No to Separatism

The specter of Quebec separatism has long haunted English-speaking Canadians. The secession of the large French-speaking province would sunder the country geographically, making it difficult, if not impossible, for Canada's remaining nine provinces to hold together. But in last week's elections for a new provincial assembly, Quebec voters said no to separatism.

Benefiting from a four-way fragmentation of the vote, the strongly anti-secessionist Liberal Party won 72 seats out of 108, a 27-seat increase over its 1966 results. The ruling National Union Party, which had straddled the separatism issue, lost 38 of its 55 seats, while the right-wing federalist Creditiste Party won 12. The separatist Quebec Party actually finished second, with 23% of the popular vote. But because Quebec's representation is heavily weighted in favor of rural voters, the predominantly urban party won only seven seats. Even its leader, Rene Levesque, Quebec's best-known separatist, was defeated by a Liberal.

Proof of Support. In Ottawa, Canadian Premier Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who as the national Liberal leader abided by Canadian custom and did not get involved in the provincial politicking, hailed the vote as "a victory for Canada --proof without any doubt that Quebec people overwhelmingly support federalism." It was also a victory for Quebec's Liberal Leader Robert Bourassa, who at 36 will become the youngest Premier in Quebec's history. A lanky professor of economics and fiscal law, Bourassa, who took over the provincial party leadership only last January, campaigned on a platform of "making federalism work," by which he means "getting a better break for Quebec."

On the hustings, he derided the old government's habit of wasting money on ministerial trips to Paris that were intended to enhance Quebec's French affiliations. Instead, Bourassa, who is linked through marriage to the powerful Simard shipbuilding family, promised to cut provincial spending and provide 100,000 new jobs during his first year in office. His prescription calls for pumping what provincial money he has into programs that will create jobs and for getting a bigger hunk of federal funds for public works projects.

In Quebec, where unemployment last month was 2.5% higher than the Canadian average of 6.7%, Bourassa's pledge evoked great response: the town of Trois Rivieres, a National Union stronghold where 15% of the work force is unemployed, elected its first Liberal in history. If Bourassa fails to deliver on his promises, however, the separatists would undoubtedly revive their claims that Quebeckers can only hope to achieve a better life once they are freed from the domination of Canada's English-speaking majority.

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