Tuesday, Pierre Poilievre visits Prime Minister François Legault. This is their first meeting since they became leader of Canada’s Conservative Party in September 2022. In short, you’re in no hurry when it comes to doing business in the “Belle Province”…
However, the persistent rumors about a possible federal election in 2024 push him into the background. So it’s time for him to be seen in Quebec in search of potential support.
Knowing that many Quebecers are put off by his rugged personality, libertarian ideas and obsessive demonization of Justin Trudeau, who still enjoys some popularity in Quebec, his visit is no stranger either.
His informal meeting that evening with Éric Duhaime, leader of the Quebec Conservative Party, promises to be very different. The real chemistry here lies between the two men – old comrades from the far right.
Mandatory passage
The fact is that unlike Eric Duhaime, who doesn’t have the slightest seat, Prime Minister Legault, who has his second strong mandate, is the real mandatory post for Pierre Poilievre.
Polite images aside, the reality is that, unlike his mentor Stephen Harper, Pierre Poilievre has so far shown himself rather indifferent to Quebec’s political dynamics, barring a spectacular turnaround.
More on François Legault’s positioning on secularism, immigration and the decline of French. Even Pierre Poilievre’s enthusiastic support of the so-called Freedom Convoy did nothing to bring them closer together.
It’s hard to forget the string of “Fuck Trudeau” and “Fuck Legault” posters put up during this long illegal occupation of Ottawa.
All this will not stop the two men from being smiling and polite. After all, politeness has its rights. Even with a slightly uncomfortable neighbor.
Despite appearances, this visit still has the merit of highlighting an important element of Quebec politics. Either Mr. Legault currently has no natural allies at the federal level.
Without allies
Aside from issues of economic development, his recognition of the fragility of the French and their exchanges “for you and for you”, Justin Trudeau contrasts with Mr Legault in many ways. First to secularism and immigration.
Even François Legault’s advice to Quebecers not to vote for Mr. Trudeau’s Liberals did little to heat up the atmosphere noticeably in the last federal election.
As for the leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh, he actually lives on a different political planet from that of the CAQ. And block leader Yves-François Blanchet?
He had supported the CAQ since taking power in 2018. However, the rise of the Parti Québécois in the polls under Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has just led to the reconciliation of the two sovereign “fraternal” parties.
In the Quebec election of 2026, with Mr. Legault now himself naming the PQ as his main opponent, one thing is certain. The PQ expects support for the bloc and its electoral machinery to be unwavering.
For François Legault, whose non-sovereign nationalism still appeals to many Francophones, the lack of strong allies at the federal level is not a detail.
This absence risks further weakening Quebec’s balance of power within the federation. Which was pretty weak long before the CAQ.
