Quebec Divided - Again

"I am a federalist.  I am a Quebecer who believes in Canada.  I think that the interests of Quebec and the interests of Canada do not contradict each other.  I think this is a great country, and I think Quebec plays an extraordinary role within Canada.

"If there is someone who has shown that we can make the federal system work within Canada and in Quebec's interest, it is me, and without being against Canada.  I am not against Canada.  

"My entire career has been founded on this conviction."  Quebec Premier Jean Charest

The difference between Liberal leader Jean Charest, current Premier of La Belle Province and other would-be premiers of the province resides solely in the fact that he has always been a federalist rather than a nationalist.  Although the nationalist in him cannot be completely discounted, since he, like others who have put Quebec first, has also been deeply involved in milking the federal government for whatever exceptional values could be eked from a prime ministerial willingness to evade offending Quebec.

The rest of Canada has traditionally been made sensitively aware of Quebec's perpetual disgruntlement with the Canadian federation.  French Canadian memories are long and raw; they hark back continually to the outrageously perceived wrongs that history committed in permitting an upstart Anglophone world to dominate a richly-heritaged Francophone world.  That English and not French, is seen as the universal language of communication, of business and commerce, of academia and science, is an intolerably irksome fluke.

To ingratiate himself with the electorate, on the campaign trail leading to the September 4 provincial election, Premier Charest speaks less and less to pure laine francophones and more and more to allophones, to the immigrant population, to the non-French speakers, to the anglophones who still make up a sizeable proportion of the population in Quebec.  Residing mostly in large urban areas as compared to the francophones living happily away from cities, where they are free to celebrate their unilingual language proficiency.

Premier Charest steers wide of the upcoming investigation into corruption in the province, in the building industry, with gangland tentacles and government contracts, and waste aiding corruption.  He lingers lovingly on what he has managed to convince the federal government to agree to for the greater glory of a French nation in North America: increased transfer payments, a UNESCO seat for Quebec, Parliamentary recognition of the Quebecois nation.

Alas, Quebec is tired of its Liberal premier.  Three successful successive election outcomes resulting in nine years at the helm of the province has worn thin the patience of the electorate.  They rankle over a number of things, most prominently the scandals revolving around the Quebec construction industry shame.  Premier Charest grabbed a fleeting opportunity revolving around the spring offensive of university students against tuition rises, but that has faded into fleeting memory.

Equally uncharismatic but fresh-in-comparison Pauline Marois speaks to yet another tired old threat that refuses to gracefully lapse into unfortunate history.  The supreme ingrates in a union of provinces making up the width and breadth of Canada's past, present and future, love to wield their cudgel of separation.  Ms. Marois, addressing the faithful invokes the memory of the British conquest dating back hundreds of years but never, no never forgotten, forgiven or accepted.

She speaks of "rediscovering our pride", pledging to "make Quebec a country", and her adoring supporters chant obediently after her: "We want a country!"  So be it.  The other provinces are bored to tears, fed up, furiously sick and tired of Quebec's constant tantrums that no one adequately respects and honours their heritage, their proud past, their promising future, their elegant language under threat from brash non-French-speakers who deign not to become French-proficient.

The latest CROP poll gives the Liberals weak support among francophone voters at 19%, compared with 37% for the PQ and 30% for the upstart CAQ.  Yet CROP also identifies support for independence currently at its lowest level in four years with just 28% of Quebecers prepared to vote Yes to sovereignty, while 62% prefer a No vote.

And, surprisingly the challenge seems to be coming from Francois Legault, formerly separatis -, but no longre - having left the PQ to mount his own challenge with the Coalition Avenir Quebec:  "Suddenly he realizes (Charest) that Quebecers' priorities are elsewhere, and he is completely at a loss....  Because what people want in Quebec is to talk about education, talk about the economy, talk about health care, fight against corruption.  People do not want Quebec to be divided again."

September 4, 2012 is a bit of a cliff-hanger.