Reviving the Quebec Separation Dream

Quebec separation, once thought buried, is making a comeback. It’s like a zombie rising from the political grave, stirring up debates and dividing opinions. While the streets aren’t flooded with passionate separatists like before, the Parti Québécois (PQ) is gaining attention again.

Formed way back in 1968 with the grand idea of making Quebec its own country, the PQ is now the cool kid on the political block. Surveys hint they could rule the roost if elections were held today. They recently snagged a win in a key Quebec City-area election, shaking the stronghold of the ruling Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).

But what’s causing this PQ revival? It’s not just the old separatist fervor coming back to life. No, it’s also about their leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. He’s not your typical PQ leader; he’s more Gen X, less boomer. St-Pierre Plamondon talks big about separation, dreaming of a Quebec with its own army and currency. He’s not afraid to shout it from the rooftops, or even attempt cringeworthy TikTok memes to sell the dream.

The PQ’s resurgence also owes a lot to the current CAQ government’s nosedive. Elected in 2018, they promised to chill on the whole separation thing. Led by François Legault, a former separatist turned economy-first guy, they seemed like a breath of fresh air. But lately, they’ve been messing up big time. Broken promises, scandals, and splurging millions on bringing hockey teams to play preseason games – all while folks just want better roads and schools.

This PQ comeback isn’t just luck; it’s a trend. Polls show Quebecers souring on the CAQ and warming up to the PQ. But it’s not all smooth sailing. See, most Quebecers don’t want to go through another separation vote. St-Pierre Plamondon might talk a big game about a third referendum, but it’s not what people want to hear.

And here’s the kicker: even though St-Pierre Plamondon might be seen as a cool leader for a province, he’s not convincing people to break up with Canada. The PQ wants new separatists, but they’re only bringing back the old faithfuls.

Meanwhile, the federalist Quebec Liberals are shopping for a new leader. If they pick a winner, it could shake things up even more. Who knows, maybe it’ll cause a mass exodus from the CAQ, leading to its downfall and bringing back that age-old debate about Quebec’s place in the world.

So yeah, Quebec separation is back in business. Get ready for some political drama!

Martin Patriquin spills the Quebec tea for The Logic.