In my last texts, I commented on the situation in Quebec, a nation certainly always attached to the values inherited from the Quiet Revolution, but currently devoid of the fervor that had accompanied their birth and their defense. None of these values (except perhaps the French language) is now the subject of a large national mobilization. We no longer see the old collective ardor in combat. As if these values were now held for acquired.
How to wake the fervor? There is no simple answer. What seems assured, however, is that crisis conjunctures often arouse a great excitement and cause a strong reaction. The uncertainty linked to our cultural survival, the prolonged state of our political dependence and the collective humiliation that it generates are part of these trigger factors. But with us, they seem to no longer operate. How to explain this numbness of our nationalism and the great ideal that animates it?
Justin Trudeau’s Canada
For several years, in terms of fighting and major collective impulses, Canada had dormant. He wore Justin Trudeau’s mark with his governance Molasse and Falote. Coming to power, he had made great promises: the struggle to protect the environment, an important contribution to the UN missions, an increased presence in a world in tension … Western leaders, delighted with these announcements, had applauded. On the interior scene, the young governing was also responsible for folding the relationship with Quebec by taking the title of Lieutenant du Québec himself.
Like his father, he said loud and clear that Canada was a postnational country. Justin Trudeau specified that the country no longer needed identity, even less common culture. The possibility of harsh and futile confrontations on this ground was thus dismissed. At the same time, it avoided offending the sensitivity of ethnic groups whose cultures constitute the texture of the country – multiculturalism obliges.
But all of this was the facade and fatuity. We know what happened with the environment, the contribution to the UN peacekeepers, international action and the relationship with Quebec (a virgin file). As for the idea of the postnational state, it was an empty shell, a coquetry.
Mark Carney or the metamorphosis of a country
But here is fascinating. There may be currently in Canada a realignment of the stars as we rarely see. By seriously threatening to absorb the country, Donald Trump offered an estimable gift to the new Prime Minister: he gave him a way to wake up a Canada suddenly confronted with the prospect of his disappearance. Thinking of crushing it, Trump administered an electroshock to him, he raised it.
Let us grant Mark Carney for having been able to take advantage of this windfall by pressing the right buttons: Canada suddenly became a united, strong and proud country, protector of its sovereignty, with a recognized identity all over the world, gathering values, a glorious past, a feeling of belonging, a solidarity from one ocean to another, that is all that it takes to ensure its survival. This is Canada again national, with a clean culture and all the familiar attributes of the nation. In this regard, now, he has nothing to envy in Quebec. And no one has stood up so far to lead the battle of postationalism …
I suppose that the irony of this Renaissance is no exception to anyone: here is Canada joining Quebec in the Club of Fragile Nations and is starting to show its traits and reflexes, those precisely that the Canadians liked to blame us quite badly: nationalism, the fear of disappearing, the chilling identity, a defensive posture …
But does the future look as brilliant as it seems?
– A culture, a memory, a national identity. What will the ethnic minorities are shaken up? What will happen to the multiculturalist mosaic? Will Carney be able to galvanize it?
– A strong, united, united country. And Quebec, in all of this? What about the four western provinces which, after the election of Justin Trudeau, adopted an autonomist posture?
– Several large sites will be open from one ocean to another. Asperities will thus be flattered. The country will also become a military force with which it will be necessary to count. Where will the money come from? And how much will it cost in Quebec, already struggling with serious financial difficulties?
The very serious Prime Minister assured that Canada would soon assert itself as a superpower in terms of green energy. He started by abolishing the carbon tax …
Let us remember the immense interest of what is happening: in a few weeks, this nation undertook to redefine itself entirely, to resuscitate and to mobilize under the impulse of a threat.
What about Quebec?
What future is waiting for us? Do we not have to worry about the abolition of trade barriers between provinces? Will it not be an added dependence to overcome the day we want to take over the sovereignist project? It should also be predicted that as long as the Trumpist threat will last, Ottawa may be very generous to Quebec. Will we resist this great seduction?
For the moment, Mr. Legault has imitated his fellows. He went to dance to the new Canadian music by presenting his complaints and courting the new master. We will admit that he hardly had the choice. Quebecers, too, are very worried and have good reasons at the moment to line up under the federal banner. Quebec, Canada: Same fight!
In short, in this country under reconstruction, welcoming and protector, led by a firm, skillful and competent Prime Minister, what are the short and medium-term prospects (perhaps also in the long term) for Quebec’s sovereignty? The new future of Canada could well compromise that of Quebec.
