VOL 5, ISSUE 4 Winter 2012

Quebec, Canada & the Conservative Movement The Two Solitudes Persist Contents _ Winter 2012 Quebec, Canada and conservatism onservatives in English Canada have long been frustrated by Quebec. 3...... Beware the CAQ: How the “efficient” left might Ctrack than the rest of the country. In the 2011 federal election, just as eliminate Québec’s only right- Politically speaking, the province has always seemed to be on a different of-centre party

Canadians finally warmed to the Harper Tories, Quebec went 180 degrees in this issue of c2c, we examine why this happened and report on the state of The Quebec conservative scene has been conservatismthe opposite direction,in Quebec. embracing – for the first time – the socialist NDP. In shaken-up by the emergence of a new political movement -- and now official political party -- called the Coalition pour l’avenir du Québec (CAQ). Paul Conventional wisdom is that the NDP’s meteoric rise may be an isolated the coalition is not to be considered “conservative”Beaudry argues in that any despite sense of media the word, spin, incident – one election is a fluke, not a trend. Authors Bradley Doucet and Jasmin Guénette, Brendan Steven and Vincent Geloso examine the impacts and that the right-of-centre Action leastof the conservative NDP’s rise and of the what provinces, it means Quebecers for conservatism have traditionally in the province been and as Quebec’s relationship with the rest of Canada. Despite its reputation as the démocratique du Québec (ADQ) should supportive as or more supportive than other Canadians when it comes to two rebuff attempts at a merger… conservative positions: an increased role for the private sector in healthcare, 6...... The Future of Free Trade in Québec?

and free trade. Did the May 11 election results change this? Does the rejection high in Quebec: federalists supported it We examine those questions and more. Support for free trade has tended to be by Quebec of the Harper Tories mean the country is more divided than ever? for economic reasons and sovereignists On the provincial political scene, there are other troubling signs on because it would allow the province to be less economically dependent on the rest Coalition pour of Canada. Will this change with the rise the horizon. As Paul Beaudry writes, the right-of-centre ADQ faces a new l’avenir du Québec G competitor as the third option at the provincial level. The of the NDP? Bradley Doucet and Jasmin advocates an even more(CAQ) activist is being government, portrayed as including being on protectionist the right, yet economic is at best uénette believe it could… 9...... Q&A with Joanne policiescentrist. and The stricter CAQ, headed enforcement by former of language PQ cabinet laws. minister Pressure François is mounting Legault, on Marcotte:

the ADQ to merge with or even fold into this new entity. individual liberty in Quebec, about her new book and the state of conservatism C2C’s Joseph Quesnel interviews Joanne Marcotte, a pioneer in Quebec’s freedom in theWe province. also talk to Joanne Marcotte, a leading voice for free markets and movement, a co-founderPour en of finir the avec Réseau le Enjoy the issue. governemamaLiberté Québec and author of the recently-released C2C Editorial Board … 12...... The Rise of the NDP (AKA, The Confusing Heritage of the Quiet Revolution) C2C Journal’s editorial board: With opinions polls indicating that on Patrick Callaghan, Adam Daifallah, Sylvia LeRoy, Al MacDermid, Heather Devlin many policy issues Quebecers have MacDermid, Shuvaloy Majumdar, Mark Milke, Joseph Quesnel, and Chris Schafer. conservative stances, the best way to

Canadian Journal of Ideas Inc. explain the election of 59 MPs for the Website: www.c2cjournal.ca are because of the politically correct discourseNDP is to considerthat has dominatedhow confused the votershistory Email: [email protected] of province... Media Inquiries Mark Milke 14...... The two solitudes Email: [email protected] make a comeback © Copyright 2011. Canadian Journal of Ideas Inc. All Rights Reserved. For permis- sion to reproduce an article, please contact the editors. The views expressed in C2C solitudesIs Quebec’s are province-wide as alienated from embrace each ofas do not necessarily reflect those of C2C, the editors, or the advisory board members. the NDP just more evidence that the two worries that language issues and the Editor of this issue: Adam Daifallah Quebecever, or merelyvs. the resta fluke? of Canada Brendan divide Steven will Associate Editor: Kathleen Welsch play a more prominent role in the next few years of Canadian politics...

2 Volume 5, Issue 4 Beware the CAQ: How the “efficient” left might eliminate Québec’s only right-of-centre party

This past autumn in Quebec has been fraught with uncertainty for the Action démocratique du Que- bec (ADQ), the only provincial party to identify explicitly as right-of-centre. The ADQ’s existence is now threatened by the newly created Coalition pour l’avenir du Québec (CAQ) party, the brainchild of former Parti Québécois (PQ) minister Francois Legault and the successful entrepreneur Charles Sirois. Since the rise of the CAQ, the ADQ has been in talks with a CAQ about a potential merger. Paul Be- audry argues such a merger is wrongheaded. CAQ policies would not bring about the fiscal discipline and reforms needed to improve Quebec’s public finances. Instead, such policies would likely render a CAQ government’s performance largely indistinguishable from that of its predecessors. The ADQ re- mains the best political vehicle to promote market-friendly changes to the Quebec political landscape. As such, it ought to turn down the CAQ’s advances, and remain an independent political party.

