LETTER

LETTRE

A new party for the future of Quebec?

 

Quebec politics has never been as fractious as it is today. The political landscape is fluid as the October 3rd election date approaches.

 Quebec's Conservative Party has ridden the wave of pandemic fatigue into political relevance. The once fringe Quebec Solidaire has a legitimate chance of becoming the Official Opposition. The Parti Québécois is increasingly irrelevant, and thanks to a series of strategic missteps, the once mighty Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) is in freefall amongst both francophones and anglophones. As a result, Premier François Legault’s CAQ is widely expected to win an even stronger majority this fall.

In this context, starting a new political party is a daunting prospect. Given the Task Force on Linguistic Policy’s success in exposing the immoral and illegitimate Bill 96, and the QLP’s growing unpopularity, consensus is building that a new provincial party should emerge to defend federalism, human rights, speak for Quebec’s English-speaking population and be an option for Indigenous peoples, newcomers and francophones alike.. 

Our first principle is our commitment to the defence of human rights, civil liberties, language equality and constitutional protections for all Quebecers. This means opposing arbitrary laws. Our second principle: support for the Canadian Constitution in our federal system.

Bilingualism is a preeminent principle, with guarantees of full linguistic rights for the English-speaking minority of Quebec, and the French-speaking minority outside Quebec. We reject coercive language legislation, and favour promoting both official languages in both the public and private spheres.

Educational freedom of choice -- every Quebec resident, regardless of mother tongue, has the right to educational choice from daycare to CEGEP and university .
Quebec’s economy -- in the global economy.  Reimagining the role of the state, investing in the health and well-being of all, and by removing constraints to labour mobility, entrepreneurship, and capital investment.
Reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and non-indigenous Quebecers, with better  access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities -- a forward-looking, federalist vision for Quebec making our province an economic, cultural, and language rights hub of Canada and North America.


Colin Standish, Committee on Political Options
Montréal