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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