Dion says PQ are on the Right Track

[Keepitsimple]

Stephane Dion has shown once again that there is a huge gap between academia and politics. His musing on the direction of the PQ has given ammunition to Pauline Marois who can now claim that even Stephane Dion agrees with our approach to separation. How sad - and outrageous......no doubt he will be offering a "clarification". Let's see how much play this gets on CBC - none, I suspect.

PQ leader wants to scrap referendum requirement

TheStar.com - Canada - PQ leader wants to scrap referendum requirement

March 06, 2008

Jonathan Montpetit

THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL–Pauline Marois is betting her leadership of the Parti Québécois on her ability to push the province closer to independence without resorting to a referendum.

Marois announced yesterday she will ask PQ members to free the party from a commitment to hold a referendum soon after an election win.

A PQ government would instead adopt a policy of "national governance" to gradually free the province from Ottawa's grip.

"I am freeing myself from shackles in proposing ... that we suspend the obligation to hold a referendum in the first part of a mandate," Marois told reporters in Montreal.

The policy includes taking a series of steps to claim additional powers for Quebec, such as adopting its own constitution and creating its own citizenship.

A PQ government under Marois would also foster a "national conversation," or province-wide debate, about the merits of independence.

"National governance will ensure Quebec gains powers so that on all fronts we occupy as much space as possible up until we are sovereign," Marois said.

Quebec Liberals accused Marois of hiding the PQ's true intentions behind benign-sounding rhetoric.

But, in Ottawa of all places, Marois's plan was called a "good move" by Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.

"I think a responsible secessionist leader should not rush to a referendum, should first build strong support, a clear majority for separation and once it's done it's time to go to a referendum."

My Bold....Link: http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/309901

Edited March 9, 2008 by Keepitsimple

[jdobbin]

Stephane Dion has shown once again that there is a huge gap between academia and politics. His musing on the direction of the PQ has given ammunition to Pauline Marois who can now claim that even Stephane Dion agrees with our approach to separation. How sad - and outrageous......no doubt he will be offering a "clarification". Let's see how much play this gets on CBC - none, I suspect.

It seems to me that Dion is having mischief. He knows the PQ have an element in the party want an immediate referendum and unilateral declaration of independence. He knows his support for Marois' move rips at the heart of the sovereignist movement.

Dion is the man who in debates ripped every argument the PQ made on separation. He tore them to shreds. Seems to me that he is dividing them now.

[Keepitsimple]

It seems to me that Dion is having mischief. He knows the PQ have an element in the party want an immediate referendum and unilateral declaration of independence. He knows his support for Marois' move rips at the heart of the sovereignist movement.

Dion is the man who in debates ripped every argument the PQ made on separation. He tore them to shreds. Seems to me that he is dividing them now.

They have always been divided on that front. If it's mischief, it's misguided. Marois knows that there is no immediate appetite for separation in Quebec. She needs the levers of power to create the appetite. A softer version of the PQ may very well increase their popularity and win back the ADQ vote. Dion has given ammunition to this approach.

[jdobbin]

They have always been divided on that front. If it's mischief, it's misguided. Marois knows that there is no immediate appetite for separation in Quebec. She needs the levers of power to create the appetite. A softer version of the PQ may very well increase their popularity and win back the ADQ vote. Dion has given ammunition to this approach.

I don't see it that way. Seems to me if Dion supports Marois, it will get the backs up on those in the PQ that are adamantly opposed to her moves.

[normanchateau]

A softer version of the PQ may very well increase their popularity and win back the ADQ vote. Dion has given ammunition to this approach.

Yes, I can see it now. Disaffected separatists who loathe Stephane Dion for the Clarity Act will now back the PQ because Dion stated that Marois, if she were responsible, should not rush to a referendum. This scenario is even less likely than a Harper majority.

[Keepitsimple]

Yes, I can see it now. Disaffected separatists who loathe Stephane Dion for the Clarity Act will now back the PQ because Dion stated that Marois, if she were responsible, should not rush to a referendum. This scenario is even less likely than a Harper majority.

Those who loathe Stephane Dion will always vote for the PQ. They are the hard-liners and while they might not like Marois's strategy, they have no other legitimate party to vote for. It's the other voters - especially the ADQ ones, who could very well be swayed by a softer PQ.

[seabee]

Don't forget that previously Dion has said that Law 101 was great, and that it was so good that it should be enshrined in the federal constitution.

[normanchateau]

It's the other voters - especially the ADQ ones, who could very well be swayed by a softer PQ.

In my opinion, ADQ voters switching to the PQ because Stephane Dion said if Marois were responsible, she'd not hold a referendum, is also about as likely as a Harper majority. Does anyone seriously believe that whether Marois does or doesn't hold a referendum will be influenced by these specific Dion comments?

[seabee]

As far as I know, in the french-speaking media in Québec, Dion's statement were given the space of a sentence or two burried in an article, And on TV, I don't think a visual was even presented. Safe to say that his statement was met with indifference.

[normanchateau]

As far as I know, in the french-speaking media in Québec, Dion's statement were given the space of a sentence or two burried in an article, And on TV, I don't think a visual was even presented. Safe to say that his statement was met with indifference.

And had Stephen Harper made the same innocuous comment, I suspect it too would have been met with indifference.

[August1991]

As far as I know, in the french-speaking media in Québec, Dion's statement were given the space of a sentence or two burried in an article, And on TV, I don't think a visual was even presented. Safe to say that his statement was met with indifference.

Dion's comment was in the context of the PQ's latest incarnation (Marois's Converstion nationale). As usual, everybody in the political world has something to say about this so Dion's comment was just another.

In case anybody in English Canada cares about this, this article gives a good resume and puts Dion's comment in context:

Selon Stéphane Dion, la chef du Parti québécois effectue par cette nouvelle approche une véritable coupure avec les stratégies de ses prédécesseurs, en misant sur le dialogue avec le peuple québécois pour pousser son option souverainiste, plutôt que sur des «pièges». «C'est un changement salutaire, a-t-il déclaré, hier, à Ottawa. Un chef sécessionniste responsable doit toujours travailler en accord avec l'opinion publique, au lieu de chercher à manipuler (la population). Les cages à homard de Parizeau, les astuces, doivent être choses du passé.»

[seabee]

I agree. In fact, I don't think that whatever Harper or Dion has said will influence the next votes as much as the CBC"s decision to cut out in the editing room everything that was in French, and even axcluding any reference to french-speaking presence at a recent award show. That has outraged a large portion of the french-speaking Québécois.