In an article in Sun News, reporter Mark Dunn quotes experts responding to PQ Leader Pauline Marois’ claims that, as Dunn puts it, “an independent Quebec would look like la belle province of old right down to the dollar, monetary policy and intact borders”.
One expert suggests that the federal government should become involved with the Quebec election to counter such notions, but, Dunn writes:
“Brian Lee Crowley of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute disagreed, saying the government shouldn’t insert itself now, but await the outcome of the April 7 provincial vote.
‘It’s probably sensible for them to stay out of the provincial election. Not because they shouldn’t have views about what a desirable [result] would be for Canada, but because I wouldn’t want my intervention to become an issue in the election.’
Crowley said Quebecers should make their own political choices without giving the Parti Quebecois an opening to use the federal government as a ‘straw man’ to win more votes.
But after the vote and if the PQ win a majority the government should use clear and unambiguous terms about the aftershocks of a referendum and a Yes outcome.”