By Paul Beaudry known objectives are preventing the supposed exodus his past autumn in Québec has been fraught of corporate headquarters from Québec so that it with uncertainty for the Action démocratique does not become a “branch plant” economy. (Charles du Québec intervention to prevent foreign takeovers of Canadian Sirois has long crusaded in favour of government created Coalition pour (ADQ), l’avenir the only du Québec provincial party to identify explicitly as right-of-centre. The newly In recent months, a succession of Québec polls has (CAQ), the corporations.) brainchild of former Parti Québécois (PQ) minister François Legault and the successful entrepreneur indicated the CAQ would form the government in the earlyCharles 2011, Sirois, has threatensquickly gathered the ADQ’s popularity existence. with Thethe event of a provincial election. This even though the QuébecCAQ,T initially electorate, created which as has a grassroots grown tired movement of a Québec in CAQ’s official existence as a political party did not occur until mid-November. a PQ under the shaky and contested leadership of Liberal Party plagued with corruption scandals and Although the CAQ was labeled “right-of-centre” by the Québec media, Legault refuses to accept that Pauline Marois. In this political environment, the CAQ label. Rather, he identifies himself and the CAQ as isVolume a welcome 5, Issue 4 alternative. Among the CAQ’s better proponents of the “efficient left” (or “gauche efficace”). 3 generousHe does not social wish programs, to stray from a public the mainhealthcare tenets system of the government. That success was short-lived, however, andso-called an interventionist “Quebec model”, role forwhich the state is characterized in the economy. by as the ADQ caucus dwindled to three members from 43 after a brutal electoral performance in 2008. The arrival of the CAQ constitutes a real threat to the ofDespite their party these is positions, conditional many upon of a the merger members with andthe even the leadership of the ADQ think that the survival ADQ’s fusionist alliance and to Québec conservatives in general. Jean Allaire, one of the ADQ’s founders, in a letter to his party members, announced that CAQ. On November 7, 2011, ADQ leader Gérard Deltell, behas consideredpublicly indicated moderates, his support nationalists for a merger. and those The weeks and that any decision regarding a potential CAQ seems to appeal to those in the ADQ who may discussions with the CAQ would start in the coming who tend to simply align themselves with third-party beenmerger an wouldalliance need of nationalists the approval and of ADQ members. options. However,enthusiastic the economic about conservatives the prospects and of The conservative movement in Québec has historically libertarians amongsta merger. the party’s One of basethe most have outspoken not been its success has relied on a variation Although the economic conservatives. As such, } CAQ was labeled opponents of a CAQ-ADQ merger is ideaof the that fusionism holders of promoted a wide array by U.S. of “right-of-centre” by well-known Québec businessman conservativepolitical thinker beliefs Frank should Meyer: work the the Québec media, commission;Adrien Pouliot, he a has libertarian-leaning not shied away together to promote a more limited Legault refuses to frommember heavily of criticizing the ADQ’s many political of the and decentralized government. accept that label. the last several years is a result of Rather, he identifies CAQ’sThe CAQ’s interventionist unrelenting policies. thisThe political Québec success version of of the fusionism. ADQ in himself and the CAQ protectionism as proponents of the Founded in 1994 as a nationalist “efficient left” (or protectionismBeyond ideological when criticisms, there is the no party by former Québec Liberals “gauche efficace”). evidenceCAQ’s policies of any unreasonably actual improvement favour disappointed with then-premier in the Québec economy. One of Robert Bourassa’s embrace of the He does not wish its most potentially damaging adoptionCharlottetown and Accord, implementation the original of to stray from the proposed policies is using the Caisse ADQ platform focused on the main tenets of the de dépôt et placement du Québec, for a more decentralized federation andthe Allaire the transfer Report, of whichpowers advocated from the so-called “Quebec as an economic development federal government to Québec. model”, which is Québec’s pension fund manager, characterized by tool. Deploring the dwindling proverbial political wilderness generous social – withThe only ADQ one remained elected member in the number of corporate head offices programs ... investmentsin Montreal, the in QuébecCAQ proposes companies that ~ andthe Caisse review significantly its mission increase in order its to (its leader, Mario Dumont) at the National Assembly – until 2002, when a series of wins in by-elections brought reflect this new policy orientation. was no longer recognized as a voice for nationalist Caisse so that the Caisse can its caucus to five members. As a result, the ADQ takeIn minorityaddition, stakesthe CAQ in proposes natural resources to set up acompanies. $5-billion fund partly financed by the Caisse’s Quebeckers only, but also as the voice of small-c performance, which was based on investing in Québec conservatism in provincial politics. The advocacy of corporationsThose who can over attest the last to the few decades, poor can financial only be a flat tax and school vouchers at one time buttressed the peak ADQ’s of economically its electoral success conservative when credentials.it became the In the 2007 Québec provincial election, the ADQ reached frightened by such a proposal. The natural resources sector is subject to significant price volatility, and Official4 Opposition to the governing Liberal minority politicizing the Caisse’s investment Volume decisions 5, Issue in 4 this sector could have a catastrophic impact on its shortcomings of individuals and then solved by turning investments. over the reins of government to competent managers. Bureaucracy: understand the folly of such interventionism: One of It is vain to advocate a bureaucratic reform through As Ludwig von Mises wrote in theLegault, Caisse in particular, should know better and the appointment of businessmen as heads of various

