Increasing anglo angst as election call draws near

MONTREAL – As the possibility of an election grows, and the latest polls showing the PQ at 40 per cent,  Montreal’s English-speaking community is starting to feel a renewed sense of political angst.

NDG business owner Chris Coughlin – who a bilingual Montrealer – never fathomed moving out of his hometown.

But, with the possibility of a majority PQ  government, and Pauline Marois’ talk of  another referendum, Coughlin says he is starting to rethink life in Montreal.

“I have staff who have already moved to Toronto, friends who have moved to Toronto, family that are talking about moving,” he says.

Coughlin and his wife lived through the 1995 referendum and have no desire to live through another one.

Over in Cote Saint-Luc, Mayor Anthony Housefather says he too has noticed an increased level of concern and increased talk of leaving the province.

“It’s a subject of conversation,” says Housefather. “It’s a real danger for our community if they were were to win a majority government.”

But, not everyone is feeling the stress of the political climate.

Flora-Lee Wagner, a Montreal artist, has lived through the roller coaster ride of Quebec’s political ups and downs, including the last two referendums.

She didn’t move then and she says nothing will make her move now.