File photo: Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe (left) and Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois held a joint news conference wrapping up a meeting of their two caucuses at Hotel Delta on January 21st 2009.



File photo: Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe (left) and Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois held a joint news conference wrapping up a meeting of their two caucuses at Hotel Delta on January 21st 2009.
Photograph by: MARIE-FRANCE COALLIER, The Gazette
The Parti Québécois faces a tough challenge selling its new plan to revive sovereignist goals beyond the PQ’s rank and file, a new public opinion poll indicates.
Three-quarters of those polled said Quebec’s chances of separating one day are weak or non-existent, the survey by the Angus Reid polling firm and La Presse revealed.
The poll comes on the heels of the PQ’s announcement Sunday of a four-point plan to push for more powers for Quebec and more autonomy within the Canadian federation.
A majority of Quebecers in the poll do want some kind of change from the status quo, and support the province gaining more autonomy or attaining outright sovereignty.
Some highlights of the poll, which surveyed 805 Quebecers June 4 and 5:
- 32 per cent said Quebec has enough autonomy and should remain in Canada.
- 30 per cent said Quebec needs more autonomy, but should remain in Canada.
- 28 per cent said Quebec should become a separate and independent country.
Most Quebecers are not confident that sovereignty will become a reality;
- 47 per cent it’s very unlikely.
- 27 per cent it’s not likely at all.
- 15 per cent said it’s fairly likely.
- 5 per cent said it’s quite likely
- 6 per cent were uncertain.
Clear support for sovereignty was mixed in the poll, with 40 per cent believing that “Quebec should obtain its sovereignty after making a new formal offer to Canada on a political and economic alliance." Forty-one per cent were opposed to that idea.
When respondents were asked directly if “Quebec should be a separate country from Canada,” 54 per cent said no while 34 per cent said yes.
Jaideep Mukerji, an Angus Reid vice-president, is quoted in La Presse saying that PQ leader “Pauline Marois’ strategy seems sound” because she could attract voters who, while committed to staying in Canada, want more autonomy for Quebec.
He noted that 80 per of cent of respondents said there was at least one area where Quebec should attain more autonomy. Culture (34 per cent), the economy (33 per cent) fiscal policy (26 per cent) are the areas where those in poll said Quebec needs more powers to decide matters for itself.