Federalism in Quebec
| Lieutenant Governor |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Premier | ||
| Opposition Leader | ||
| Speaker of the Assembly | ||
| Legislature | ||
| Political parties | ||
| Elections | ||
| Current issues | ||
| Other Canadian politics | ||
In Quebec, federalists, in regard to the future of the Quebec people, defend the concept of Quebec remaining within Canada, as opposed to Quebec sovereigntists, proponents of Quebec independence (most often, but not for all followers, along with an economic union with Canada similar to the European Union).
Ideological branches
While the usual denomination for all followers is simply federalist, two main branches can be sketched out.
Federalist nationalism
Federalist nationalists defend the concept of Quebec remaining within Canada, while pursuing greater autonomy and national recognition for Quebec within the Canadian federation. The Union Nationale under Maurice Duplessis (1930s to 1950s) was nationalist without explicitly calling for independence, prior to the arrival of Daniel Johnson Sr. as leader. The Parti libéral du Québec was a major party of federalist nationalism throughout the Lesage and Bourassa eras (1960s to 1990s). However, since the failures of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords, and the 1995 Quebec referendum on independence, the party has no defining plan for official national recognition. Notable followers of this ideology are Robert Bourassa, Jean Lesage and Brian Mulroney.
Recently, the Université de Montréal political philosopher Charles Blattberg has put forward a series of arguments aimed at integrating Québécois nationalism within a renewed Canadian federalism, one that recognizes Canada's multi-national character. See his Shall We Dance? A Patriotic Politics for Canada, Montreal and Kingston: McGill Queen's University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-7735-2547-5. Translation: Et si nous dansions? Pour une politique du bien commun au Canada, Montreal: Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal, 2004. ISBN 2-7606-1948-6.
"Status-quo" federalists
"Status-quo" federalists, or "Trudeau federalists" as some consider them, defend Quebec remaining within Canada and keeping the status quo regarding constitutional recognition and provincial powers in areas like taxation, health care, and immigration. They also defend the Canadian federal government assuming the major role in the democracy, with occasional encroachment on Quebec and provincial powers. Some do not recognize the national status of Quebec, formally or informally. The Equality Party of Quebec, which was a large Anglophone protest party in the late 1980s and early 1990s before losing its representation to the Quebec Liberals, also adheres more or less to this ideology.
Notable Trudeau federalists are Pierre Trudeau, from whom the term is inspired, Jean Chrétien and Stéphane Dion. A noted medium for the ideology was the political magazine Cité Libre.
Federalist parties
- Quebec Liberal Party - the governing party of Quebec, no longer linked to the Liberal Party of Canada
- Parti Vert du Québec - Green Party (linked to the Green Party of Canada)
- Action Démocratique du Québec (ADQ) - Although not officially federalist, this former sovereigntist party now advocates a "solution" based on Quebec's "autonomy within Canada". sort of a medium between continued federalism and the separation of Quebec. Not linked to any federal party, however most members and ADQ leader Mario Dumont support the ideologically similar Conservative Party of Canada.
- Bloc Pot - An "anti-prohibitionist" party, which supports the legalization of marijuana. Not officially linked to the Marijuana Party of Canada, but supportive.
Since the split between the Nouveau Parti démocratique du Québec and the federal New Democratic Party, there has not been a major left-wing federalist political party in Quebec, though a sizeable minority of leftists are federalists, as are most centrists and rightists. The issue of sovereignty vs. Confederation tends to go beyond the political spectrum.