BACKGROUND
the middle of the campaign, my soul was suddenly awakened sovereignty activist. It was clear that the PQ was moving towards a historic defeat, although some still believed in the possibility of a PQ minority government. I wish I was as optimistic, but I had long felt that the ADQ was ripe for a meteoric rise in ratings. However, at this point, we do not openly asserted ADQ, as I wrote before, be ADQ was a bit like having a venereal disease. The polls were obviously biased ... PQ strongholds voters (Lanaudière, for example) who were preparing to "go across" kept a low profile.
what to do in this context, since my contact with the PQ was rather sporadic (some conversations with the candidates of Rimouski and Matane, a few emails exchanged with a militant MES, etc.). How to share my concerns to the party, without the filtering of information does the damping. When the individual opinions of activists and supporters of a political party like the PQ reach the summit is in the form of an indistinct murmur. "Ah," they told themselves, rubbing their hands, "Voters are showing interest in politics. So they will vote. "Selective listening to annihilate all forms completed dialog between the base and summit.
March 11 at night, so I decided to write a letter that would take the form of a short memory, hoping that this format would have more impact than a simple email. Maybe I could send it by fax, but my fiber technology whispered to send this document by email attachment, in the office of Mr. Boisclair, directly.
This small article is intended as a vehicle to voice my concerns, common to many activists that time, and to advance proposals that had received absolutely no consideration on the part of candidates and elected which I had slipped a word. Inventing a maxim in this regard: "In contemplating his own shadow too, it is not come overnight."
proposals, therefore, in bulk. But ideas quite compatible with the PQ platform, with the advantage of having a human dimension to represent a tangible reality. I could send 100 ideas, I have long lists, but I decided to limit myself to ten. It is easy, when appropriate, to exploit a vein of interest or surprise his political opponent. Practical sense - that is what is lacking in PQ!
So I just sent this letter before the federal budget, hoping that develops between the PQ-time parade, distributed, an original idea to take the political initiative. I was wrong, of course - nothing has changed and we lost the election.
So I reproduce here exactly 2 months later and without changing a comma in place, this famous letter and terse response received from the office of Mr. Boisclair. (Note that I removed two paragraphs of the letter, for reasons I'll explain later perhaps.)
EXCERPTS FROM THE LETTER OF MARCH 12
TITLE: A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR THE HELP IN HIS CAMPAIGN PQ
If we rely on the projected image in the media (which is the only truly reach the electorate not militant) , the Parti Quebecois and the sovereignty movement have long lost the initiative in this great chess game being played in Quebec for over 30 years. Have we lost the ability to surprise our political opponents, even to shock them, taking initiatives and putting the ROC to the "fait accompli"? Still, that will always follow the same path, to provide the same arguments, we give our opponents (richer, more numerous and more visible, and favored by the force of inertia of the status quo ) opportunities undreamed of us cut the grass underfoot. Our predictability weakens us. The initiative (empty of meaning and consequences) of the Harper government on the "Quebec nation" is the latest example.
The "season of ideas" and similar initiatives have, it seems, not enough to restore the balance of power and restore the initiative to troops separatists. It seems that the troops separatists have difficulty in bringing debate on land that would be more favorable, more fertile.
It is clear that the National Assembly has lost power since 1982. The repatriation of the constitution gave the federal troops while a legal framework enabling them to fight, so always justifiable, Quebec identity and our desire for emancipation. The world's two great waves of decolonization (1960s in Africa and Asia; 1990s in Eastern Europe) are over and we could not seize them. Quebecers were not ready, or they failed to win in an arena politics dominated by Anglo-Saxon tradition which too often eludes us still. We do not yet mastered the playing field on which our collective future.
