by Jeff Millar
Jean Chrétien has gone on the offensive in the "national unity" debate, and taken a hard-line stance on a future Quebec referendum.
Proclaiming "Canada is my business!", he hinted at the possibility of bringing legislation before Parliament that would dictate to Quebec the terms of a future referendum, including the wording of the question and the size of the majority needed before Ottawa would recognize a "yes" vote.
Chrétien's remarks are outrageous. By acting unilaterally he is imposing Ottawa's will on Quebec, as if the Quebec national assembly is somehow less democratic than the federal parliament.
That is a slap in the face to all Quebecers.
The response from within Quebec was understandable.
The Secretary-General of the Quebec Federation of Labour, René Roy, put it best when he said: "We don't need a lesson in democracy from anybody."
Later Chrétien offered a "truce" to the sovereigntists: he wouldn't table the legislation if the PQ dropped talk about a referendum in their current mandate.
The PQ denounced the offer for what it was, a threat.
Chrétien's posturing puts him at odds with some in his own party. Especially the cabinet ministers from Quebec are unhappy with the hard-line approach.
When Chrétien took it to the Quebec Liberal Party convention in Hull he got a cool reception.
One delegate went so far as to say, "He's fucking senile."
In the end the convention was split. It rejected resolutions dictating the terms of a referendum, but supported Chrétien and his approach.
One of Chrétien's most vocal critics has been Jean Charest. He is worried about Chrétien stirring up sovereigntist sentiment and wants to "let sleeping dogs lie."
Why now?
Why the tough talk from Chrétien now?
Perhaps he feels confident, after a Quebec Supreme Court ruling last month which struck down the sign provisions of Bill 101, which required French to be prominent on commercial signs.
That decision gave new wind to the "Anglo rights" forces in Quebec.
A rekindling of the national unity debate might help the Liberals outside of Quebec. It could be a way to deflect anger caused by cuts to social services, and the crises of child poverty and homelessness.
One thing is clear: Chrétien's remarks are against the interests of working people everywhere in Canada.
The "national unity" debate is being used by the rulers of Canada and Quebec as a wedge to divide English and French workers, and weaken the labour movement.
In Quebec, the PQ's popularity has been at a n all-time low over the state of health care and education. Public sector workers are increasingly willing to challenge their nationalist "allies" in the PQ.
These new attacks by Chrétien could drive Quebec workers back into the arms of the PQ.
Reform
The worst result of Chrétien's approach is that it has given the Reform party a platform.
Preston Manning was able to stand up in Parliament and denounce Chrétien for not being clear enough on the issue of a referendum.
Reform even presented its own legislation spelling out the terms of a referendum. It made clear that the partitioning of Quebec would follow a "yes" vote.
This anti-Quebec bigotry, along with its anti-native racism, is the core of Reform's support. Chrétien's new hard line gives credibility to Reform's bigotry.
The NDP waited a whole week before officially commenting on Chrétien's rants. When Alexa McDonough finally did speak, all she did was echo Charest's line that raising the issue now was a "gift for the sovereigntists."
She did go slightly further, saying that responsibility for the clarity of any referendum question should rest with the Quebec National Assembly.
She urged Chrétien not to introduce his legislation, but didn't say that the NDP would vote against it. This isn't enough.
There needs to be a strong voice in English Canada against the national oppression of Quebec. Workers in Canada need to defend Quebec's democratic right to self-determination.
It is up to Quebec, without interference from Ottawa, to determine its future.
Only on this basis can we build the solidarity between English and French workers needed for a strong labour movement in Canada.