A new poll suggests the Parti Québécois’ pledge to hold a sovereignty referendum in its first mandate cost the party a majority government as Quebec politicians draw competing lessons from a referendum in Alberta.
uncertain
politicians → suggest → Alberta
The Léger survey for Le Journal de Montréal, conducted after the Oct. 5 election, found the PQ would have received 35 per cent of the vote if it had not promised to hold a referendum.
asserted
it → conduct → referendum
That is seven percentage points higher than the 28 per cent of the vote the party received in the election and, according to the poll, would have been enough to secure a majority government.
uncertain
party → receive → government
Instead, the PQ will enter the next legislature with a minority government.
asserted
PQ → enter → government
“I think seeing this new poll just confirms what many people thought,” said Daniel Béland, political sociologist and director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada.
asserted
Béland → think → Canada
The same poll found just 20 per cent of respondents favour the PQ organizing a referendum during its first mandate.
asserted
PQ → find → mandate
It’s actually very unpopular, and even after this victory of the PQ, there is no change here,” Béland said.
asserted
Béland → ’ → PQ
The poll comes as Quebec politicians debate what lessons should be drawn from Monday night’s referendum results in Alberta, where about three-quarters of voters opted for the province to remain in Canada, rejecting a proposal for a future referendum on separation.
asserted
province → come → separation
Albertans also voted for their province to negotiate changes to the Constitution to secure more powers from the federal government.
asserted
province → vote → government
Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Tuesday the results show cracks in the Canadian federation and suggested provinces could work together to gain more powers from Ottawa.
Get daily National news
The PQ leader wrote on social media that Albertans had proven “there is nothing to fear from expressing one’s views through a referendum.
uncertain
Albertans → say → referendum
“The message they are sending to Ottawa could not be clearer: Canada, as it stands, is not working, and the status quo is no longer acceptable,” St-Pierre Plamondon said.
uncertain
Plamondon → send → Ottawa
“Like Quebecers, they see the Canadian federation as a straitjacket that prevents them from placing their priorities at the heart of their own public policies, in order to meet their own needs.”
asserted
that → see → needs
St-Pierre Plamondon said Quebec, under the Coalition Avenir Québec government, had already tried and failed to get more autonomy from Ottawa.
asserted
Quebec → say → Ottawa
He said his predecessors’ approach “only led to rejections and setbacks for Quebec” and accused the federal government of becoming increasingly interventionist.
asserted
approach → say → government
The PQ leader has promised Quebecers a third referendum on independence after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House.
asserted
Trump → promise → House
- Danielle Smith calls for unity after separatism rejected in Alberta referendum
- Championship trophy forgotten by Saskatoon Hilltops to be handed to Regina Thunder
- CFB Wainwright fire victim ‘always there’ for anyone who needed him: family
asserted
who → call → him
- Ontario begins probe of eight private career colleges over alleged OSAP ‘fraud’
asserted
Ontario → begin → fraud
St-Pierre Plamondon said he sees common cause with Alberta and promised to collaborate with other provinces “that come to the same conclusion as Quebec and Albertans: change is needed.”
asserted
change → say → Quebec
But Quebec’s opposition parties said the Alberta results should instead prompt St-Pierre Plamondon to abandon his referendum pledge.
asserted
results → say → pledge
Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime said Quebecers should align themselves with Alberta to secure a balance of power in the federation, but said he does not support secession.
asserted
he → say → secession
He urged St-Pierre Plamondon to drop his promise to hold a referendum on independence.
asserted
He → urge → independence
Liberal Leader Charles Milliard made the same request, saying the Canadian federation remains the best option for Quebec.
“The results reflect a desire to unite and work to build Canada rather than divide it,” Milliard said.
asserted
Milliard → make → it
The new Quebec poll is also providing ammunition to the Liberals as they prepare to serve as the official Opposition.
asserted
they → provide → Opposition
Milliard received a warm welcome Tuesday as his party held its first official meeting as a sworn-in caucus.
“We’re going to have a strong official Opposition,” he said.
asserted
he → receive → Opposition
Liberal MNA Michel Leblanc said Quebecers will see in the coming months and years how central a referendum is to the PQ’s agenda and how it could affect Quebec’s relationship with the rest of Canada.
uncertain
it → say → Canada
“Quebecers don’t want a referendum.
asserted
Quebecers → want → referendum
The PQ wants one, and it will cost them,” Leblanc said.
asserted
Leblanc → want → them
A minority government typically lasts 18 to 24 months, and the Liberals are already looking ahead to the next election.
asserted
Liberals → last → election
“We’ll make sure to be ready for the next rendez-vous électoral,” Milliard said.
asserted
Milliard → make → électoral
Béland said the polling should also give the PQ pause over its commitment to a referendum deadline.
asserted
polling → say → deadline
“This poll and other polls should give them pause about emphasizing the referendum with a hard deadline,” he said.
St-Pierre Plamondon is set to officially become premier Wednesday when he and his cabinet are formally sworn into office.
asserted
he → give → office
The Aporia
