The separatist Parti Quebecois (PQ) in the mainly French-speaking province of Quebec is seeking a new leader.
After the defeat of the referendum on separation of the province in 1995, the then PQ leader and Premier Jacques Parizeau bitterly blamed “immigrants and ethnic money” (presumably Jewish) for the defeat.
With echoes of those words still ringing, the front-runner in the current PQ leadership Pierre-Karl Peladeau at a leadership debate last night made what many consider to be a foolish gaffe.
During the debate he called immigration in Quebec into question. He hinted that while older hardcore separatists from the 1960’s and 70s are dying off, immigrants (presumably with a greater attachment to Canada) are diluting the separatist vote.
Loosely translated he said that Francophone Quebec separatists are running out of time, “ We can’t wait 25 more years to achieve it (independence). With demographics and immigration, we lose a county (in elections) every year. Who takes charge of immigrants who come to Quebec..its the federal government. …It’s now we have to put the question (of separation) to (Francophone) Quebeckers and make an effort to convince them (to vote for separation)”
«Nous la, On n’aura pas 25 ans devant nous pour le réaliser. Avec la démographie et l’immigration, c’est certain qu’on perd un comté par année. (..) Qui prends en charge les immigrés qui viennent s’installer au Quebec, c’est le gouvernement fédéral. (…) et c’est des maintenant qu’on devait poser la question aux Quebecois et faire les efforts pour les convaincre »
The suggestion that immigrants might again be a scapegoat for yet another failed referendum on separation from Canada, surprised the other candidates, especially since it has become such a delicate topic due to the extremely negative reaction to Parizeau’s remarks in 1995 both within Quebec and in Canada and around the world.
Peladeau also said, in loose translation, “We have to counter the enormous federal propaganda machine (,,,) All the infrastructure abroad for immigration is Canadian (…) Immigrants pledge allegiance to the Queen . Our immigration structures are deficient. Let’s take measures so that our values, our language, our heritage are protected”
«Il faut faire contrepoids à l’énorme machine de propagande fédérale (…) Toutes les structures d’accueil à l’étranger sont canadiennes (…) Les immigrants prêtent serment à la Reine. Nos structures d’accueil sont déficientes. Prenons les moyens pour que nos valeurs, notre langue, notre patrimoine soient protégés»
The other PQ leadership hopefuls while agreeing with Peladeau’s position on separation from Canada as is expected, nonetheless distanced themselves from Peladeau’s remarks regarding immigrants.
Bernard Drainville, who proposed a highly controversial Charter of Quebec Values during the last provincial election in which the PQ lost heavily, is another strong candidate for the party leadership this time.
He disagreed with Peledeau on immigrants place in Quebec, but agreed with Peladeau on the reasons for separation saying, “ I think not defending our identity is to leave the field open to the multi-cultural identity of Canada”.
(Moi je pense que de renoncer à défendre notre identité, c’est laisser le champ libre à l’idéologie du multiculturalisme canadien
Peledeau meanwhile has promised if elected he would use public monies to create a Research Institute for Independence and to promote separation.
This was the third debate among the five leadership hopefuls and was organized by the Association Pequiste at the University of Laval with a group of some 350 in attendance.
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