Pauline Marois’ surprise announcement Tuesday that her party is preparing a strategy to push sovereignty has raised eyebrows at the National Assembly.
The Liberal opposition accuses Marois of secretly using taxpayer money to finance her project.
“We want to know what it cost to do this plan, who was involved in this plan, all information we have the right to have,” says Liberal House leader Robert Dutil.
The Liberals say the last time the PQ was in power, it spent close to $100 million dollars trying to reach its goal of independence. This newest strategy, Marois says, will be presented at the PQ’s convention in Drummondville on February 9th. About 2,000 PQ members will vote on the idea of launching a vast advertising campaign to sell the merits of sovereignty.
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Gérard Deltell from the Coalition Avenir Quebec emphasizes two out of three Quebecers did not vote for the Parti Québécois at the last election. “When she wants to spend public money for sovereignty, well that’s not her mandate. You have to work for all people, not only for the radical wing of your own party and that’s exactly what Mme Marois is doing,” Deltell says.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Alexandre Cloutier explains the money for the ad campaign won’t come from taxpayers; rather it will come directly from party members.
“There is the political party and then there is the government of Quebec.”
Cloutier adds the government is working on “sovereignist governance” or the increase of provincial powers in files such as the environment, the gun registry and employment insurance.
“We want more powers for Quebec and we will stand up to Ottawa,” says Cloutier.
Faced with the prospect of a PQ ad campaign, the Liberals say they aren’t ruling out a counter-offensive.
“We will see what we will do,” says Dutil. “Clearly we are not for the sovereignty of Quebec, we are federalists.”
Premier Marois will only say the “strategy” she’ll unveil will focus on selling the advantages of sovereignty.
The Premier is currently in Europe where she is scheduled to meet with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond to discuss how Scotland plans on achieving its independence.
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