Libman: PQ swatting at spies and scare tactics

The French word “zizanie” — translated as havoc, discord, dissension or friction — has a percussive ring to it. Several events of the past week clearly illustrate how this word most accurately reflects what should be expected if the separatist Parti Québécois wins the October election. 

For starters, Montreal is competing against Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver to house the international headquarters of the new multinational Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), after Canada was chosen as the host nation. This would be an economic coup for our city, employing thousands. 

Last week, La Presse reported Toronto representatives had raised the spectre of another sovereignty referendum promised by the PQ, if elected. This of course drew ire from Quebec nationalists and some politicians as a fear campaign to undermine Montreal’s bid. 

Unfortunately, though, this is fair game and reality. 

PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamandon has asserted, without providing proof, that the federal government is spying on the Quebec separatist movement. Francis Vachon

Instability engendered by a sovereignty referendum to break Quebec away from Canada is not to be taken lightly and undeniably works against our economic interests. Do they believe this issue has no impact? Is the outrage blindness, or just another attempt to camouflage the truth? 

It was also rich to hear Economy Minister Bernard Drainville selling Montreal by saying: “We’re the most trilingual city in Canada” when his government has done everything it can to quash the sound of English, as well as attacking Montreal’s English universities.

This week also saw a major dust-up after federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser, citing the Clarity Act, said the federal government would have a role to play in future discussions of independence, whether in Alberta or Quebec. The act requires a “clear” referendum question and a “clear majority” to trigger negotiations on independence. Both previous Quebec referendums posed convoluted questions — seemingly calculated to steer voter concerns by implying sovereignty would go hand in hand with automatic economic association with Canada. 

Quebec politicians reacted petulantly, unanimously adopting a motion in the National Assembly pushed by PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon affirming that Quebecers alone will decide their future, and 50 per cent plus one is enough to break up the country. Apparently, Canada’s House of Commons, with almost a quarter of its MPs from Quebec, has no stake in the matter.

Also, PSPP says he has reason to believe — without proof — the federal government is spying on the Quebec separatist movement. The PQ leader was answering questions about the Clarity Act and the death of former PQ minister Claude Morin, who provided information to the RCMP in the 1970s. PSPP took the bait when asked if he thinks Ottawa is spying on the party today. Unable to resist any opportunity to demonize the federal government, he said: “Historically, the federal government has spied and made a lot of illegal and unethical moves to have surveillance over the PQ.” 

Many nationalists, including Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, support his thesis.

Conveniently not mentioned, however, is the political violence by separatist militants in the ’60s and the October crisis of 1970. With the independence movement building at the time — and the creation of a party bent on breaking up the country — one would expect federal authorities to be wary and try to gather information.

To jump to that conclusion now — invoking espionage — is ludicrous. To be sure, researching political opponents is common practice. You can bet PQ staffers have been digging through the social media histories of Charles Milliard and Christine Fréchette, their chief rivals, seeking dirt for the coming campaign. 

Tied in the polls with the Liberals overall, the PQ still is on track to win the election due to the party’s lead among francophone voters, and with other parties splitting the remaining vote. In stark contrast to the serious and competent star-power the Liberals are lining up as candidates, the “zizania” that inevitably continues to swirl around the PQ may ultimately compel voters to think twice.  

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Robert Libman, Special to the Montreal Gazette

Robert Libman is an architect and planning consultant who has served as Equality Party leader and MNA, mayor of Côte-St-Luc and a member of the Montreal executive committee.

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