Young Quebecers Find Sovereignty Passé: PQ Report

The report says the independence option doesn't seem to be all that important to many young Quebecers, especially among those who don't belong to the PQ. PQ members Alexandre Bourdeau, Stéphan Tremblay and Jonathan Valois say unless the party moves beyond strict ideology, sovereignty will become an old idea. The trio spoke with young people in 25 Quebec communities this year as part of a debate on new ideas launched by party leader Bernard Landry. They visited high schools, colleges and universities. They found even young sovereigntists are cynical about the PQ's plans, and want the party to spell out the implications of a "yes" vote in a sovereignty referendum. Some also consider Quebec independence to be strictly a PQ project that ignores young peoples' concerns about social issues, the environment and globalization. Bourdeau says young Quebecers are more interested in the environment and globalization, and not sovereignty. The 12-page report, which was submitted to the PQ caucus in June, was posted on the party's website. Mario Dumont, leader of Action démocratique du Québec, says he's not surprised by the findings. He has promised a moratorium on the sovereignty question. "People supported the PQ in the past because they thought the PQ would carry their nationalist aspirations through referendum time," said Dumont. "There were two opportunities and it didn't work and at the end of those opportunities Quebec was weaker than before." http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/09/23/sovereignty_040923.html