QUEBEC LIBERALS: THE PQ AND KOSOVO AND FEDERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MONTREAL 000048 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2033 TAGS: PREL KVIR YI EU CA SUBJECT: QUEBEC LIBERALS: THE PQ AND KOSOVO AND FEDERAL FINANCES REF: OTTAWA 251 MONTREAL 00000048 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Consul General Mary Marshall, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Canada is weighing the effect recognizing Kosovo independence will have on Party Quebecois's (PQ) dormant separatist agenda, Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) Regional Coordinator Patrick Gilles informed Econ-Poloff February 20 in Montreal. He added that the government's concern was based on precedent, namely, the PQ's exploitation of East Timorese and Palestinian independence to re-ignite local discourse. Also, Quebec benefits financially from the federal government,s "fear" of the PQ,s agenda, thus providing the province another incentive for keeping the issue alive. Finally, Gilles expressed the belief that the PQ had been encouraged by the quick global acceptance of Kosovo independence. END SUMMARY. GOC Weighs Effect of Kosovo on Quebec -------------- ¶2. (C) The Canadian Government is weighing the effect its own recognition of Kosovo,s independence would have on Party Quebecois's (PQ) dormant separatist agenda, according to Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) Regional Coordinator Patrick Gilles on February 20 in Montreal. He added that the government,s concern was based on precedent. Previously, the PQ had used the successful bid for independence by East Timor and the ongoing efforts by the Palestinian Authority to mobilize the PQ agenda of Quebec's eventual secession from Canada. (INSERT JOSEPH FACAL?) Separatism Dormant -------------- ¶3. (C) Gilles expressed the belief that the question of separatism remains ever-present in Quebec society. The existence of the PQ itself -- a party whose raison d'etre, to achieve Quebec sovereignty, is the only ideological principle separating it from a near-identical agenda with the PLQ -- was in itself evidence of the ongoing cause, he said. In his view, the only reason discussion had shifted from "secession" to "identity" was because of who was in power. If the PQ were in control, Gilles asserted, the "secession" vocabulary would re-enter public discourse on provincial affairs. (Comment: Recent polls indicate PQ ascendancy is highly unlikely given Premier Charest,s approval rating of over 50 %. End comment.) GOC Fear of PQ Benefits Quebec Budget -------------- ¶4. (C) All PQ policies, Gilles said, economic or otherwise, were intended to lead to secession -- whether or not it was likely and whether or not the public discussed it. Echoing the PLQ,s perspective, Gilles admitted that Quebec benefited financially from the federal government,s fear of the PQ,s agenda, and therefore, although the Provincial Liberals were federalists, it looked to the Bloc Quebecois to represent its (and Quebec's) interests in Ottawa. ¶5. (C) As an aside, Gilles noted that the PQ,s ideological control over the distribution of federal and provincial funds was evident by its disproportionate slant towards developing language and cultural institutions. He said the PLQ gained much of its local support from discontent over the resulting heavy loss to provincial infrastructure and healthcare investment. PQ Encouraged By International Response to Kosovo -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Gilles commented that the PQ was watching the quick global acceptance of Kosovo,s independence and was encouraged by it, adding that the PQ's rationale for independence was also buoyed by the fact that, unlike Kosovo or East Timor, Quebec enjoys a growing global economic presence. Also, Quebec could avoid the violent precursors to Kosovo and East Timor independence, he said, because the Quebecois were pacifists who could separate from and coexist with Canada peacefully. MONTREAL 00000048 002.2 OF 002 Comment: -------------- ¶7. (C) The Quebec Liberal Party is currently on solid ground, financially and politically, despite the role the Party Quebecois tries to play as the guardian of the province,s cultural identity. Gilles, stance that secessionist sentiment remains alive and well in Quebec rings true with many Montrealers who view themselves as an island of federalism in Quebec. Canada,s wariness over how the Party Quebecois could exploit recognition of Kosovo,s independence has some merit in light of the PQ,s dual-motivation (ideological and financial) for keeping the issue alive. ¶8. (C) Owing to the nuanced, complex political environment in Quebec as a whole, post will continue to seek out other voices on this issue. MARSHALL