’s major failed investments was its 1983 not inherent in the personality of the entrepreneur; acquisition of Quebecair, a struggling Québec-based itdepartments. is inherent inThe the quality position of beingwhich anhe entrepreneuroccupies in the is directorairline. CP of Airmarketing. bought the unprofitable airline in 1986. framework of market society. It was sold at a loss and, at the time, Legault was its at ensuring Québec ownership of Québec farmland. policy proposals on health care, which do not provide The CAQ also proposes agricultural policies directed An example of this faulty thinking is the CAQ’s

The mechanism favoured by the CAQ is the creation of for any meaningful private sector role in public health- Québec-owned regional co-ops that would buy Québec insurance services. This is remarkable given that the farmland. They would be funded by securitization and suggestparty has a been command identified and at controlbeing on approach the centre-right based thatthen itthe is co-ops “invaluable would that lease ownership the land to ofQuébec our farmland farmers. of the political spectrum. Instead, the CAQ’s policies The CAQ position paper on the economy stresses why this is preferable to allowing foreigners to invest on improving the “efficiency” of the system; that is, inremains the Québec local.” agricultural No clear explanation is provided as to better management of the currentthe inception health-care of universal system. economy (after all, the However, the Québec governmenthealth has care been to trying centrally since farmland cannot be administer the provision is understood that this is anmoved extension overseas), of the Maître but it theof health shortage care. of Despite doctors its chez nous (“masters of andefforts, the the misallocation long wait lists, of resources continue. Given inherited from the Quiet this history of unsuccessful our own house”) ideology government management, it is hard to see how the Revolution.The CAQ’s efficient manager fallacy system tinkering will solve these massive government failures.CAQ’s premise of more

andThe technocratic CAQ also suffers prowess from alone a belief can in the solve “efficient most shortcomingsmanager” fallacy. in theThis public is the sectornotion inthat the bureaucratic same way The efficient manager approach is arguably a major that new management in a corporation can contribute inreason Québec for the as CAQ’s accomplished success in businessmen recent polls. The and co- in founders of the CAQ have excellent public reputations to the improvement of its financial situation. The Legault’s case, extensive political experience. Legault CAQ policies are deeply enmeshed in this fallacy. and Sirois hold themselves out as superior managers Both co-founders of the party have had long careers same way that they were able to achieve success in the focused approach, but the public sector is not like the who are able to improve the province’s finances in the privatein business sector and in this regard.may explain their management- accomplish all that they claim, a political strategy that restsprivate solely sector. on However, the personal even if involvement these two men of certain could individuals may have limited longevity. The public sector, unlike the private sector, does whethernot have government profits and should losses –produce it merely more seizes or less funds of Prescriptions for the ADQ from the public. No market mechanism dictates an item, how it should produce this item and where With the presumption of being a political party with a decent chance of winning the next provincial business failures, can never be solely attributed to the it should produce it. Thus, government failures, unlike Volume 5, Issue 4 election and with the perception of being a right-of- 5 corruption that too much political involvement in the economy brings. showncentre party,some theenthusiasm CAQ will forlikely a potentialattract members merger fromwith the ADQ. Most members of its caucus have already Many CAQ policies would not deliver the fiscal the CAQ; they might even decide to leave the party if discipline and reforms needed to improve Québec’s ADQ members vote against a potential merger with public finances. Instead, such policies would likely the CAQ. render a CAQ government’s performance largely That said, ADQ members who are preoccupied with undistinguishable from that of its predecessors. The the ever-increasing size of the Québec government, its ADQ remains the best political vehicle for promoting proposes.out-of-control Its positions public debt would and notits unsustainable even incrementally social advancesmarket-friendly and remain changes an independent to the Québec political politicalparty.♦ programs ought to take a hard look at what the CAQ landscape.The author wishes As such, to thank it ought Stephanie to turn Chipeur down for the her CAQ’s editorial assistance. interventionimprove Québec’s in Québec position has from been a limited tried government for half a centurypoint of andview. it isThe the reality reason is Québec that massive has high government taxes, high Paul Beaudry is a lawyer based in Montreal. He previously worked as senior policy advisor to the federal Minister of Industry, Maxime Bernier. Paul also serves as corporate secretary of the Montreal and other infrastructure, as well as the inevitable Economic Institute. debt, sub-standard public services, broken bridges

The Future of Free Trade in Québec

Free trade has divided Canadians since the days of Confederation, with one side worrying about fall- ing under the influence of our large southern neighbour and the other side trumpeting the benefits for economic growth. In Quebec, even the separatist Parti Québécois has tended to support free trade, if only because it makes the province less dependent on the rest of Canada. That might change, how- ever, now that the federal NDP has made such significant inroads in la belle province.