The PQ has always been a coalition party made up of small groups with often conflicting ideas. Domination by particular groups may have influenced the official policy (ranging from the affirmationnisme PM Johnson to "winning conditions" by B. Landry, through the boldness of "sovereignty-negotiation" to J. Parizeau ). However, it is unfortunate that the tightness of the internal PQ do too often in broad daylight; internal divisions should be discreet. Thus the media federalists lose no opportunity to explain how we approach the "civic" Mr. Boisclair seems to collide with the desire for a referendum "as soon as possible" the activist base of the PQ. Obviously, the party is more united than in this cartoon repeated in the media, but how to explain it to people?
There are obviously many approaches that lead to the sovereignty, and these do not necessarily pass through a referendum "as soon as possible." This approach is not the only one that can satisfy the electorate sovereignty. There are also within the PQ, groups that offer different approaches, such as MES, which prefers an approach based on the actions of sovereignty upon taking power. This approach has the merit of advancing the Quebec event of a referendum defeat or outright cancellation of the referendum (if it becomes clear that defeat is inevitable), Quebec will have progressed significantly. It's also such actions as the PQ has raised since his election in 1976, Quebec has been transformed in a sustainable manner.
This approach, a form of steps to the Norwegian, however, the failure to force the PQ government to be a "good government" for one term (or more). Should a referendum late, people would vote based on the quality or popularity, the PQ government (and not according to his real desire sovereignty). We know government is not always a very popular mid-term, and must often take unpopular measures.
It is interesting to note that the Norwegians have made gestures of sovereignty for decades before harvest, peacefully and without equivocation, their independence. It is a model that leads to reflection, but that will not change much in the present, since the PQ is going to at best a minority government, the worst towards defeat. From the perspective of a minority government or coalition, the PQ will have to set aside any referendum and work with the ADQ and QS in a much more autonomist perspective. The ideas presented later in this document are also quite compatible with such a situation. They can reshape the Quebec, transform, move it forward.
But if I wrote this short document, however, because a threat far more real, more immediate, looming on the horizon.
CONTEXT: THE FILING OF FEDERAL BUDGET FOR 2007
Everyone is aware that the Harper government has decided to blatantly interfere in the current Quebec election campaign choosing to submit its budget one week before the vote. This choice has consequences. Opposition parties, including the PQ will have less than a week to respond. As always, the PQ will be indignant at this budget criticize certain points, and say that Quebec would be better off if it were independent. All this is immensely predictable political opponents know, the citizens know, the media federalists know. Their arguments are cons-purpose loans and our critics will likely result greeted with indifference of habit.
He is also obvious that Jean Charest, even if he keeps publicly distanced himself from the Harper government is in constant contact with it and negotiate in secret "ammunition" policies. Let us not be surprised if, after the budget, Harper offers Charest a "partial solution" to the fiscal imbalance, together with a "response" into cash to Charest's demands. All this bodes badly for the PQ.
Having coaxed Quebecers, after showing that Harper can "meet" Charest government (with monetary carrots and sticks election), then nothing will stop this duo for Fox to start a discussion Constitution leading to the signing of the 1982 Constitution, citizens may accept without flinching. It will be recalled that the Meech Lake Accord was popular more than 60% in Quebec a few weeks before its sinking, and if the population is sufficiently "softened" by a political scientist tango, the coffin of Quebec could be drive another nail.
A PARADE TO BE OFFENSIVE announced federal
Despite the progress of the campaign, we have the opportunity to regain the initiative. Simply act more quickly and more vividly than the couple Charest-Harper.
The agenda for each political party is, of course, published before each election and it goes well with the platform election as such. All this makes the country relatively predictable, but the record contains many generalities, we ask candidates to deepen, to illustrate with concrete examples, to quantify. Similarly, the political and social landscape never ceases to evolve during a campaign, which offers candidates the opportunity to differentiate themselves by reacting to situations, we need only think of Dumont, who seized on the rebound Hérouxville the ball (with varying degrees of dexterity).
order to surprise and even shock our opponent, he must get out of ruts of that campaign, unfortunately too predictable, and occupy the media space. How? By launching a series of proposals totally unexpected from the PQ. Above all, it is important to initiate proposals EVE (or the day before) of the budget, so that the debate is already started when Harper will introduce its paper and recite his prepared speech which Of course, praise the Charest government while demonizing the PQ and the separatists.
