Ottawa-Quebec relations open new chapter following Legault’s historic victory

“It’s very, very different — it’s a new era,” said Eric Montigny, a political scientist from Universite Laval in Quebec City.

“Compared to Mr. Couillard, this is a party that is more autonomist. Therefore, it will be more demanding about powers when dealing with Ottawa.”

The election also produced a crushing defeat of the separatist Parti Quebecois but Montigny stressed that while referendums are off the table the Coalition’s victory shows Quebecers remain attracted to nationalistic approaches.

In his first news conference as premier-designate, Legault said he thinks Quebec and Ottawa can work closely on economic issues.

“I am a pragmatic guy, we are a pragmatic party,” he said Tuesday.

Among his goals to achieve more autonomy, Legault has pledged to work towards ensuring Quebecers will only have one income tax form to fill out for both levels of government — instead of the current two forms — with tax collection to be managed by the province.

Legault has also promised to invoke the notwithstanding clause to ensure public officials in positions of authority, such as teachers and police officers, do not wear religious symbols. He reiterated this vow Tuesday by saying his proposed ban is important enough to override protections in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

He’s also vowed to lower Quebec’s annual immigration levels by 20 per cent and to force newcomers to pass French and values tests within three years of their arrival — or face removal from the province.

Enforcement, however, for such expulsions would fall to Ottawa. Legault has promised to “put Quebec first” and begin negotiations with Ottawa that would give the province more powers when it comes to immigration.

Legault’s contentious pledges on immigration attracted cross-Canada headlines during the campaign and could prove to be one of the biggest trouble spots in his relationship with the Trudeau government, which has a more open approach to immigration.

“There’s a lot of conversations to be had, and I’m sure we will have disagreements from time to time, but we will do so in a constructive way that serves the citizens that have entrusted us with responsibilities,” Trudeau told reporters Tuesday in British Columbia when asked for his thoughts on Legault’s immigration plans.

Trudeau added that he’s looking forward to working with Legault on immigration as well as other issues like job creation, economic growth and climate change.

Dominic LeBlanc, Trudeau’s intergovernmental affairs minister, said he’s eager to sit down “pretty quickly” with Legault’s eventual minister responsible for immigration, once the Coalition takes office, to learn more about the party’s plans for immigration.

LeBlanc hinted he’s hopeful Legault could take a different approach now that the vote is over.

“Governing is different than doing an election campaign,” he said.

Quebec is shaping up to be a key battleground in next year’s federal election, particularly for the Liberals and the Conservatives.

Tories have also been studying the factors behind Quebec’s election result, which ended 48 years of two-party rule in the province. Conservative MPs see areas of common ground with the Coalition — and opportunity.

“We’re very eager to work with them,” said Tory MP Alain Rayes, who ran for the Action democratique du Quebec party that later merged with Legault’s Coalition.

Rayes also noted that provincial Liberal parties have fallen elsewhere this year, including in Ontario and New Brunswick.

“I think the ground is fertile for us,” he said in an interview. “It’s now up to us to present ourselves and make good proposals for 2019.”

— with files from Giuseppe Valiante in Quebec City and Janice Dickson and Melanie Marquis in Ottawa

Andy Blatchford, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Ottawa-Quebec relations open new chapter following Legault’s historic victory

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