KAMOURASKA, QUE.—The recent Liberal policy convention I attended in Montreal was more about convening than policy: the corridors of the Palais des Congrès were packed with 4,500 delegates networking away, while the policy sessions were sparsely attended.  

One session did impress me for its participants. It was the session on “Building Canada Strong,” featuring Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, Canada-United States Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Heritage Minister Marc Miller, and Public Works Minister Joël Lightbound. 

The task force that could get things right for Canadian patients

All are fluently bilingual, each is smart, articulate, and represents an important constituency: Montreal (Miller and Joly); rural Quebec (Champagne); Quebec City (Lightbound); francophones outside Quebec (LeBlanc). 

As the Oct. 5 election in Quebecdraws nearer, the tone of Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has become more shrill and anti-Canada. He is preparing the way for a “Oui” in the referendum campaign he will call if he becomes premier. I have been wondering who could offer a meaningful counter message for the “Non.” The convention panel might be the group. 

The PQ leader, known as PSPP, is a compelling orator, although he can be thin-skinned when challenged. He has distilled his campaign into three key messages: 

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Canada is a colonialist country with no legitimacy, which undermines Quebec’s potential; 

An independent Quebec will reap a $90-billion windfall, as money sent to Ottawa does nothing for Quebecers; and

Freed of Canada, Quebec will be one of the richest countries in the world, like Denmark or Sweden.

Of course, each of these arguments is fallacious, notably the one about the $90-billion. But without anyone to explain federal government spending on dozens of ministries, a military, a foreign service, regulatory bodies, a national police force, prisons, an intelligence service, and more, the average Quebecer believes PSPP’s nonsense. 

And this is not your grandmother’s PQ. As a reporter at the National Assembly in 1977, I recall the first cabinet of René Lévesque, composed of gentlemen like Jacques-Yvan Morin, Dr. Denis Lazure, and Claude Morin. They talked about “sacrifices” for separation, and a good relationship with the rest of Canada, based on Lévesque’s dream of “sovereignty-association.” Plamondon’s rhetoric is harsh, dismissive, and radical, and he will likely maintain it for years should he become premier. 

While federal Liberals hope new provincial Liberal leader Charles Milliard will swoop in and steal victory from Plamondon, a serious split in the vote between the current governing party of Coalition Avenir Québec led by new premier Christine Fréchette, Conservative Eric Duhaime, and Milliard will probably result in a PQ victory. This should force the Carney government to develop a strategy in response. 

In the 1980 referendum campaign, there was a travelling roadshow for the “Non” vote composed of then-attorney general Jean Chrétien, Créditiste Camil Samson, and a smattering of Quebec politicians. They crisscrossed Quebec, speaking in church halls and arenas, building support.  The 1995 “Non” campaign, by contrast, had a boring list of speakers in boring venues, and was overwhelmed by the charismatic Lucien Bouchard. 

Enter the “dream team” of Miller, Joly, Champagne, LeBlanc, and Lightbound. They could match the star power of PSPP and his crew, and offer substantive rebuttals to his preposterous accusations.

Each one knows their files and the financial, social, and economic issues associated with separation. Each can talk credibly about the consequences of a “Yes” vote without being accused of fomenting fear. And to Péquistes who claim francophones are second-class citizens in Canada, each has made it big on the national and global stage. 

There is no doubt such a group needs to be formed, with clear strategy, messaging, and outreach. Church basements and arenas may give way to Zoom and streaming. But it has to convince the average Quebecer federalism works. 

While some Quebecers will call for a strategy for “Constitutional renewal,” separatists just want their own country. And confronting an existential threat from the U.S. might not be the best time to recommend greater devolution of powers.  No, this campaign must be fought on Canada’s merits. 

Famed columnist Lysiane Gagnon compared Quebec politics to hockey, saying “Québécois like a team that fights to win, and that’s the one they will support, or respect.” A “dream team” of smart, attractive francophone and bilingual ministers could boost the federal side’s referendum scoresheet. The draft for star players should begin now. 

Andrew Caddell is retired from Global Affairs Canada, where he was a senior policy adviser. He previously worked as an adviser to Liberal governments. He is a former town councillor in Kamouraska, Que. He can be reached at pipson52@hotmail.com.

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