Because of his opposition to Bill 21 and his harsh criticism of the Parti Québécois, Émile Bilodeau was seen by some as not being unifying enough and kept away from reporters on the traditional media day before the National Day show on the Plains of Abraham.
Except for him, all the artists who will take part in the show on Friday evening were available to answer questions from the press.
Apparently the organizers didn’t want him to stoke the fires of a controversy that took on political proportions when the PQ decided not to send representatives to the Plains.
Still posing for the group photo on stage, Émile Bilodeau had fun handing everyone “Bonne Saint-Jean”.
The group Vulgaires Machins will open the ball in the first part on Friday before the big show of the National Day. Photo Stevens LeBlanc/Le Journal de Quebec
“He needs support”
Behind the scenes, his colleagues showed him their support.
“That’s for sure as a friend [d’Émile]”It sucks to see all this bashing,” said Kanen, Innu vocalist of Uashat mak Mani-utenam. “I think he needs the support and validation of his friends more than ever.”
“I salute Émile,” said Pierre Kwenders, saluting his genius for putting together this incredible show with artists representing Quebec yesterday, today and beyond.”
No to politicization
However, other artists argued that politics had no place on National Day.
“A party cannot be political,” said 2023 spokeswoman Léane Labrèche-Dor, who will read the patriotic speech on Friday night.
Louis-Jean Cormier also advocates a non-political celebration. “I don’t like that we see the national day as a political platform. I want to celebrate with everyone.
An unusual party
The President of the National Movement of Quebecers (MNQ), Frédéric Lapointe, is not so categorical.
“It’s important to get together casually most of the time and there are times when you need to know how to get together even when the hour is serious. In addition to the festive character of our national holiday, it is also the staging of our unity. On a political level, this is not trivial,” he argued.
However, he recognized that the MNQ will learn lessons from this tumultuous episode.
“We understand that Quebecers love National Day. For them it is symbolically important. Everyone wants to relate to it, but not everyone agrees on how. These are discussions that have taken place and will take place. Right now is not the time to talk loud in the kitchen, it is the time to open presents.”