Encouraging news out of Quebec yesterday! A new Decima Research survey, reported here in the Globe, suggests the Liberals, who were in the mid-teens in April, have clawed back from rock bottom and now stand at 28 per cent in that province. It looks like the Liberal strategy is working of avoiding any attention in Quebec is working.
I have been giving much thought to the dismal polling numbers coming out of Quebec and what that means for Canadian federalism and unity. After hearing from friends in Quebec about the situation there, I realized how grave the situation is. It is much more than just poor poll numbers. The seperatist cause has been slowly gaining momentum for a while now and is only picking up steam.
Building on my earlier posts about the importance of education, in Quebec they find themselves at the mercy of the educational sector (teachers, etc...) which is by highly inclined to favour and spread the seperatist cause. Case in point, Parizeau is on a speaking tour to Cégeps across Quebec. From my vantage point, there is absolutely no voice proposing an alternative to seperation. We need political leaders who will stand up for a unified and strong Canada, which includes a vibrant francophone Quebec. I believe that once there is a debate about it, the polling numbers in support of seperation will fall back down. Until then, the one-sided debate looks like it is producing a generation of young Quebecers who want nothing to do with Ottawa and want to seperate.
I think the other issue is the provincial political situation. Especially for young Quebecers but also for the generally more progressive Quebec population, the only way to express a desire for progressive government is by voting for the Parti Quebecois. The provincial liberals are being led by a conservative, read the unpopular Charest, and the ADQ is even more right-wing. What would change the dynamic is the emergence of a leftish provincial party who does not advocate seperation. Enter the NDP perhaps?
I have also been trying to wrap my head around how to reverse the huge tide of seperatist sentiment especially among young francophones. More posts to come on that, but I would love to hear your thoughts!
1 comment:
Have you ever notice the Liberals embrass the color red? It fits with the Trudeau philosophy of Socialism drawn from his "Liberal Education" in Russia during the Cold War. The color "RED" fits the Maurice Strong philosophy of demonizing the Industrial West to equalize the world to a common denominator no different than attempts by Lenin. The color "RED" with the Liberals identifies them well. Cadillac Leftists who's agenda is soaked with socialistic dogma. Everything by Government. Passification of Militarism. Economic suicide with massive exports of prime resources. Incapable to compete in manufacturing and bowing to China it's life long cousin. Pretty sad commentary don't you think?
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