Thus, it would be a way to "steal the show" or if you'll pardon the expression, "red herring" (that fish eel in question is Harper or Charest carp). I am not talking to the media to present a version of the program chewed PQ, or to make empty promises or too general, but to hit where the other political parties in Quebec do not expect it. I have prepared here a list of 10 proposals that could achieve the desired effect. The "posture" policies vary from "good government" (center-left) to step to the Norwegian or autonomy in the immediate (ie, acts of sovereignty), history of undercut the foot of the other parties. It should also be provide an exit event of the absence of conditions for winning a referendum.
The proposals cover the following topics: the future of Quebec, the fiscal imbalance, regions, resources, transportation, seniors, youth, society, environment, aboriginal, agriculture . I did not include hospitals (or health) in this list because it is an area where it is too easy to return an argument or to demolish it to number-crunching. Similarly, Mount Orford and reasonable accommodation should not be mentioned explicitly, as it is subjects sharp and too controversial.
TEN THEMES TEN PROPOSALS
FISCAL IMBALANCE
Consultation with the ADQ and QS to pass a law initiating the repatriation of exclusive power to levy taxes in Quebec (for the good people of Quebec and to enable us to better manage our wealth, all these parties will agree!). Taxes are a skill that Quebec can capture an exclusive! Creating the post of Ministry of taxes "to manage the lump sum Annual Ottawa from Quebec. Draft a policy to protect provincial jurisdiction and exclusive jurisdiction of Quebec.
Explanation: This is the most controversial proposal of the lot, and the cornerstone of this tactic. The taxing power of the provinces is provided in the constitution of 1867, but there are probably ambiguity when considering federal legislation passed during and after the Second World War. You have to play on this ambiguity, and also the popularity of such a measure among the citizens (who will eventually get tired of meeting two tax returns ... which could eventually remove the declaration of Quebec). A Quebec that arises as an intermediary between its citizens and Ottawa for tax issues has positioned itself firmly on a path sovereignty over the medium term. Note that this idea has already been presented by various parties, including the ADQ.
PROSPERITY OF THE REGION CONTACTS
a) Starting a program regional and municipal fees based on kwH production facilities. Municipalities that have plants on their territory will receive fees directly from the amount of electricity generated.
b) Raise a tax on long distance transport of raw materials , which will promote the implementation of the first and second local processing, rather than thousands of miles.
Explanation: The proposal is not new. But it is essential that municipalities directly benefit from the dams or wind turbines installed on their territory. Otherwise, municipalities are right to challenge energy development if it "operates" without enriching their region. Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie There has been raising a shield against the wind projects. As for the thorny issue of local processing, we recently saw a draft of wood processing gaspésien become the issue of heated debate in Gaspé.
FUTURE OF QUEBEC Announce Estates General on the future of Quebec with the Bloc , the ADQ and QS on a joint declaration on the right to self-determination of Quebec. Consultation with other parties or separatist separatists, to harmonize the actions of sovereignty and autonomy, we must join forces to that Quebec advance! Before any popular consultation, advance Quebec, like the PQ has done since his election in 1976. Passage of a law similar to Act 99, including a clause on the right to self-determination and the predominance of international law over any "Clarity Act".
Explanation: By launching a pole to the other parties or separatist separatists, we are double winners. On the one hand, by dangling a common front, we prepare citizens in a coalition government, or at least, an approach that would include a majority of Quebecers and their elected representatives. This allow the PQ government to move quickly to flavor many laws autonomy or sovereignty. Secondly, a party who is willing to work with other parties present a unifying picture for the population, while recovering a portion of the electorate of these other parties. Quebec Solidarity and the ADQ will certainly not disdain to be offered during the floor debates on the future of Quebec (see the proposals on the fiscal imbalance and the environment).
