The leader of the Parti Québécois responded to the prime minister on Sunday in his speech to the National Council of the Parti Québécois in Saint-Hyacinthe.

“The sacrifice of being a minority who is experiencing a linguistic and cultural decline and whose political and economic interests are not adequately taken into account in Canada, if we compare that to the sacrifice of a one or two year transition, is to ask the question, they to answer.” . »

— Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois, in his speech to the National Council

In his opinion, the PQ leader had just listed a series of “sacrifices we will have to make if we remain in the Canadian federation”: loss of political weight in Quebec, decline in French public debt, preponderance of the federal public service, Quebec’s invisibility on the international stage, contempt for English Canada, poorly funded public service systems, linguistic and cultural decline.

Earlier this week, following the release of an annual budget for a sovereign Quebec by Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon and his party, Prime Minister Legault reiterated that “an independent Quebec would be viable.” But we must tell Quebecers the truth. We have to tell them that there are sacrifices to be made for a certain number of years.”

At a press conference following his speech on Sunday, Chief St-Pierre Plamondon explained his thoughts.

Without considering it impossible, he rejects the “not exactly likely” scenario of “sacrifices” that would be necessary after the Declaration of Independence. He pointed out that he was merely repeating Mr Legault’s argument.

Mr Legault, a former PQ and former sovereigntist in a hurry, carried out the same budget task in 2005 as in the first year. He has since founded his own party, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which he became leader of and brought to power in 2018.

When she was premier of Quebec, Pauline Marois, also of the PQ, spoke of “five years of turmoil” following a possible declaration of Quebec independence.

On Saturday, when she was present at the PQ General Council, she replied that “five years is a bit excessive”.

Mr St-Pierre Plamondon, in his first year budget, speaks of an economic acceleration of two or three years caused by sovereignty.

“Yes, there will be work”

The PQ leader does not see them as victims, but as an opportunity for joint work.

“I talked a lot about work in my speech. What will happen to Quebecers is that the day after our independence we will say to ourselves: We have just experienced the most beautiful political moment in our history. And I will work,” he illustrated to make his vision clear.

“Yes, there will be work. We will work to develop a country. And we go to work with pride. What François Legault invites us to do, on the other hand, is to remain in fear,” continued Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon, later affirming that “fear has always been the main argument of the federalist camp.”

He believes that the creation of a country will lead to an increase in the population who want to “work” on building this new Quebec.

“People like to volunteer their time. There will be tension, explained Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon.

“You could call it work. But I don’t see it as a sacrifice. It will happen spontaneously because pride will replace fear. »

— Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois

He reiterated that negative consequences following a declaration of independence were “not the most likely scenario.”

“The fact that there is work to be done to build a country based on our model is not experienced as a sacrifice, but as a challenge that we experience with complete pride.” I assume that we will work much harder than if we did this project would not have. And many Quebecers will say: we will be happy to try and it will be our house, according to our tastes,” concluded the leader of the Parti Québécois.

In his speech, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon cited obtaining a seat in the United Nations (UN) and establishing a national ice hockey team in Quebec among the greatest sources of pride.

In its first-year budget, the PQ identified five federal departments that will be eliminated if Quebec becomes independent: Health Canada, Immigration Canada, Canadian Heritage, Employment and Social Development Canada and Revenue Canada. Their workforce will also be reduced, but the vast majority of employees will leave the company through attrition, we are sure.