By Bradley Doucet and Jasmin Guénette was an issue that sharply divided the country. In the red corner stood the provinces and political parties that were against free trade, and in the blue corner, Wcampaignhen the Mulroney was the signing government of the ran free for trade re- those who were in favour. election in 1988, the main focus of the

agreement6 between Canada and the United States. It Those in the red corner believed in Volume protectionism 5, Issue 4 because they were afraid of the economic and cultural Politicians in Québec stood for free trade for a var

- power of the United States. During the federal cam- agenda,iety of reasons. favoured The free provincial trade mainly Liberal for Party,economic the perrea- paign’s English debate on October 25, 1988, Liberal ceived right-wing political formation with a business convincedleader John free Turner trade worried would reduce aloud aboutCanada “the “to north-a col tist party, also favoured free trade, one reason being- south influence of the United States,” and he was sons. However, the Parti Québécois (PQ), the separa- - had the advantage of making the Québec economy less ony of the United States.” Sir John A. Macdonald had dependentthat “a free on trade the rest agreement of Canada, with therefore the United facilitating States expounded similar annexationist fears in 1891 in his contest against free trade advocate Wilfrid Laurier. freethe road trade, to andpolitical whether independence.” they want (p.economic 14) So, ingrowth Qué- them,In the the blueblue corner sawwith the Brian free Mulroney trade agreement were two as bec, most political leaders understand the benefits of itprovinces: was and Québecis: an incredible and Alberta. opportunity Like Laurier for business before and an engine for economic growth. or to move on politically, the U.S. market (and now the European market) was and is seen in a positive light. This might change in the comingWashington years, Examiner however, a Québec and Alberta had different reasons for be- Institute explained in a recent research paper titled fewif the months NDP increases ago, the last its federalpolitical election influence was in a lapolitic belle ing in the blue corner. As the Montreal Economic province. As we wrote in the - “A Plea for a Quebec-Alberta Dialogue”: “Albertans al tsunami, especially in Québec. Before the last feder- protectionism… have long been that in was favour perceived of free trade as having with the fa al election, the NDP had only one seat in Québec, held United States, particularly in reaction to Canadian by Thomas Mulcair. When the winner was declared on end of the 19th - the evening of May 2, the NDP had catapulted to 59 voured the country’s Eastern provinces since the seats in the province (and 102 across the country). If Volume 5, Issue 4 century.” (p. 14) this election was just an aberration, the NDP will not 7 Canada “should pursue the establishment of more free iticalhave gainedvoice in much the province, more influence Québec thanmight it move had beforeto the poll found that 73 per cent of Quebeckers thought redthe lastcorner election. of the Butfree iftrade the NDPdebate remains before a long. strong pol- trade agreements,” tied for first place among the prov- inces and slightly ahead of the Canadian average of 70 per cent. (Ontario brought up the rear at 65 per cent.) seen The in NDP this promotes province, more at either of a radical the federal left political or the when the vast majority of the Québec delegation is agenda than many other left-leaning parties we have madeBut up what of people will this with political little to influence no political amount experi to

andprovincial it has faredlevel. Inrelatively many provinces, well in federal the NDP elections, has formed too. - the provincial government or the Official Opposition beence? promoting Of course, free there trade are with a few the in European the bunch Union with more now experience, such as Thomas Mulcair. But will Mulcair In Québec, this was never the case before May 2, 2011. Not only was this a first in Canadian history, but now One possibility is that the policies that will be pro thethat rest he isof seeking the country the NDP’s would national not look leadership? kindly on theWe the majority of NDP MPs are from la belle province. moted by the Québec delegation will see in the coming weeks, but NDP supporters in - freer trade and less regulation of economicparty’s Québec activities. wing advocating of the NDP will follow in the In the blue corner who,footsteps like of former other Québec well-known pre } with Brian Mulroney Quebecois were also very likely left-leaning political figures Supporters of the federal Bloc - were two provinces: interventionmier and PQ yet leader also Bernard under Québec and Alberta. showed,to support they free trade. supported As the Har free- Landry, believe in government traderis-Decima as much poll mentioned as Conservative above - Like Laurier before stand the benefits of free trade. aThe result. overall anti-free trade pos- them, the blue corner supporters (76%), and far more ition of the NDP might soften as saw the free trade than NDP supporters (64%). political reasons to doubt that agreement as it was politicalGiven thelandscape NDP’s historichas changed. surge thisBut will there be the are case. cultural Culturally and in May, however, the province’s and is: an incredible deep roots in Québec, and the opportunity for everWith had 59 seats, and 10 the more NDP than has five the speaking, the NDP has no more Québec seats than the Bloc many of the decisions backed by business and an intellectual influence behind QuébecBloc had more in the than last vice parliament. versa – engine for economic If the NDP influences the left in presenceQuébec NDP in MPs the will province therefore but growth. deal with the EU, for example – not come from years of NDP ~ through efforts to oppose a trade tradition that was set outside of support for free trade, which rather from the NDP’s political the province’s tradition of solid being outdated.♦ Québec. And outside of Québec, the left is against free dates back to Quebecer Wilfrid Laurier, might wind up trade. As International Trade Minister Ed Fast argued in a speech to a Montreal business audience this past The opinions expressed in this text do not represent those September, the NDP usually flies under the banner of of anybody except the authors themselves. “fair trade,” but the result is always NDP opposition to Canada’s trade agreements, as when the party Bradley Doucet is a Montreal writer and the English Editor of Le filibustered the ratification of the Canada-Columbia Québécois Libre, a bilingual web magazine promoting individual Free Trade Agreement in 2009. liberty, free markets, and voluntary cooperation. He is also a regu- lar contributor to The New Individualist, an Objectivist magazine Politically speaking, given the sheer number of NDP published by The Atlas Society. He has studied philosophy and MPs elected in May, it is impossible for their decision- economics, and is currently completing a novel on the pursuit of happiness. makers not to listen to Québec’s demands. And Québec does8 want free trade. An April 2009 Harris-Decima Volume 5, Issue 4 Q&A

By Joseph Quesnel

1. Tellwith us what yourJoanne film L’Illusion Marcotte Tranquille was about? What inspired you to make it? The Quiet Illusion sacred cows: the “sacrosanct” Quebec model, powerful challenges many of Quebec’s

trade unions, costly and inefficient universal social programs, state monopolies, etc. The main conclusion contraryof the film to isthe as magical follows: thinking “We knew propaganda, that the Quebecit does notmodel deliver was incostly terms and of inefficient.social justice.” Now Worst we know of all, that, the Quebec model is based on intergenerational injustice.

