Quebec should take inspiration from Alberta and Saskatchewan and legislate to protect its jurisdictions from “harmful federal initiatives,” believes Éric Duhaime, who dreams of a pan-Canadian conservative coalition.
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Pressure from those close to Éric Duhaime for the Quebec Conservative Party to adopt a more “autonomous” approach, similar to that of the Alberta government, has not fallen on deaf ears.
“There are interesting things in the Alberta Sovereignty Act and the Saskatchewan First Bill […]. We are trying to see if a similar approach would be applicable in Quebec, considering the impact such a law would have on First Nations,” explained Éric Duhaime in an interview.
Furthermore, PCQ chairman François Legault does not forgive him for brushing aside the Alberta government’s approach on the pretext that his law goes “too far”.
SIDNEY DAGENAIS /QMI agency
“He spoke out against it without even studying it in detail,” lamented the Conservative leader, who believes Quebec would benefit from following in the footsteps of other provinces and putting pressure on the central government.
“François Legault has spoken a lot about making profits in Ottawa, but he has had very few results. We don’t engage in harassment,” the former radio host continued.
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Conservative Front
To achieve concrete results, Mr. Duhaime believes we must forge “alliances with the other provinces” and become “an ally of the Conservative Party in Ottawa”. “The best approach is the conservative coast-to-coast front.”
The PCQ Chair has also spoken with Alberta Prime Minister Danielle Smith and Canada Conservative Party Chair Pierre Poilievre in recent days. Both are longtime friends.
“Canada’s conservative world is small,” he admitted, with a hearty laugh.
SIDNEY DAGENAIS /QMI agency
Without being impossible, such a pan-Canadian conservative front remains highly hypothetical. While the Saskatchewan Party is well in the saddle, so is the United Conservatives of Alberta, which has less than one in three voters in support just months before the election.
In Quebec, the PCQ has stagnated at around 10% of electoral intentions for several months and has no representation in the National Assembly. With a smile, Éric Duhaime reiterates that he always tries to impeach an MP from another party. “We’re going to have one this year,” he said.
If his crackdown efforts bear fruit, the Conservative leader is not ruling out introducing a bill to protect Quebec’s jurisdiction, particularly in the areas of energy and health.
“In the meantime, we will work out our position. We have time,” he concluded.
The Sovereignty of Alberta in a United Canada Act
If passed, it allows the Alberta government to suspend the operation of a federal law or regulation in provincial territory if it is deemed unconstitutional or harmful to Alberta.
It could be invoked in matters of natural resources, gun control, public health, education, and agriculture.
It has been heavily criticized by Aboriginal communities who believe it violates their rights under the treaties signed with Ottawa.