Sovereignty, protecting the environment & connecting with youth: interview with Québec solidaire

Polls are projecting a tight battle for second place in the Oct. 3 Quebec election.

Québec solidaire is in the thick of that fight to become the official Opposition. The team at QS answered CityNews’ questions below via email.

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois’s Québec solidaire has consistently polled in second place in this election campaign. However since the debates, the PQ leader has also made his way up. It’s looking like a tight race. Do you fear this may split the vote come Oct. 3?

When we look at the big picture, tendencies are clear. Since its foundation, Québec solidaire hasn’t stopped growing. We surprised a lot of people in 2018 when we elected 10 MNAs and I am confident we will do the same this time.

This split could give the CAQ more power. Could we see a coalition between the PQ and Québec solidaire?

Our members voted on this specific issue in 2017. The answer was no then and is still the same today.

MORE ON QS CAMPAIGN:

• Quebec solidaire’s Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois gaining popularity, eyeing official opposition status
• Quebec election: Liberals, CAQ criticize Quebec solidaire’s wealth tax proposal
• Québec solidaire’s Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash works to rally youth vote

GND has said this is a race between Québec solidaire and the CAQ, but that’s not what the most recent polls suggest – so what did he mean by that?

The polls show that Québec solidaire is the alternative to the CAQ and it is becoming increasingly clear to Quebecers that we are the true opposition to François Legault.

We heard François Legault coming after GND during the debates – saying your policies are like “magic and you’re living in wonderland.” It’s not the first time we hear words like these by critics to describe your policies. What do you say to those who say your ideas are not realistic?

In 2022, what is unrealistic is having basically no environmental plan like the CAQ. Québec solidaire is the only political party that is willing to follow science and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent. And we have the best, most credible plan to make it happen.

You have half a billion dollars in your budget reserved for sovereignty and you say if elected you would call a referendum in your first mandate. But we keep hearing that sovereignty is no longer an issue in Quebec, that it’s not a popular idea among the young generation. You say you are the voice of the future – do you think sovereignty is a priority?

We want to create the greenest country in the world and to achieve that objective, we need sovereignty. We plan to do this working nation to nation with the Indigenous people. We believe it’s an objective that Quebecers can get behind.

You are clearly connecting with young voters and courting their votes – especially with your presence on TikTok and other social media platforms – but are you able to connect with the older generation? How will you bridge that gap?

In order to implement the changes we need to see, all generations need to work hand in hand. This election, we have talked about several subjects that are dear to the older generation, like health and the planet they will bequeath to their children and grandchildren.

ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WITH PARTY LEADERS:

• Civic rights, Bill 96 & courting Anglo voters: one-on-one with Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime
• Pursuing anglo votes, response to Bill 96 & fighting for 2nd: one-on-one with Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade
• Looking to give Montrealers voices at National Assembly: one-on-one with Bloc Montréal Leader Balarama Holness

Your orange tax has been criticized, saying it will hurt the middle class. What do you say to Quebecers who feel a vote for Québec solidaire will hurt their wallet at a time when they’re struggling to keep up with the rising cost of life?

We believe that the five per cent that are wealthiest can contribute a little bit more for the wellbeing of our public services. We need this money to fix the problems in our health system and to make the ecological transition. We are asking the 5 per cent to contribute a little bit more so that the 100 per cent can reap the benefits.

Many Anglophones are upset about Bill 96. We’re seeing parties courting the anglo vote with their stance on this issue. Québec solidaire voted in favor of it. What do you say to anglophones who say your party would not defend their interests?

There are things in this bill that are important steps in the right direction, with francization in the workplace for example. However, we have been clear on one thing: a Québec solidaire government would keep what is good in this bill and fix what needs to be fixed. We are talking here about the six months given to immigrants to learn French and the protection of native languages.

We also hear GND say your party is prioritizing inclusion, diversity and defending the rights of immigrants. But how does voting in favor of Bill 96, giving immigrants only six months to learn French, defend their interests?

We have said it time and again, Québec solidaire will change Bill 96 to remove the obligation to learn French in six months. That makes no sense to us.

CityNews requested interviews with all main party leaders during this Election Campaign. Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) leader François Legault declined to answer our questions by email, in a call, or in person. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon also declined. Watch our interviews with both the Liberal and Conservative party leaders linked above.