Sovereignty is not a ‘magic wand,’ says Pablo Rodriguez

With just over a year to go before the next election, a showdown between the Parti Québécois (PQ) and the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) is already looming on the horizon, with sovereignty at the heart of the debate. Liberal leader Pablo Rodriguez wants to tackle the growing independence movement among young people.

“The PQ often presents sovereignty as if it were a magic wand, a solution to everything,” the Liberal leader said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

“But separating won’t solve the housing shortage. Separating won’t make it easier for our young people to buy their first home. Sovereignty won’t make Donald Trump or inflation disappear, and it won’t make us feel the effects of climate change any less,” Pablo Rodriguez said.

The Liberal leader was keen to make a public statement after the publication of an article in La Presse indicating a rise in sovereignty sentiment among young people. Data from a CROP poll, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press, shows that 56 per cent of 18-34 year olds are in favor of Quebec sovereignty.

However, the same poll indicates that only 47 per cent of young people would vote Yes in a referendum. The survey was conducted in July and August among 1,000 respondents.

François Legault, “the PQ’s objective ally”

But how can this rise be stopped? Quebecers must first dismiss the CAQ government, says the federalist leader.

“François Legault is somewhat of an objective ally of the PQ in that he always blames Canada and spends his time demonizing Canada rather than finding solutions,” he says.

However, Pablo Rodriguez avoids blaming the federal Liberal Party—his former political party—for the rise of independence, even though it is sharply criticized by the PQ and the CAQ for its centralization, its policies encroaching on provincial jurisdictions, and the fact that it is not doing enough on immigration.

“The fact that we have ceased to be a leader within Canada is a problem because, in my view, Quebec always comes out on top when it takes on a leadership role within Canada rather than following the crowd, and that’s not what we’ve seen under the CAQ government,” says the former federal minister under Justin Trudeau.

Apart from reiterating his leadership proposal to double the tax credit for first-time home buyers, Pablo Rodriguez had few tangible ideas to put forward during the interview to appeal to young people and counter the rise of separatism.

“There are a series of measures that we will propose,” he assured.

The Liberal leader meets with young activists from his party at the Youth Commission convention held this weekend in Gatineau.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews