The Bloc Québécois on Saturday, during its General Council, presented a proposal aimed at redefining the party’s mission and which will be put to a vote of delegates at the National Training Congress in May 2023.
Posted at 6:35 pm
with the name We, QuebecersThe thirty-page document sets out the various principles presented by Block and will be discussed, revised and approved at the conference to turn it into a new program of political training.
According to Bloc Québécois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, the proposal is a breath of fresh air for the party while reaffirming its values regarding Quebec’s economic development.
“There is a whole lot of space left for activists within the framework of the principles we have defined,” the leader explained in an interview with The Canadian Press on the sidelines of the council. […] It was the first time we had complete freedom to define, state and update our identity, our intentions and our vision, and we did it by trying to be innovative.
It was also the first time Black had engaged in such an exercise, and Mr. Blanchett said he was “extraordinarily pleased” with how it went, adding that he was “very involved” in the writing process.
Sovereignty and the Environment
The proposal brings together issues that are central to the party, such as secularism, relations with indigenous people, language issues and the environment, among others.
Mr. Blanchett said in an interview that he wanted to “bring forward the debate on sovereignty,” which he described as “liberal, but in French” immigration, as well as an environmental discourse that is “incompatible with Canada.” . The proposal aims to “refresh” independent sentiments while keeping pace with Quebecers’ rhythms.
I don’t want people pretending that tomorrow morning, 60% of Quebecers will vote “yes” in the referendum; This is wrong. By listening and discussing them we return to the magic number of 50% and above.
Yves-Francois Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois
When asked about the reconciliation between the environmental cause and wealth creation, the party leader argued that Quebec should leverage its power as a global player by asserting itself as a country in its own right.
“The fight against climate change is a global debate; to participate in the global debate, you have to be a country, he said. […] It is very difficult for a province and even more so within a party to establish real international relations.”
He also declared that Canada was “one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to oil” and pointed out contradictions within the federal government, particularly regarding the financing of territories for exploitation in the North Atlantic.
Mr. Blanchett concluded by recalling the dysfunctional relationship between Aboriginal people and the federal government, which, he said, merely “buys peace with a cheque” without giving them a real right to speak.
“It is the Bloc Québécois who go further in recognizing the right of aboriginal nations to self-determination,” he summed up.
The General Council, held at the Granby Convention Center in Estrie, brought together party deputies, riding presidents, the youth forum and national office members. During the day, the Bloc Québécois also approved the rules for the next national convention.
This article was produced with financial support from Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News.