It is this injustice that inspired me to make this film. 2. When you made the film, there was opposition from within Quebec to what you said in it. Why do you think that is and what did that say about Quebec society at the time? economic model and resolve problems that were of ourfederalist own making. debate. ItIn wasthe urgentfollowing to questioncouple of our weeks socio- of Quebec’s elites (government, media, left-wingers) pride themselves on being “different” from the rest of mainly saying the same thing. “I am not alone”, “You Canada and from the “neoliberal” United States. Their expressedthe film’s launch, exactly I received what I 3,000 think emails since of many, Quebecers many thatidentity it is isfar based from on being this the difference. case. Our Theysocial assume programs that helpQuebec the is rich a more much just more society. than Thethe filmpoor demonstrates and are paid ityears”, was there “Thank six you, weeks thank before you, Christmas thank you”. and Whereas it came Click here backthe film six was weeks supposed after Christmas. to be in a theatre People for applauded two weeks, at for either by the ClickROC or her bye future generations. (See, article:for example, Click Barbarahere Kay’s article: or Henry every talk show they had. Aubin’s article: and Graeme Hamilton’s the end of viewings. Even Radio-Canada had us on 3. Looking back, how would you assess the impact 4. What has changed since? Do you think Quebec of your film on Quebec society? still has many of the problems you identified in your film? I would like to believe that the more immediate

“tweaking” the system whereas the main question is impact was a boost for Mario Dumont’s ADQ in 2007 Not much, if anything [has changed]. We are still where his party became the Official Opposition Party in Quebec in Charest’s 2008 minority government. I guess interventionstill being eluded: is still “What at its highestis the role (especially of government?” since the also that I was one of the first voices that expressed Unions are still co-governing the province, government Volumethe Quebecers 5, Issue 4 had had enough of the sovereigntist- 9 rights, the death penalty or I think that reintroducing religion in state latest recession), debt has almost } doubled since Jean Charest’s arrival Quebecers are more provincein 2003. of In Canada. summary, Quebec is and more aware areaffairs, really theworried answer about is the a resoundingimpact still the most fiscally irresponsible that the Quebec NO. Having said that, Quebecers 5. As a director, what role do you worried that our Western values model is outdated. areof multiculturalism. being shaken by Many the of religious us are see films and documentaries Unfortunately, not playing in the smaller agendas of some of the newcomers. government movement? only Quebecers are Equality between men and women, free press and opinion, and the not ready to pay the separation of church and state must major role in not only networking price of reforms, and should be defended at all costs. peopleI think that that share the the film same played views a but also there is no but in educating the mainstream political leadership 8. What does the NDP victory say about Quebec and the prominence tanks do a great job but they tend courageous enough to of conservatism? media that such ideas exist. Think convince people that books and research articles have theirto talk limits. among Quite themselves. frankly, very Studies, few the time has come to people read them and fewer people do something about simplyAbsolutely a way nothing. to get rid ofI theam relay them to the greater public. it. convinced that the NDP vote was What is needed the most, I think, ~ Quebecers will get rid of the Parti are people that can relay these QuebecoisBloc Quebecois. in the I alsonext think provincial that

Réseau Liberté Québec in 2010, a sort ideas and network people. That is the reason why I election and that the Liberal Party will be reduced co-founded the to its few seats in Montreal. Sometimes, to get of Quebec Manning Centre for Building Democracy, if somewhere, you cannot do it in one step. This year’s ideas.you will. Radio, film and blogs, as I see it, are the most federal election was, I hope, a first step in abandoning efficient ways to communicate “small government” the federalist-sovereignist discussion and opting for a left-right debate in Quebec. after launching L’Illusion tranquille, I launched my new 9. What are your thoughts on Francois Legault’s By the way, next November 8th, exactly 5 years book Pour en finir avec le governemaman. I hope, as new political movement?

