Lessons To Be Learned From Quebec Election
There was lesson to be learned in the Quebec election, make sure you listen to the people.
Pauline Marois, simply didn’t get it right. From day one she took the position that it was the mood of Quebecers that they wanted to have another look at their own sovereign nation. She was dead wrong and the Liberals under Philippe Couillard, talked about the real issues. The economy, jobs, and how much money that the province of Quebec owes and how to get out from under it.
Just as the NDP found in BC if you don’t get the mood of the people, you are doomed to failure. Christy Clark came on to the scene facing a spread in the polls that no one figured could be overcome. In Quebec Marois thought that after 18 months in office she could change the mood of the people.
It is hard to accept that the Separatist movement is dead. Their support has run around 32% for a few years and Marois gained her post as Premier on the scandals that had plagued the Liberals. That dissatisfaction propelled her into a minority government.
Not so this time, the Liberals grabbed 41% of the popular vote, enough to form a majority government.
Is the separatist movement dead in Quebec? No, but it is banished to the back of the class for the foreseeable future. 32% will get you some seats but as Marois found out, it doesn’t come with the prize.
In the coming months, the City of Prince George will begin hearing more and more about the civic election. If those seeking office can learn anything from the Quebec vote, it is that the people will have the final say.
Over the past two and half years the wishes of the people have gone largely unnoticed, unless their wishes have been met with some fearsome opposition. For those wanting to get re-elected that should be front and center of their campaign.
I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.
Comments
Thankfully the good people of Quebec read Ben’s piece from a few weeks back and came to their senses. Either that, or maybe Marois wasn’t the only person who misread the wishes of the people in Quebec ;)
Quebecers are not that stupid, they realize they can’t make it on their own. They need the money they get from the federal gov just to stay afloat. Highest taxes, biggest debt, etc
In this age of easy access to information those who take the time and make the effort can learn a lot about what is going on around them. No longer can every politician and authority get away with dazzling the public with so-called facts and figures which are often nothing but self-serving hot air and propaganda.
It’s called progress and evolution. The cat is out of the bag.
The only Quebecers who care about separatism nowadays are a segment of people in Marois’ age range. It is an old fashioned (flawed) concept whose time has come and gone.
Good comment JB. Young Quebecers just starting out on their voting paths don’t care about separating. The separatists camps get smaller and smaller as old ones pass away and new voters head off in a totally different direction.
Philippe Couillard is a neurosurgican and professor . A man who finishes what he starts . Very unlike christy who does not .
I agree that this Municipal Election coming up should have all issues on the table.
The days that these politicians could get elected just by putting their name on a ballot is past. We hopefully this time around will be demanding that they state their positions on a number of issues.
1. Holding the line on spending and taxes, and in fact reducing taxes.
2. Having all the information available for a Performing Arts Centre, published and then ensure that we get a referendum on the PAC this fall,. No more humming, and hawing, no more **we cant make a decision at this time because we don’t have all the information**
3. We need to get a full summary of all City owned property, the value of this property, and then make some decisions about selling some off. Better to sell dormant City property than to try and sell off assets like the Swimming Pools, Pine Valley Golf Course, etc;
4. We need clarification as to whether the City intends to sell the Playhouse Theatre, and use the money from the sale of this property to help fund a PAC.
5. We need an update on the Community Energy System. Where does it sit to-day, especially after the Lakeland fire. How far behind are we on our revenue projections for this facility, and will be ever show any earnings from this fiasco,.
6. What about taxes. When will the increases stop., How can low income earners, and seniors continue to pay these higher taxes, and service fee’s along with increases to car insurance, hydro, gas, house insurance, MSP, etc; etc; etc;
Lets put their feet to the fire, and get them to take a stand on some issues.
Good points Palopu. First, we have to get someone to commit to running next election, and we’re only 6 months away. I don’t see anyone too eager to jump into the race yet.
@Palopu: The one thing I will disagree on is tax levels. PG is very comparible to other Cities when it comes to taxes. If you want a City with full services, you have to pay for them. If not, as gus once said, ‘Hixon is nice’.
CBC says that in Vernon paved lanes will be one foot narrower from now on when repaving and when making new ones. Sidewalks will take a hit as well.
I guess the beans collected are less than the beans coming in. Perhaps they haven’t done a core review, the kind that saves millions.
Hello!
I understand that the people of Vernon are going on a diet so that they can safely pass people walking on one of the narrower sidewalks.
;-)
I think the dynamic in Quebec is more about the specialization of political parties drilling down on segments of the vote that has fractionalized the electorate and stole the thunder from the separatists. The PQ use to be a big tent party with the sole uniting factor being they were all separatists… as separatism becomes a secondary concern the PQ fades into the sunset and other parties addressing core ideologies are picking off the soft supporters.
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