Trump's threats bring Quebec closer into Canada's fold

New Straits Times

24-04-2025

LONG known for its deep-rooted independence movement, Quebec has been embracing its identity as part of Canada with rare vigour in the face of the sharp attacks from Donald Trump.
The US president's broadsides against America's northern neighbour, and his avowed aim of making it the 51st state, have pushed people all over the country to reconsider what being Canadian means in the 21st century – a rethinking given added impetus by fast-approaching general elections.
Against expectations, Quebec – the French-speaking province that loves to set itself apart from Canada's majority – has been among the most fervent adopters of the new patriotic sentiment.
"It's crazy, in just a few weeks I've evolved about a lot of things – I feel very Canadian," Carole Potvin said as she sat drinking a coffee in a Montreal neighbourhood that is a stronghold of the pro-independence Bloc Quebecois party.
"We felt under threat, and to face up to the American enemy it seems clear to me that we must be united," she added, speaking in French.
The language, along with Quebec's distinct culture and political history, has nurtured dreams of independence.
The province's most recent referendum on breaking away was held in 1995 – although until recently many hoped a new one could take place soon.
For some, the weeks since Trump's inauguration south of the border have changed everything.
"I was long in favour of Quebec being independent, but I think it's a waste of time in today's world," said Potvin's partner, Pierre Choiniere.
"When you're up against the US, you have to be big and strong," he added.
The proportion of Quebecers telling pollsters they were "proud" or "very proud" to be Canadian surged from 45 per cent in December 2024 to 58 per cent just two months later.
Those saying they were "very proud" increased even more than the overall figure – although Quebecers' overall "proud" ratio remains the lowest in Canada.
Such numbers have unsettled the Bloc Quebecois, which stands candidates for election only in the Francophone province.
Until autumn it had been counting on increased support in the April 28 national election, after securing 33 seats in Canada's parliament in 2021.
The party "has never faced such strong headwinds," said political veteran Regis Labeaume, mayor of Quebec City from 2007-2021.
"It's not easy to position yourself when Canadian solidarity is growing," the pro-independence politician added.
"Many people are going to vote tactically, not with their hearts" this time around, he said.
Labeaume sees the change as resulting clearly from voters' shock at Trump's threats to Canadian prosperity and sovereignty.
"As Quebecers and Canadians we've never seen war, we've never been afraid for our physical integrity, so that explains these threats being a huge shock," Labeaume said.
"People are flabbergasted."
Other separatists, meanwhile, are trying to see the glass as half-full.
"Even when we're facing serious threats, almost one-third of people want Quebec's independence," said Camille Goyette-Gingras, president of separatist federation Oui Quebec.
"Our province is different, including economically, from the rest of Canada, and so we'd benefit from being able to defend ourselves," she added.
Despite such arguments, the Bloc Quebecois looks set to glean just 25 per cent of the province's vote in the coming elections, according to the latest polls.
That could leave the separatists with roughly half the number of seats they won last time around – a mere five to six per cent of the national result.