Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon speaking loudly and often after party win over Coalition Avenir Québec

Quebec separation is back among the living.

Years after many considered it dead, the prospect of removing Canada’s second-most populous province from the federation has re-entered the political debate. And though Quebecers aren’t exactly marching in the streets in its support as they once did, they are certainly taking another look at the Parti Québécois.

The PQ, formed in 1968 expressly to make a country out of the province, is by far the most popular political party in the land, with a bevy of polls suggesting it could form a majority government were an election held today.

In October, the party won a byelection in the Quebec City-area riding of Jean-Talon, long a stronghold of the governing Coalition Avenir Québec, or CAQ. More recently, the PQ released its “year one” budget, essentially an advertisement for the alleged economic benefits of a sovereign Quebec.

  • ComradeSharkfucker
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    3 months ago

    I don’t think secession would be a great idea but considering the vast cultural difference between quebec and the rest of canada it could feasibly be run as an autonomous region while still having ties to the state. I doubt this will happen tho lol

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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      3 months ago

      That may be, but I was talking about a different thing- I don’t know how resource-dependent Quebec is on the rest of Canada. The U.S. South, as much as they love to make noise about secession, depends way too much on commerce from the rest of the U.S. to actually do that and survive. Is Quebec the same way or would this be more like Brexit, where things suck a lot more but they keep limping along?

      • scutiger@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Quebec is somewhat independent, but definitely not ready for actual secession. Lots of natural resources, big producer of hydroelectricity, etc. But a significant part of its appeal on the international stage is its inclusion as a part of Canada.

        The fact that it would also literally split Canada in two, with the maritime provinces separated from the rest of the country, would be a bad deal for everyone involved.