Québec solidaire wants to get rid of its moralizing image

Québec solidaire wishes to get rid of its stereotypical moralizing image that sticks to it in order to conquer the hearts of the regions and suburbs with a more pragmatic discourse.

“There is a prejudice that an environmentalist party is a party that wants to preach morality. It’s a perception that exists. In the Saguenay declaration, there are strong statements to deconstruct this perception,” said Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

With this declaration, QS “aims to take root in the regions”, while preserving its achievements in large centers, explained the interim female co-spokesperson, Christine Labrie.

The document is also full of ideas put forward by Émilise Lessard-Terrien before her departure. “I recognize a lot of things in that,” admits Ms. Labrie.

In a first joint interview, the solidarity co-spokespersons claimed to have taken note of people’s criticisms and ideas during their grand tour of the regions and suburbs which followed the 2022 electoral defeat.

• Listen to the Latraverse-Bock-Côté meeting with Emmanuelle Latraverse via QUB :

No more guilt

Whether on environmental issues, housing, health and even natural resources, QS focuses on regional, decentralized and collective policies.

It is in terms of the environment that QS’s discourse changes the most.

The party is moving away from orange taxes which targeted drivers of polluting vehicles such as pick-ups.

Those in solidarity want to focus on an energy transition that will not make citizens feel guilty.

“Workers are not individually responsible for the climate crisis and they do not have to pay the price for this crisis,” the document states.

“It must become a collective project and the example must come from above,” adds Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

Industrial shift, but “responsible”

The left-wing party says it is in favor of the sustainable and responsible exploitation of natural resources on Quebec territory.

More pragmatic, QS recognizes the importance, for many regions of Quebec, of quality jobs linked to operations.

Christine Labrie assures that there will be no job losses, even in the regions.

For example, the declaration emphasizes that the party wishes to recognize “the central role of the forestry industry in the economic development of several regions of Quebec.”

Nadeau-Dubois mentions that forest industry workers said during the tour that they have the impression that QS is against them.

“It bothers us that this perception exists. These are perceptions and in this declaration there are proposals to deconstruct these prejudices,” he said.

“We don’t want to attack good jobs in the forestry and mining industry. Our desire is to ensure that the exploitation of natural resources is done responsibly, sustainably and in a way that of course also respects the limits of ecosystems and the planet.”

The solidarity groups no longer want a major reform of agricultural unionism. “Producers and people in the agricultural sector, that’s not the priority,” says Nadeau-Dubois.

Furthermore, QS is also positioning itself in favor of the battery sector, but focused on democratic bases, where the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE) would play an important role.

Expand your electorate

With all this, the high-level solidarity authorities are moving away from the major philosophical concepts of the left and trying to stick to down-to-earth issues that directly affect voters and families.

“We need to expand. We have to go and join the new world,” argues the parliamentary leader, Gabriel-Nadeau Dubois. “We are making sure that our political offer will resonate in the ears of Quebecers across the country.”

A shift, without compromising on its principles because they are listening to people, believes Christine Labrie, indicating that there will be “adjustments” in QS policies.

The Saguenay declaration is not the program of Québec solidaire, but the results of this tour of 130 meetings with people from all walks of life.

Thus, Québec solar is taking a step aside. It “cannot be content with being an opposition party”.

“A government party is a party that understands the reality of the region,” points out the co-spokesperson of QS.

Unite instead of divide

Québec solidaire wants to become a unifying party and demonstrate that it has learned from its mistakes made in the past, mainly during the last electoral campaign.

The slogan: put an end to divisions and try to unite people despite their differences of opinion, ages, place of residence, origin, etc.

“Unite, not divide,” points out Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

The party reaffirms its adherence to the model of interculturalism, based on a common language and dialogue with all cultures. Region or city center, people have things in common such as housing, places in CPE and the cost of living, he argues

“Division increases cynicism and that’s not what we want,” points out Christine Labrie.

*The manifesto will be submitted to members during the National Council from May 24 to 26 in Jonquière