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The Gazette (Montreal)
June 8, 2005 Wednesday
Final Edition
PQ should reach out - Duceppe: New Quebecers must be embraced, he
says
by ELIZABETH THOMPSON, The Gazette
The Parti Quebecois should do more to reach out to new Quebecers and
other members of cultural communities, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles
Duceppe said yesterday.
While Duceppe insists he has not yet decided to seek the
PQ leadership left vacant Saturday by Bernard Landry's abrupt
resignation, yesterday he staked out his first policy position.
Responding to questions by reporters, Duceppe said the next PQ leader
will have to reach out to Quebecers of various ethnic backgrounds.
"We can all do better," Duceppe replied when asked whether the PQ
could do more to reach out to new Quebecers. "We can all do better
and the Liberal party and the ADQ as well. It is a question that is
beyond political parties. It touches political parties and it touches
all of our institutions."
For example, Duceppe said both Quebec and Canada have to address the
"unacceptable" unemployment rate in the black community.
"I think it is part of the challenge of every modern society where
there are people who have come from elsewhere. ... It is part of the
Quebec to be built."
Under Duceppe, the Bloc has invested a lot of time and effort in
recent years in trying to garner support for the party among new
Quebecers and cultural communities - a steadily growing percentage of
Quebec's population and a group that in the past often gravitated to
federalist parties.
For example, Bloc MPs and candidates have taken up the cause of the
Chinese community seeking redress for the head tax imposed on Chinese
immigrants decades ago, introduced motions in Parliament condemning
the Armenian genocide and helped domestic workers from the
Philippines address problems with their working conditions.
In his speeches, Duceppe has reached out to "Quebecers from
immigration," making it clear they are included in his definition of
a Quebecer.
Those efforts began to bear fruit in the last election with the Bloc
posting strong showings in a number of Montreal ridings that had been
considered safe for the Liberals and succeeding in electing
candidates from visible minorities such as Cameroon-born actor Maka
Kotto.
With another federal election looming, the Bloc has been reaching out
even more and targetting highly multicultural Montreal area ridings.
It has launched a campaign entitled "Quebecers without exception,"
and at the party's general council meeting May 28, Duceppe called on
his troops to get more Bloc MPs from cultural communities elected.
As he weighs his options, Duceppe faces a difficult choice.
If he runs, there is no guarantee he will win. Among Quebecers, he
outpolls his nearest rival, Pauline Marois by nearly two to one. But
Marois has deeper roots in the PQ and has had time to build a
campaign machine among the party members who will choose the next
leader.
If he stays, however, Duceppe will be weakened. Liberals already have
said that after years of criticizing the Liberal government, Duceppe
now has the chance to show whether he can form a government himself.
If he remains with the Bloc, his opponents will say he doesn't have
the "guts" to run a government.
Yesterday, however, Duceppe dismissed the comments.
"When you are eager for an adversary to go, it is usually because
you're afraid of the adversary."
Duceppe said he is talking with a lot of people in a bid to make a
decision including Lucien Bouchard, a founder of the Bloc who made
the jump to Quebec City to become premier and leader of the PQ.
"When I said I was going to consult people, it is normal for me to
talk to people," he joked. "I'm not going to consult myself."
Duceppe admitted he has also talked with some PQ MNAs.
Today, Duceppe will discuss his future with his caucus - a step he
has said is key to making a decision.
June 8, 2005 Wednesday
Final Edition
PQ should reach out - Duceppe: New Quebecers must be embraced, he
says
by ELIZABETH THOMPSON, The Gazette
The Parti Quebecois should do more to reach out to new Quebecers and
other members of cultural communities, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles
Duceppe said yesterday.
While Duceppe insists he has not yet decided to seek the
PQ leadership left vacant Saturday by Bernard Landry's abrupt
resignation, yesterday he staked out his first policy position.
Responding to questions by reporters, Duceppe said the next PQ leader
will have to reach out to Quebecers of various ethnic backgrounds.
"We can all do better," Duceppe replied when asked whether the PQ
could do more to reach out to new Quebecers. "We can all do better
and the Liberal party and the ADQ as well. It is a question that is
beyond political parties. It touches political parties and it touches
all of our institutions."
For example, Duceppe said both Quebec and Canada have to address the
"unacceptable" unemployment rate in the black community.
"I think it is part of the challenge of every modern society where
there are people who have come from elsewhere. ... It is part of the
Quebec to be built."
Under Duceppe, the Bloc has invested a lot of time and effort in
recent years in trying to garner support for the party among new
Quebecers and cultural communities - a steadily growing percentage of
Quebec's population and a group that in the past often gravitated to
federalist parties.
For example, Bloc MPs and candidates have taken up the cause of the
Chinese community seeking redress for the head tax imposed on Chinese
immigrants decades ago, introduced motions in Parliament condemning
the Armenian genocide and helped domestic workers from the
Philippines address problems with their working conditions.
In his speeches, Duceppe has reached out to "Quebecers from
immigration," making it clear they are included in his definition of
a Quebecer.
Those efforts began to bear fruit in the last election with the Bloc
posting strong showings in a number of Montreal ridings that had been
considered safe for the Liberals and succeeding in electing
candidates from visible minorities such as Cameroon-born actor Maka
Kotto.
With another federal election looming, the Bloc has been reaching out
even more and targetting highly multicultural Montreal area ridings.
It has launched a campaign entitled "Quebecers without exception,"
and at the party's general council meeting May 28, Duceppe called on
his troops to get more Bloc MPs from cultural communities elected.
As he weighs his options, Duceppe faces a difficult choice.
If he runs, there is no guarantee he will win. Among Quebecers, he
outpolls his nearest rival, Pauline Marois by nearly two to one. But
Marois has deeper roots in the PQ and has had time to build a
campaign machine among the party members who will choose the next
leader.
If he stays, however, Duceppe will be weakened. Liberals already have
said that after years of criticizing the Liberal government, Duceppe
now has the chance to show whether he can form a government himself.
If he remains with the Bloc, his opponents will say he doesn't have
the "guts" to run a government.
Yesterday, however, Duceppe dismissed the comments.
"When you are eager for an adversary to go, it is usually because
you're afraid of the adversary."
Duceppe said he is talking with a lot of people in a bid to make a
decision including Lucien Bouchard, a founder of the Bloc who made
the jump to Quebec City to become premier and leader of the PQ.
"When I said I was going to consult people, it is normal for me to
talk to people," he joked. "I'm not going to consult myself."
Duceppe admitted he has also talked with some PQ MNAs.
Today, Duceppe will discuss his future with his caucus - a step he
has said is key to making a decision.