conservatismthe film did, it in will Quebec. serve as another visit card so that I may continue sharing small-c fiscally responsible Personally, I think that the NDP sweep will be followed by a Legault sweep in Quebec. I think that 6. Many saw the Mario Dumont’s ADQ as the hope Quebecers will repeat what happened last May 2nd. for smaller government in Quebec. What, in your They will want to get rid of the Parti Quebecois AND view, happened that led to the failure of that party? serve Jean Charest a lesson. By the way, a recent survey in La Presse says exactly that. If electionshttp://www. were held today, Legault’s group allied with the ADQ would give Mario Dumont abandoned his base when his party them 48%. Legault alone gets 39%!p ( was the Official Opposition. The following election, cyberpresse.ca/actualites/201110/22/01-4459832- In both of these instances, I think that people did 700,000 people that had voted for his party in 2007 sondage-les-chefs-en-chute-libre.ph ) did not vote in 2008. That is the main reason. not and will not care what parties and people stand for. 7. The ADQ generally avoided moral issues, but do you see any role for social conservatism within not really want a change in politics since a real change Quebec? All they want is a change of government. They still do If “social conservatism” means revisiting abortion would require a great deal of lucidity and sacrifice. 10 Having said that, I believe that François Volume Legault 5, Issue is 4 do think is a “Quebec Inc.” sort of guy and revels in social and a strong supporter of the socialist Quebec model. He and it needs to affect their lives. Moreover, I product of the Quebec model. Coming from the PQ, he Westerners,that Quebecers are arenot muchready moreto pay aware the price that of their reforms. fiscal iseconomic an interventionist government in intervention. social and economic Legault ismatters. a pure model is unsustainable. The thing is, they, as the rest of 12. What, in your view, will it take to wake spending. When he cuts one place, he redistributes Quebecers up and convince them that their model is Nowhere in his platform does he attack public somewhere else. heading for catastrophe? more and the Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec as a are nationalistIn economic tool: matters, to invest he in is Quebeca firm believer companies, of using that more aware that the Quebec model is outdated. Unfortunately,As I said, I not think only that Quebecers Quebecers are not ready to subsidies (when Quebec subsidies companies at a level pay the price of reforms, but also there is no political sort of thing. Also, there will be no cuts in company leadership courageous enough to convince people that the time has come to do something about it. In the equivalent to the rest of all the Canadian provinces!). end, reforms will have to be made and the more we wait, the more severe they will be. Let us hope that after a first step in eliminating the Parti Quebecois, a real small-c party in Quebec will rise and find its supporters. and indebted countries, people blame everybody 10. Is there any hope for Harper in Quebec? butRight themselves: now, as banks, we see capitalism, everywhere neoliberalism, in Western I think so but there needs to be courageous and individualism, governments, etc. Curiously it is the same people that have asked governments to intervene time and time again in social and economic matters. credible people to promote small-c conservative ideas. And Quebecers also need to be reassured that social What everybody respects, though, is a leader that 13. What are your future plans? conservatism is not on the PC’s agenda.

documentary, I launched the sequel of The Quiet does what he says and in this case, Harper delivers. could play a role in this On November 8th, exactlyIllusion 5 in years the form after on my an In the next four years, the Réseau Liberté-Québec conservatives from the ground goes further in denouncing sense. Networking small-c up is one of our goals. In both I am convinced that the theessay. Quebec The 200-page model book but of our events (October 2010 } explores new aspects of it. NDP vote was simply a

and April 2011), more than way to get rid of the Bloc A greater emphasis is put were450 people greatly came. Speakers appreciated. like between Quebecers and Ezra Levant and Danielle Smith Quebecois. I also think that on the cultural differences interesting to come at our next Quebecers will get rid of the English speaking Maybe Mr. Harper would find it the ROC or more precisely the Parti Quebecois in the is that we need more than event in April 2011 in Lévis, Canadians. The conclusion who knows? next provincial election and public policy change or even 11. Do you think the current that the Liberal Party will be change in politicians. We economic crisis enveloping need change in our cultural Europe and the United States reduced to its few seats in values. Example: encourage will help convince Quebecers Montreal. Sometimes, to get entrepreneurship, do away that their fiscal model is with union values, etc. I unsustainable? somewhere, you cannot do it also plan to continue to in one step. coordinate things at the crisis needs to be much closer Réseau Liberté-Québec.♦ No. If change is to come, the ~ Volume 5, Issue 4 11 The RISE of the NDP (AKA, The Confusing Heritage of the Quiet Revolution)

By Vincent Geloso

efore the last federal election, no seasoned This is why the NDP’s surge is so confusing. In political observer would have dared to bet on the last five provincial elections in Quebec, right wing parties have always collected above 55% of ofvotes. individuals This rightward who admit slouch to desiring can also more be observed private a reversal of fortunes for the New Democratic sectorin polls involvement where there in are healthcare always more delivery. than Other 55% Party in Quebec. From 1931 to 2008, the NDP and its ancestor – the Commonwealth Cooperative Federation – failed to grab any seats in generalnd elections. The is hence one of the Quebeckerspolls show similar preferred tendencies. a cut in For government example, spendingin a poll NDP carrying 59 seats of Quebec’s 75 seats in the commissioned by the left-leaning Le Devoir, 46% of HouseIn the aftermathof Commons of the on May election, 2 the same seasoned politicalmostB mind-boggling observers concentratedpolitical events only in recent on the history. sheer accompanied by a cut in taxes compared to only 9% wanteddesiring the increased government spending to cut and spending 32% advocating by an amount the failed to take notice of something that is much more largestatus enough quo. In toa morebalance recent the poll,budget 51% in ofone Quebeckers year (the impressiveness of the “orange crush”. They have all Quebeckers believe. subtle: the NDP does not fit ideologically with what deficit stands at nearly $4 billion). Furthermore, the regardless of the form it takes such as delegating strongNDP is centralno friend government of Quebec in nationalism: Ottawa and itit supportedwas Elijah managementThe NDP to is the not private supportive sector or of the privatization outright sale – the despised Clarity Act, it has historically supported a of government assets. In this regard, it opposes the involvement of the private sector in the delivery of Harper, a NDP MLA in Manitoba, who delivered the healthcare in order to increase the supply of medical fatal blow to the Meech Lake Accord. betweenHow can federalists the NDP winand 59 separatists seats with has such confused views? the budget was not necessarily a priority and that QuebeckersSome have claimedso much that that the they 50-year have a long hard debate time suchservices. a policy The objective NDP has ought also to argued be achieved that balancing with tax increases. It also favours stronger intervention on the an ounce of truth since it has caused left and right to part of Ottawa in managing the economy and larger allydistinguishing on occasion left to from promote right. theirThis explanation views with conveysregards welfare programs. In short, its political manifesto is

