Mulcair: Liberals must heed lessons on connecting 'two Quebecs'
An environmental research team from McGill University made front-page news in the Journal de Montréal this past weekend about their discovery of massive environmental devastation stretching from the South Shore of Montreal to the U.S. border.
The McGill team, styled 'Leadership for the Ecozoic,' had been studying the watershed of the Châteauguay River with colleagues from Vermont. Their landmark research revealed that the entire region had become a dumping ground for tens of thousands of truckloads of construction, demolition and other waste. The long-term damage to the environment, in particular to the underground water, is incalculable.
This incredible work was not just important for the ecosystems, it is, to me, symbolic of a positive evolution I've been seeing in the institutions of the English-speaking community.
Ever since the Legault government decided to undermine McGill and Concordia, I've noticed an enhanced presence of both universities at academic and research events. Their work has always been world class, but now, more than ever it seems, it's being connected to the wider community — and it's a good thing for the universities and for life here in Quebec.
Over the past few months I've seen and heard researchers from McGill, Concordia and Bishops at conferences on the environment and on pressing social issues. The most recent ACFAS assizes included a thoughtful conference on Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on minority language education rights.
ACFAS (founded in 1923 as the Association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences) is the premier organization promoting research and science in French in Canada. To see QUESCREN (the Quebec English-speaking Communities Research Network) out of Concordia organizing a part of the activities was positively refreshing. To hear these complex legal and social issues being shared and discussed dispassionately and professionally was also more than welcome.
This evolution opens onto the wider question of how we can connect the 'two Quebecs': greater Montreal, and the rest of the province dominated by the Coalition Avenir Québec in the last two provincial elections.
Understanding that urban-rural divide is central to the race now taking place for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party. There are three main contenders: Karl Blackburn, former MNA from Roberval and Conseil du patronat head; Charles Milliard, a pharmacist and former head of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec; and Pablo Rodriguez, a former federal minister.
Rodriguez has strong support within the QLP caucus that is dominated by Montrealers like himself. Unfortunately for the Liberals, the entire province gets to decide the result of the next election, not just Montreal.
Watching their first debate in Laval early this month I was struck by how little Rodriguez seemed to know about Quebec and its institutions. He was the only participant who was obliged to constantly flip through a binder of notes to find something to say, and it's easy to understand: He spent his entire career in Ottawa.
It now appears clear that no one will win on the first round of voting. The rules of this leadership contest provide that only the two top finishers will take part in the run-off vote, and that provides hope for a candidate who can speak to all of Quebec.
Milliard has rallied a lot of support from the youth wing, but Blackburn's numbers appear the most promising for a second-round win, owing to his widespread popularity in the regions.
The QLP is a large tent that brings together federalists of very different stripes. It includes many Quebecers who vote Conservative or NDP federally. To win, the QLP cannot be seen to be the federal Liberal party in Quebec; otherwise, votes will again peel off to the Quebec Conservatives and Québec solidaire.
It would be nice to see our universities' spirit of openness to working with the wider Quebec society pierce the wall of the QLP Montreal caucus.
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