Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois embraces her husband, Claude Blanchet, just before speaking to party faithful on Friday. On Saturday, she told them: "Quebec is free to decide its destiny and we will liberate this energy."
Photograph by: Robert J. Galbraith, Montreal Gazette
By Kevin Dougherty - MONTREAL - Pauline Marois, seeking a strong endorsement from her Parti Québécois in a confidence vote Saturday, pledged to lead Quebec to sovereignty last night.
Marois, who became PQ leader in 2007 and fell short of defeating Liberal Premier Jean Charest in the 2008 Quebec election, told about 2,000 delegates and observers to a full party convention that she has already participated in two sovereignty referendums.
"If I am here today, it is for that reason," she said. "The next time, I want to lead the first line, I want to win."
Marois said in Quebec's 1980 and 1995 referendums, Quebecers were unfortunately "fooled by lies, broken promises, betrayals, trickery and cowardice in the federalist camp."
"These reversals could have demobilized us, but today that time is finished. Our desire for liberty is intact. Our will is fierce and we have a plan to make our dream a reality."
In 2005, the last time the PQ held a full party convention, then-leader Bernard Landry resigned on the spot, judging the 76.2-per-cent confidence vote he received inadequate.
Marois was among the candidates to succeed Landry, but lost to André Boisclair, who led the PQ into the 2007 election, when the party ran third after the Liberals and Action démocratique du Québec.
The PQ's 2005 program, proposed by Landry, called for a new referendum as soon as possible after a new PQ government was elected, in spite of polls saying Quebecers did not want another referendum.
Marois has backed off on that position and this weekend convention is expected to approve her proposals for "sovereignist governance," adopted a Quebec constitution and Quebec citizenship within Canada, seeking additional powers from Ottawa and waiting for the right time to call a new referendum.
Marois said she was glad she returned to the lead the PQ when Boisclair stepped down, after the 2007 election rout.
"In the next election, we will propose to Quebecers a government that will not back off for anything," she said. "Which will defend the needs and aspirations of Quebec without regard for what Canada wants or does not want.
"Quebec is free to decide its destiny and we will liberate this energy. We will take back all the powers essential to the development of a free people."
But she also said there was room in her vision of an independent Quebec for "the historic anglophone community and first nations."
"We believe that our culture is enriched by the dynamism that newcomers bring," Marois said. "That is why we are so fervent in defending our identity and our common values."
The weekend meeting will consider a resolution calling for extending Bill 101, Quebec's Charter of the French Language, to the CÉGEP level, meaning that French-speaking Quebecers and others who do not have the right to English primary and secondary schooling, would no longer have the choice of attending CÉGEP in English.
Marois said a new PQ government would adopt a new Bill 101, to ensure that French is Quebec's language of work, schooling and "above all the common language of all Quebecers."
Her speech was interrupted five times by standing ovations and chants of, "On veut un pays" (We want a country), and Marois responded that she too wants a country.
She recalled the recent past when the PQ seemed to be on the skids.
"Our party was in bad shape, falling apart," Marois said and some spoke of the disappearance of the PQ.
"These false prophets were wrong and today the Parti Québécois is back," she said.
Recalling that Charest was elected eight years ago, on April 14, 2003, she said his Liberal government has broken all of its promises, clearing the way for a PQ victory.
"Quebecers know they have nothing to expect from the Liberal Party," she said, noting that the PQ has already made inroads in Liberal strongholds, winning Kamouraska-Témiscoauta riding in a November by-election.
But she noted the low voter turnout recent Quebec elections, saying, "Let's bring young people back to politics.
kdougherty@montrealgazette.com