Legault following the premier’s remarks final week about sacrifices. He invited Legault, given his PQ previous, to “inform us what sacrifices we’ve got to make to remain within the federation.”

Requested to elaborate on potential sacrifices which might observe independence, St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned they’re “unlikely.”

He conceded he can not predict, with accuracy, right now how lengthy the transition interval to nationhood would take.

“Essentially the most possible state of affairs is an acceleration of the financial system for 2 or three years,” he mentioned. “There shall be an effervescence, We are able to name this work however I don’t see it as a sacrifice. Working with satisfaction and happiness. I do that after I embellish the Christmas tree.”

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He mentioned none of those questions shock him.

“This story about sacrifices have all the time been a part of a concern operation,” St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned. “Worry has all the time been the bottom argument of the federal motion. It’s the case in Scotland as properly.”

Using excessive following its byelection win in Jean-Talon using Oct. 2, PQ members left the council feeling pumped after a number of years within the hinterland. Celebration officers revealed social gathering membership has grown to 35,000 members, up for the 32,000 earlier than the 2022 election.

The PQ is polling second provincially and first within the Quebec Metropolis area.

“Put together yourselves for taking energy in 2026, nothing much less,” social gathering president Catherine Gentilcore informed the gang. “As a result of to be able to create the nation, we’ve got to win. We should give it our all.”

Over the weekend, the PQ additionally adopted a bundle of motions masking the training sector.

A PQ authorities would provide backed personal colleges the “alternative” to turn out to be authorities regulated establishments totally financed by the state. However delegates voted down setting a deadline to progressively get rid of subsidies.

Delegates additionally adopted a movement calling for a ban on the usage of federal cash to contest Quebec’s linguistic legal guidelines. Such financing is “opposite to the cultural and linguistic integrity of Quebec,” it says.

pauthier@postmedia.com

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