to the “national question”. However, this explanation is unambiguously12 social-democratic in nature. not sufficient. A stronger explanation Volumestems from5, Issue the 4 anyone who questions the policies currently in place Everyone born after the 1950s in Quebec has of having an agenda to bring the province back to the political heritage of the Quiet Revolution. been taught to believe that “modern Quebec” started Union “Great Darkness”. Accusations made regardless of the Nationale, which had governed the province virtually in 1960 with the defeat of the conservative modernizationrising body of literature (I have myself detailing made the thisso-called case Great in an became a rich and modern society and everything we Darkness as a period of rapid economichttp://c2cjournal. and social undisputed since 1944. From 1960 onwards, Quebec / everything before that moment was dubbed the “Great earlier article in this journal). [ ca/2010/10/the-slandering-of-duplessis ] have today is the heritage of the “Quiet Revolution”; groups will hammer away their message until we However, due to their sheer size, these interest Darkness”. explain why provincial governments have failed to in his right mind dares to confront such interest pushSuch forward a trick serious of political economic rhetoric reforms, does notbut only also groupssee no otherwho have possible the willversion and powerof reality. to defeatNo politician him in order to support a majority of misinformed voters. It must be understood that the increasingly explains the rise of the NDP. bloated, interventionist and morbidly obese Quebec interventionist government of Quebec that rose out of governmentAfter all, everyone also lackswho lacks interest a vested to investigate interest in how the the sixties opened the door to special interest groups. harmful the policies in place are. from competition and redistribute wealth towards themThese regardless groups demanded of how measures to protect them their wallets and bank viable the programs However, voters can see reality; they can feel it in understand how X and programs were spread Yaccounts. policy hurts They them may not by overwere. a Thelarge costs population of these of prohibiting competition taxpayers and consumers. or by granting corporate welfare to one industry or population that the cost another, but they do see forSo a large single taxpayer was this or that something is wrong consumer did not make it when they are asked to pay more taxes while their incomes do not grow as fast worthwhile to fight these as elsewhere in Canada. thesepolicies. interest However, groups that so theylarge didwere everything the benefits to maketo sure they obtained and levels and they do see how long they have to wait in hospital waiting rooms withThey the do sign see “Emergencies”the rising debt nights they spent in bed with government, the more above their heads. kept what they lobbied the government for. The more debt,they adversely the low rates affected of productivity economic growth, performance. the high One How can they not grow increasingly frustrated ratesonly needs of unemployment, to look at the and $240 the billion high spendingworth of publiclevels without desiring changes? They will vote for change regardless of the form it takes. How then can we explain Quebeckers being infatuated with the ADQ in (all relative to the rest of Canada) as witness to how then only to return to the PQ in between the elections 2002 only to elect the Liberals rather than the PQ and adversely they affected the Quebec economy. at reform, regardless of how the general population feltThese instinctively interest groups and ashave we blocked have every seen attempt above, and then throwing them away in favour of the ADQ Quebeckers are instinctively close to conservative and then returning to the liberals and finally opting for a whole new party under François Legault. Dizzying? Such electoral volatility is indeed quite dizzying, but it views. Those who have a vested interest will be the does indicate ideological confusion. How then can we first to accuse anyone who questions how “dark” explain that since 2003, Quebeckers have preferred the was the “Great Darkness” to desire a return to the federal liberals, then the Bloc Québécois, followed by Volumeheydays 5, Issue of obscurantism. 4 They will also accuse the Conservatives, then a return to the Bloc Québécois 13 hope of changing things, even if the change they opt for is completely at odds with their beliefs – like the and finally the NDP? ♦ cannotAs a be “founding questioned, moment” everything in Quebec that is history, linked with the NDP. itQuiet cannot Revolution be questioned cannot beeither, questioned let alone and be becausereformed it Vincent Geloso graduated from Montreal University in economics or thrown away. Corporate interest groups and unions and politics in 2009. He currently attends the London School of Economics as a Ph.D student in Economic History on a fellowship understand this and they know how potent a political from the Institute for Humane Studies. He has also received his M.sc in Economic History from the London School of Econom- ics. Previously, he was an economist at the Montreal Economic weapon it can be. Hence, they wield it often with Institute where he still acts as an associate researcher. He has frightening efficiency. published numerous articles in The National Post, The Financial Post, The Vancouver Sun, The Gazette, La Presse, Cyberpresse, Le willVoters vote for are anything therefore that confused gives them between the glimmer the reality of a Québécois Libre and Perspectives. they observe and the politically correct discourse. They

The TWO

makeSOLITUDES a comeback

Canadian nationhood is an unhappy marriage of two historic solitudes: English and French Canada. In the last federal election, the Conservative government received a majority mandate with 161 seats in English Canada. The NDP were propelled to official opposition on the back of 59 seats from Quebec. The early days of our new parliament have been dominated by issues sharply divided on English-French lines. These issues, pitting Quebec against the rest of Canada, will undoubtedly continue to emerge. Will our un- happy marriage only get worse under the political conditions afforded by the last federal election?”