TRANSPORTSENIORS
Create MVC ( Living Centers for Seniors ): a program for health facilities and accommodation for the frail elderly or non-independent, with fee subsidies and controlled prices. With seats booked by region, it will give us a management system similar to the CPE. The plan would also include incentives for the creation of micro- centers for seniors.
Explanation: Why not have thought of it sooner? Our elders are vulnerable and there is currently no comprehensive management / regional places in nursing homes. The model CPE is ideal, but it is obviously necessary to avoid, in the speech, the direct comparison of elderly and children!
YOUNG Provide tax credit declining (eg 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%) over 5 years to graduate starting on labor market (all post-secondary degrees) as long as they remain in Québec during that period.
Explanation: This type of program is ideal because it encourages young professionals (eg doctors) to stay at Quebec, and it is even more enticing than the wages of young workers graduates are high. By reducing the number of bankruptcies among graduates, and reducing the brain drain, this project will likely be profitable.
AGRICULTURE Announcing a new agricultural policy based on food self-sufficiency Quebec (ie, Quebec must be able to feed all its citizens in the event of a major crisis that threatens the supplies, such as avian influenza or an oil crisis). This program will reassess the actual needs Quebec and redefine the quotas and subsidies as a purely Quebec.
Explanation: The Canadian agricultural policies are an impediment to Quebec producers. This project, while responding to real concerns, initiate a discussion on the importance of our food production, while restoring our power over our quota and justifying our decisions.
COMPANYENVIRONMENT AND KYOTO
Electricity is our greatest asset, own wealth and that is a plus. We will begin the repurchase of Quebec railways, electrification of railways and the establishment of a network Quebec intermunicipal transport electrified, which will effectively clean and very affordable. This network will also carry the goods along the axis of the St. Lawrence, which will reduce traffic and pollution in the sea, while ensuring the development of ports in eastern Quebec. This conveyance will also reduce the cost of transporting commodities. We will also assess the establishment of tramlines or electric bus for local transportation in the 6 largest urban centers in Quebec.
Explanation: Half the railway network in Quebec is not for federal corporations, so it is possible to "nationalize" or the umbrella. An agreement with Hydro-Quebec R & D and economic benefits in most cities, make this project interesting. This is one of the few projects that have both high economic potential and very positive impact on the environment. Do not forget that appropriate track is breaking the backbone of Canada (sort of).
ABORIGINALPassage of a law recognizing the importance of each of the 11 indigenous peoples of Quebec (as well as mixed) and their participation as a founding people, the Quebec nation. Announcement of a round of negotiations with individual people, special status (autonomous municipality, territory Nitassinan style, etc.. Offering increase any existing statute with Ottawa in the form of a bipartisan agreement with Quebec and a strong definition entrenched in the Quebec constitution.
[NOTE: a 2-page accompanying this proposal]
EXCERPTS FROM RESPONSE
On behalf of the Parti Quebecois, we acknowledge your email of 13 March last and document that accompanied it.
Thank you for your "modest contribution", which is actually a reflection paper like the concerns of our members. Your themes and the solutions you proposed are mostly complete objectives of the Parti Quebecois.
In For example, we deplore any way you filing a federal budget during the election campaign in Quebec. We also attach great importance to the fiscal imbalance. It seems however difficult to repatriate Quebec exclusive powers to raise taxes without the same time achieve our sovereignty.
Moreover, as regards the regions resources and respect Kyoto Protocol, the Parti Quebecois has made strong commitments to revitalize the regional economy and revolutionizing the world of transport.
Finally, let us remember that Quebec is at the forefront in recognition of indigenous rights. In 1985, the government of Rene Levesque acknowledged 11 nations in Quebec. They are alive and well today growing demographic, not to mention that they share with us a immense territory.
A Parti Québécois government will therefore continue on this path and, like the government of Bernard Landry, who signed with the Braves the Crees of Quebec In 2001, we strengthen the bonds that unite First Nations and the Quebec nation.
Please accept, Sir, to express our feelings more respectful.
(SIGNATURE)
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