The Coalition Avenir Québec has always acknowledged that it is made up of federalists and sovereignists, but its elected officials have consistently avoided publicly expressing their personal views on a potential referendum.
François Legault’s famous statement that “Quebecers don’t want a referendum” has often been echoed by other CAQ members. Christine Fréchette still uses it today to avoid saying whether she would vote “yes” or “no” in such a referendum.
The CAQ’s First Openly Sovereignist
As discussions regarding the referendum promised by the Parti Québécois intensify as the next election approaches, Minister of Culture and Communications Mathieu Lacombe has taken a stand on the issue. He stated on Tuesday that the majority of Quebecers agree that the timing is not right for a referendum. Mr. Lacombe did, however, acknowledge that if a referendum were to take place, he would vote for independence.
“I think it’s pretty clear that I would be in the ‘yes’ camp, as would some of my colleagues.”
Naturally, the Liberal Party jumped at the chance to remind everyone that it is the “only true federalist party” on Quebec’s political scene. QLP MP André Fortin simply posted Mathieu Lacombe’s statement on his social media with the short phrase “note to voters in Papineau,” the minister’s riding. This riding, located in the Outaouais region, is known for being predominantly federalist.
A self-proclaimed federalist, too
It was his colleague, Labor Minister Jean Boulet, who kicked off the CAQ members’ statements on a potential referendum. Pressed by Liberal MP Marc Tanguay, he confirmed, after repeating the same premise regarding Quebecers’ appetite for a referendum, that he would be in the “no” camp if a referendum were ever held.
On Wednesday morning, CAQ members of the National Assembly—likely warned by their leader not to fall into this trap again—did not repeat their statements. These two remarks, however, could stick to the party, which will no longer be able to claim to be as neutral as it once was on the referendum issue.