Un candidat péquiste explique sa défaite

Independence as an achievable objective

by JIM DUFF

The Parti Québécois victory in Tuesday’s election was bittersweet. Pauline Marois becomes Quebec’s first woman premier but the PQ must prepare for the inevitable next election without the services of some of the candidates it was counting on.

One of the PQ’s most effective communicators, André Bouthillier, went down to defeat in Soulanges after polls had placed him in the lead. In his comments following the defeat, Bouthillier has this to say:

“We lost because of the Anglo vote. We must work harder to gain the confidence of our Anglo friends. I do not criticize the anglophones. We must find a way to work better together for a great country.”

Earlier in the campaign, Bouthillier spent an hour talking about his politics and what drives him, one of the generation of successful businesspeople and professionals poised to take control of the Parti Québecois and restart the referendum process. With support for independence now polling at under 30 percent, they’re in no hurry; Quebec’s finances are their immediate priority.

Bouthillier lived in Verdun’s Île des Soeurs for 26 years, but he made a decision to return to his roots by looking for a house in the riding. He’s spent the past six months absorbing local issues. “Most of my institutional clients are municipalities,” he says. “St. Lazare, for example — it has a problem with expansion while protecting the equestrian sectors. The 14 municipalities have a drinking water problem.” The biggest challenge? “ What are we going to do to ensure services for those who require them?”

He says he’s not big on promises

— Quebec’s deficit is too high for that. He sees the need for good jobs in the region and adequately trained employees to fill them — but also sees government involvement limited to creating the right conditions for the private sector. He says he could promise another French high school for the region, another hospital, but he’s a businessman; “We set reachable objectives.” The Soulanges Canal? Forget about reopening it. Instead, turn it into a facility for rowing, canoeing and kayaking. Develop partnerships, such as tourism in St. Zotique. Consult before decisions are taken so you don’t have embarrassments such as the Marcil Highway 30 bridge. The logistics hub announced by the Liberals? “Good idea, but what industries are we looking to locate there? Not just warehouses.

“We may be on the cusp of a worldwide food crisis,” he continues. “In the U.S. food prices are rising. Prices here will go up. We’ll need our farmland and that is why I say serious reflection is needed. Are we going to sacrifice our agricultural land for warehouses?”

On secession: As a businessman, he does business in the U.S. and Ontario. A péquiste, he has as many anglo federalist friends as he does franco sovereignists. He describes himself as a moderating force within the party and everyone knows it. “I’ve managed a lot of crises and I know the best way to prevent crises is through moderation. That’s smart.”

He’s seen extremism and racism, such as that he witnessed handling the Oka Crisis and wants none of it. He doesn’t see Quebec sovereignty as a divorce between English Canada and Quebec. “The day after a referendum I’ll continue to do business with Ontario.”

So why separate? Bouthillier’s concern is for Quebec’s diminishing weight within the Canadian confederation. “For us, we’re one of the two founding nations.” Stephen Harper has shown it doesn’t matter how Quebec votes and Jean Charest has done nothing to repatriate powers as Quebec loses ground on the ROC. “We’ll become a province like the others.”

Even with a PQ majority, he sees no point in rushing into a referendum in the first term Before Quebec can even consider separating, it has to fix itself, as René Lévesque and the PQ did in 1976. “Our energy will be concentrated on managing the government in a transparent fashion, without corruption. I’m a businessman. I don’t need a brown envelope to live.”

The first couple of years post-referendum won’t be easy. “It’s like buying a house.” But Bouthillier’s style is to discuss it without emotion or fear.“I’m 60 years old, I have no personal interest in getting into politics, I don’t need the cameras. It sounds like a cliché, but I really am there to help people, whatever their politics.”