MONTREAL – In a speech at the Parti Quebecois caucus, Quebec premier Pauline Marois breathed new life into the province’s sovereignty movement.
In an election-style speech on Wednesday evening in Shawinigan, Marois said that if re-elected, her party would produce a white paper on the future of Quebec.
“We want Quebec to be a free and independent country,” she said to applause and a standing ovation.
“How I love your enthusiasm!”
The public consultation would weigh the risks of remaining in Canada or becoming an independent French-speaking country.
A discussion of this kind has not taken place since former Premier Robert Bourassa’s Commission on the Political and Constitutional Future of Quebec, which was published in 1991.
There have been two referendums that have asked Quebec voters whether the province should become an independent state.
The first took place in 1980 and 59.56 per cent voted “no” to 40.44 per cent voted “yes” and the second was in 1995, where 50.58 per cent voted “no” and 49.42 per cent voted “yes.”
Watch: Political reaction as Quebec Premier Pauline Marois breathes new life into sovereignty movement
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