duceppe appears happy!

“It is in their interest to negotiate with a sovereign Quebec for the best interests of both peoples,”

“It doesn't mean that you're going to war because you have an army,”

“If you develop a foreign policy the way we see it, then we'll have an army that will intervene mainly to secure democracy in some countries, participating in international forces, going when there's a natural catastrophe, either inside Quebec or outside Quebec,”

“We will be responsible. When something that is proposed that is good for Quebec, we will support that.”

Gilles Duceppe quotes


Harper helping separatists reach their goal: Duceppe
The Canadian Press, March 15, 2006

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper is helping prepare Quebec for future independence by allowing the province to participate in international organizations, says the leader of the Bloc Quebecois.

Gilles Duceppe says sovereigntists are pleased with the prime minister's promise last week to work out a role for Quebec at UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

"If he delivers and Quebec has a voice at UNESCO, that would be good for a sovereign Quebec in the future,'' Duceppe said outside a caucus meeting Wednesday.

He also applauded Quebec's role as co-host and co-organizer of the Francophonie summit in Quebec City in 2008.

"All sovereigntists are supporting the fact Quebec is having an international presence at the francophone summit,'' he said.

"It's a plus. ... It's preparing us for the day when we'll be a sovereign country and be present everywhere.''

Harper maintained during the federal election that Quebec should have a greater role on the international stage when it comes specifically to cultural affairs.

Last week, he reiterated the campaign promise while visiting Quebec Premier Jean Charest.

Harper's Quebec lieutenant, MP Lawrence Cannon, said Duceppe is "reaching'' by suggesting Harper's ideas are helping the separatist cause.

It's having the opposite effect, he said.

"Quebecers will always choose Canada when Canada promotes, as the Conservative party is promoting, open federalism,'' Cannon said in an interview.

"On Jan. 23rd, we made a commitment to Quebec and to Canada, that's what our party program put forward and that's what we're going to do.''

Harper has been furiously building bridges with Quebec in recent weeks. He's met with Charest several times since the Jan. 23 election and has been using tantalizing language about fixing the so-called fiscal imbalance.

The fiscal imbalance refers to the complaint that the federal government doesn't fairly redistribute to the provinces the tax dollars it collects.

The Conservatives are intent on gaining seats in the province in the next election. They surprised many by winning 10 in January.

But Duceppe said he wasn't impressed by Harper's forays into Quebec.

Instead, he cautioned that Harper is still on probation.

"I always respect the opponents, and now they have the burden of proof,'' Duceppe said. "It's one thing to say that you're going to fight the fiscal imbalance, it's another thing to come with real proposals.''

Duceppe says Harper is effectively doing the opposite of fixing the fiscal imbalance. Scrapping the national child-care program could cost Quebec $806 million, he said.

"If he wants to settle the fiscal imbalance, he should not put the car in reverse, he should put it in forward.''

Still, the Bloc is not anxious to see the government fall. The party will take a hard look at the throne speech on April 4, but won't be rushing into any votes of non-confidence.

Besides, says Duceppe, "it will happen on a lot of issues that the Tories won't be able to put in place what they want, because they're in a minority.''