Tuesday, March 27, 2007

The Beginning of the End of the PQ?

Last night's Quebec election results show some interesting shifts in the attitudes of the Quebec population.

1. In spite of an obviously disappointing performance, Jean Charest's Liberals have still managed to cling to power in what has ended up being a minority government.

2. The ADQ's Mario Dumont has clearly inspired a message of family values that is resonating more with voters than the old separation debate. And as Stephen Taylor notes, the results couldn't be better for the ADQ since it will give them an opportunity to learn and mature in opposition. An ADQ goverment at this point may have been too much too soon for their own good (and Quebec's).

3. The PQ is in third place and may very possibly be in danger of becoming irrelevant, which does not bode well for the BQ.

4. The strong federalist support suggests greater potential for seat pick-up by the CPC and to a lesser degree by the LPC.



All in all, the best possible outcome for those who wish Canada to stay intact.

But my loyal reader Gabby mentioned in my nuclear waste post (which I morphed into a politics debate), she is a bit leery about assuming that the the PQ is dead:

The one bright light is that the PQ has lost some support. The ROC should not cry "separatism is dead" though. It is simply undergoing a transformation.

Chantel Hebert suggests that although this likely means the end of Boisclair's leadership, the separatist movement will carry on:

Given a choice between pondering whether that reflects poorly on its core cause of sovereignty or on its leader's skills, the party will almost certainly zero in on the latter. It is ultimately easier for the PQ to keep on replacing its leaders than to give up on its dream of an independent Quebec.



I tend to agree that we should not let allow ourselves to become complacent.


BTW, congrats to ChuckerCanuk for a fascinating and entertaining "Live Blog" event last night! I certainly enjoyed the party.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

You seemed more interested in Don's martini than the election for a while there. What were you drinking?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

What were you drinking?

A vicarious martini.

molarmauler said...

Scotch for me.

Anyone check Dion's wrists for slash marks today?

Anonymous said...

"Anyone check Dion's wrists for slash marks today?"

LOL! How do you people come up with those? Did you intern on some comedy show? Can't even think of a comedian's name to top your kind of humour. Good going!

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Oh, oh. That'll go straight to his head, Gabby!

Well deserved compliment nonetheless.

I just hope Chucker doesn't get too jealous...

molarmauler said...

*blushes

I don't think CC has anything to worry about. His last line of his latest post is the funniest thing I've read on the net for a long time.

Go look.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I read the live blogging comments at CC's place, and there too - what great repartee!

I guess I should post this on CC's blog - but I feel like the person who comes to a party only to find everybody has gone home already.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thanks for the tip, Molar. I'll go check it out.

Gabby, don't worry about posting comments after the fact. Chucker is only too happy for any comment; any time. Trust me. ;)

Brian in Calgary said...

The PQ is in third place and may very possibly be in danger of becoming irrelevant, which does not bode well for the BQ.

The fate of the PQ depends on how stubbornly Boisclair tries to hang on to the leadership (which I think should be given last rites). As one of the Sun columnists put it (I can't remember which one) today, if Boisclair doesn't resign, then his back will soon be sporting the finest of separatist cutlery. The PQ could then implode much as the Canadian Alliance came close to doing under Stockwell Day's ill-fated leadership.

OMMAG said...

The xenophobic undercurrent of hatred for all things "Anglo" abounds in some quarters of Quebec society. That along with the common love of socialist ideology and the myth of being oppressed by the ROC will keep the fires of "Separatism" burning there! Count on it.

Brian in Calgary said...

You make some good points, pgp. Even if the PQ does become irrelevant, that sure doesn't mean the stake has been driven through the heart of the Quebec separatist movement.

Tarkwell Robotico said...

oh, mauler, I blush and reproduce it here for PGP and Brian in Calgary:

Separatism isn't dead, but neither is your appendix.