If it wants to regain power one day, the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) must embark on a nationalist shift that puts protecting the French and defending Quebec’s interests with Ottawa at the center of its priorities, its recovery committee concluded Wednesday published report.
“The Quebec Liberal Party must represent a bold, inclusive and unifying nationalism,” concluded the committee, co-led by former La Presse editor André Pratt and MP Madwa-Nika Cadet, after several consultations with Liberal activists.
Francophones in the crosshairs
This shift would notably lead to measures aimed at “bringing Quebecers together.” […] all about our official language, French. As possible solutions, the committee mentioned “a profound reform of French teaching” or even “the introduction of strong incentive measures so that our companies promote the value of the French language in the workplace”.
“It is true that in Quebec today there is a legitimate concern for the future of the French language and culture,” said the committee when presenting its reflections.
The latest Léger poll, conducted for the Journal on September 27, found that only 14% of voting intentions were attributed to the Liberals, a rate that drops to a meager 5% among French-speaking voters.
Immigration control
The report’s authors also go so far as to suggest that the PLQ should become more interested in the debate over Quebec’s ability to absorb immigrants.
Therefore, activists suggested that the PLQ should ensure that Quebec controls the admission of temporary immigrants into the province.
“The establishment of a committee of independent experts responsible for accurately measuring Quebec’s capacity to absorb and integrate” was also proposed.
The authors noted that the report was primarily aimed at taking the pulse of activists ahead of the next PLQ leadership contest.
“Our task was not to develop the party’s election manifesto; This task will be the responsibility of the Political Commission and the new head,” they reminded.