By Brendan Steven

anticipates that Quebec will finally secede. In a concept: n 2007, Scott Gardiner published a groundbreaking moment of clarity, King John offers a revolutionary I On the same day Quebec held its referendum, work of political fiction called King John of Canada. CanadaIt is is easily formed one offrom the a most workable, thought-provoking if unhappy novels in Canadian fiction. It reminds readers that organize a referendum of its own – advancing the proposed the King, the Rest of Canada ought to relationship between English and French Canada. It self-same question .... [I]t seemed only reasonable is a relationship that always veers toward conflict and its wishes with respect to Quebec. continues on its current course, disaster might not be that the Rest of Canada should be consulted about ansits unlikely on the edge scenario. of disaster. If Canada’s new parliament and Quebec vote to separate, and Canada splits in two. It isSo a happy they hold divorce. a referendum. Both English Canada The novel supposes that a new referendum on14 Quebec sovereignty takes place. The country Volume 5, Issue 4 Gardiner may be cynical about the nature of the two of course, is that the Quebec advocate is now the from the Bloc Québécois to the NDP. The difference, solitudes today, but is his cynicism justified? at the forefront of the national dialogue. government-in-waiting. The English-French divide is divorceGardiner papers is right but tothat point does out not that mean Canada’s the couplefounding is peoples are in an unhappy marriage. No one is signing Canada face a gulf between them that each is willing ParliamentHistory givesfeatured us anotheran English example Canadian of a government Parliament totaking let simmer long walks and stew. on the beach. English and French divided along English-French lines. Canada’s 35th

and a Quebec advocate as the Official Opposition. Then recent results of the federal election. On the backs of No further evidence is needed than to look at the Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Opposition Leader Lucien Bouchard spent an egregious amount of time 59 parliamentary seats from Quebec, the NDP rocketed wasdebating elected the in minutiaeQuebec City of and national the province unity. English-plunged into Official Opposition. Meanwhile, the Conservatives intoFrench its secondtensions referendum. sprung to the fore, a PQ government are perched in the majority with 145 seats from English Canada. A few Conservative ridings remain in Quebec, and there are NDP parliamentarians who come from is evenNow, lessby no chance means ofis ait new1993. referendum. There is little Canadian chance English Canada, but each party’s success came from the PQ will retake the National Assembly, and there one-half of the two solitudes. English Canada handed a Parliament divided, English OppositionHarper his majority,status. and Quebec againstunity has Quebecer. never benefited from handed the NDP their Official Gardiner is right to English Canada picked one It has only been a few months point} out that Canada’s sharpness of this divide may be founding peoples are in st quietdirection, now, Quebecbut that another. will not The last an unhappy marriage. No since the first sitting of Canada’s long. of41 Canada,” Parliament. will These undoubtedly issues, one is signing divorce continuepitting Quebec to emerge. against the “Rest have emerged in this Parliament papers but that does Will our unhappy marriage haveMany divided of the sharply major issues on English that not mean the couple is only get worse under the taking long walks on the the last federal election, with and French lines. The NDP briefly beach. Englishpolitical Canadaconditions as governmentafforded by fought to require that Supreme ~ Court justices be bilingual. NDP interim leader Nycole Turmel, in and Quebec as Official a recent statement criticizing Quebec’s shutout from Opposition? the Conservatives for “picking winners and losers.” ground, but until that day comes, I can only anticipate a multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding contract, slammed thatMaybe the situation someday will we get will worse. find a Ifhappy our national middle dialogue continues to bring out these old quarrels, NDP leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair then tensions will continue to rise. We have not yet alsolambasted introduced the Harper a bill plan that to would afford subject new Quebec seats to signed the divorce papers, but unless we chart a new businessesEnglish provinces under as federalan attack jurisdictionagainst Quebec. to Mulcair similar course, one day we might.♦

101. language requirements as those enforced under Bill Brendan Steven is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Canadian Studies at McGill University. In January 2011, he co-founded the Prince Arthur Herald, Canada's only national The NDP offer a different type of Quebec advocacy student-run conservative newspaper, and served as the newspaper’s first Editor-in-Chief. He is an active conservative, having worked in wasthan on that the spearheaded fringe of Parliament, by the Bloc its Québécois. issues relegated With communications for Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid, numerous behindonly 49 the members agenda in ofthe the House Conservatives of Commons, and the their BQ political campaign teams, and most recently for Ontario Opposi- tion Leader Tim Hudak. He has columned extensively on Canadian politics, including a syndicated column with the National Citizen’s Coalition and other Canadian media outlets. Liberal opposition. VolumeNow, 5, theIssue role 4 of Quebec advocate has shifted 15