OTTAWA — The international community should brace for another referendum on Quebec sovereignty that will finally allow the province to become a country, said Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe in a newly released letter that was distributed around the world.
The message, sent in English, French and Spanish this week from Duceppe's Parliament Hill office to 1,600 decision-makers and elected officials in the United States, Central and South America, Europe and Asia, suggests that Quebec Premier Jean Charest's Liberal government is on the verge of being replaced by Pauline Marois' Parti Quebecois and that the province is on a path that leads directly to the breakup of Canada.
"As I am sure you are aware, Quebec is a nation in its own right," Duceppe wrote in the English version of the letter, dated June 9, 2010. "There is a strong political movement to make Quebec a sovereign country, free to levy its own taxes, make all of its own laws and conduct its own international relations. This desire for freedom, which pushes millions of Quebecers toward independence, is a strong political force."
A spokeswoman for Duceppe declined to reveal the names on the mailing list for the letter, explaining only that it was distributed to business people, elected officials and senior bureaucrats, as a part of the Bloc's campaign marking the 20th anniversary of the failure of the Meech Lake constitutional agreement.
The letter, which was printed on House of Commons stationery featuring Canada's coat of arms, said the terms of the Meech Lake accord were "very reasonable," but its rejection by other Canadian provinces in 1990 caused an upsurge in support for sovereignty that nearly led to a winning referendum in 1995.
"Everything indicates that, in the next few years, the question of Quebec's sovereignty will once again be put to the people," wrote Duceppe. "At that time, the international community will be called on to recognize this new country."
A survey conducted in April found that 58 per cent of a representative sample of Quebecers feel the idea of Quebec sovereignty is settled, while 26 per cent said it's a relevant, open issue. Only 14 per cent said they believe Quebec will become an independent country within 30 years.
As well, the CROP poll said support for sovereignty among Quebecers is at approximately 40 per cent, the same level of support registered in the referendum held on May 20, 1980. The province's second referendum on sovereignty, in October 1995, was much tighter, with 49.4 per cent voting yes and 50.6 per cent voting no to the sovereignty proposal put forth by the Parti Quebecois government of the day.
The survey was conducted by the Montreal-based CROP polling firm for The Federal Idea, a Quebec think-tank founded last year to advance the study of federalism in Canada and other parts of the world.
The open discussion of a referendum contrasts with recent comments by Marois, the PQ leader, who is supporting a plan to achieve sovereignty in steps after winning an election by repatriating Quebec's constitutional powers and stopping the federal government from encroaching on its jurisdiction in areas such as education, health and family policy. Marois has made no firm commitment to holding a referendum in a mandate following an election victory.
"We said we wanted to have a referendum when we will decide to have one, and that is what you will see in our new (platform)," Marois said in Quebec City on Friday. "I didn't change my mind about this question and we will have a discussion with the members of the Parti Quebecois."
She said the decision would be made by the PQ, adding that there were regular discussions with Duceppe since the Bloc is also working toward the same goal of sovereignty.
But Duceppe's letter said that Charest, in his third mandate as premier, has low approval ratings in recent opinion polls, opening the door for a PQ majority government in the next provincial election and potentially, ideal conditions for a referendum.
"On top of this, Canadians refuse to negotiate with Quebec and reject all compromises in advance," wrote Duceppe. "Conditions are ripe to once again put the question of Quebec's political status to Quebecers . . . It is therefore worth monitoring the current movement in Quebec and Canada's response."
The most recent surveys suggest Charest's Liberals are trailing the PQ by about 10 percentage points, while among francophone voters which decide a majority of ridings in the province, the PQ was leading in the past month by 48 per cent to only 22 per cent for the Liberals, according to Leger Marketing.
But Charest's government, which has been hampered in recent months because of allegations of corruption, has until 2013 to call the next general election.
Duceppe's letter also noted that Quebec's sovereignty movement has made progress without violence, gaining support from Canada's Supreme Court which supported Quebec's right to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada following a clear referendum question and a clear majority.
He said all of Quebec's political parties have rejected the subsequent "clarity" legislation, introduced by former prime minister Jean Chretien's government, which he wrote would give the Canadian majority the right to determine what constitutes a clear question or clear majority. He added that the Clarity Act contravenes every international and democratic practice.
"Quebec's approach was clearly laid out and established in the two referendums of 1980 and 1995," he wrote. "It is stringent and beyond democratic reproach. During both referendums, the very high voter turnout and the absence of violence were in themselves remarkable."
Duceppe also wrote that Quebec is committed to protecting its own minority communities.
"Quebec has also made it clear many times that it wants to preserve and protect the rights and far-reaching institutional heritage of its anglophone community, regardless of the political status Quebecers choose in the future," he wrote. "Regarding the Aboriginal Peoples, Quebec has recognized their national existence for many years, and guarantees to give them at least as many rights as Canada gives them now. The Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois also support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."
Duceppe added that Quebec has always demonstrated a willingness to negotiate in good faith following a winning referendum, and wants a partnership to ensure the free circulation of people, goods and capital between the two countries.
"Whether from a legal, social, economic, political or geographical perspective, rarely has a nation been more prepared than Quebec to become a sovereign country."
Quebec to make another attempt at becoming sovereign country
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