Parties often avoid controversial concepts during the election campaign. However, we want to know what they think! Here’s a roundup of their opinions on those.
• Read also: The return of the two solitudes: Quebec and the rest of Canada divided after the debate in English
• Read also: Federal election: over 5.7 million Canadians advance polls
• Read also: Controversial issue: rise of the Bloc after the debate in English
Climate emergency
The idea of climate “emergency” is not unanimous even if all the parties questioned recognize the need to act for the climate.
The Bloc and the Liberals use this word without hesitation.
“The latest IPCC report is devastating and concrete measures must be put in place without delay to fight the crisis”, for its part supports the NDP.
For the Conservative Party, naming these two words is not so easy. Training leader Erin O’Toole recognizes the existence of climate change, but that’s about where it ends. More than half of Conservative members rejected a motion in March to recognize and address the existence of climate change.
Systemic racism
Jagmeet Singh (NDP) and Justin Trudeau (Liberal Party) write repeatedly in their platform that systemic racism exists and rages in Canada.
For his part, the Conservative leader, Erin O’Toole, does not even name the word “racism” in his platform. “There is racism, but Quebeckers and Canadians are not racists,” the Conservative Party told us in a written response.
The leader of the Bloc, Yves-François Blanchet, is divided. In debate last week, he admitted that the concept existed, but said it did not affect Quebec. In response to our questions, his party referred to the aboriginal reality only. “Indigenous peoples are completely excluded from Canadian society,” we were told.
Indigenous genocide
The leader of the Liberal Party, Justin Trudeau, has already acknowledged the existence of genocide following the tabling of a national inquiry report into murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The Bloc and the NDP also use that term – the New Democrats say the genocide is still going on.
Erin O’Toole is the only federal leader not to speak of “genocide”. However, he agrees that the proliferation of residential schools throughout the history of Confederation “is a national disgrace”.
The “woke” movement
Several commentators are increasingly referring to the “woke” movement, in the face of the proliferation and development of certain left-wing ideas. The debacle of statues, the censorship of certain words and the refusal to welcome certain lecturers in universities are notably associated with it.
No party talks about it in its platform, even if they are monitoring the phenomenon, with more or less concern.
The Bloc says “to observe a certain more radical movement of the militants of the left, in particular those which promote revisionism” cancel culture “”, we were told.
In the Conservative Party, we fear the rise of a “minority of individuals who want to destroy our history and our culture, in the name of marginal ideas”.
The NDP recognizes the existence of “more protesting movements in the country […] with the aim of creating more harmonious societies ”.
As for the Liberal Party, accused of “wokism” by several critics, it does not mention this term on any of these platforms, nor has it commented on it in public outings.
Economic decline
Economic degrowth as a solution to fight climate change is not very popular among parties.
The Bloc is adamant: no, degrowth is not right, we were told. “We believe fundamentally that there is a way to reconcile the environment and the economy.”
The same goes for the Conservatives, who are betting on growth and wanting to protect the environment “without sacrificing jobs”.
The PLC did not want to answer our questions on the subject, but it plans to make significant investments in the economy in the midst of the health crisis.
Only the NDP does not seem closed to this radical idea. “There are adjustments to be made to our economy because it is clearly not working right now. […] for the environment ”, we were told.
A secular state, separated from religion
The controversial Law 21, which prevents the wearing of religious symbols for several State employees, may be talked about, the very principle of the secularism of the State (that is to say its separation from the Church) is rather unanimous.
The Bloc fully supports Bill 21. The NDP and the Liberal Party have repeatedly stated their intentions to support a protest, without opposing the secularism of the state as such.
As for Erin O’Toole, he has repeatedly said that he does not approve of the idea of the State Secularism Act, but that he will not challenge it. Called by the “24 hours” to comment on the very principle of secularism, the CCP sidestepped the issue.
Is PCRE still right to exist?
Not all parties view the Canadian Economic Stimulus Benefit (CEP) – formerly known as the CEP, in a positive light.
The Liberal Party, which launched it last year, sees it as a still relevant solution.
On the Conservative side, Erin O’Toole wants to end emergency programs of this type “gradually and responsibly.” The Bloc also wants to suspend the PCRE, in particular because it considers that it is “linked” to the shortage of manpower.
The NDP does not agree. According to the political party, which also believes in the need for a guaranteed basic income, the PCRE must not disappear. “[Elle] is now at $ 1200 per month; it is clearly not an incentive to stay at home, ”argues Jagmeet Singh’s party.
Also to see
www.journaldemontreal.com