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JONQUIÈRE — Following a delay of several hours and a fair number of debates about procedure, the so-called Saguenay Declaration was adopted Sunday morning by members of Québec solidaire (QS) meeting in Jonquière for their National Council.
The Saguenay Declaration had been advanced as a way to refresh the image of the ideologically left-wing, pro-sovereignty party and “a new pact with the regions.”
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But they rejected a proposal to abandon reforms to trade unionism in the farming industry, deciding to maintain the QS position in place. Initially, the Saguenay Declaration included a proposal for the party to “recognize the role of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) and renounce plans to reform trade unionism in the farming industry.”
Nevertheless, the members voted for a middle-of-the-road text: “In the matter of agriculture, Québec Solidaire recognizes the role of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) in the protection of producers at different levels, while also supporting the idea that a variety of voices express themselves.”
The subject provoked lively debate. QS MNA Alejandra Zaga Mendez, representing the riding of Verdun, defended the UPA.
“At this time, there is a social movement in place — that of Quebec farmers. … These people are part of a common front called the UPA and now, more than ever, we must recognized this union and recognize its monopoly, which gives them greater strength.”
Others held a much different view. “The democratic steps taken by the UPA are deplorable. It’s a bully … the UPA is accelerating the destruction of farming in Quebec and represents (nothing,” said one party member who is also a farmer.
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Members also voted against a tax on junk food and opposed giving full power in agriculture to the Quebec premier.
Things went more smoothly on Sunday than on Saturday, when several party members stepped up to the microphone to express their discontent or their confusion as to the role they were to play in the Saguenay Declaration: Is it simply a report, a summary — or is it a policy paper?
Some members said some proposals of the Saguenay Declaration contradicted the party’s platform.
All this nearly led to a vote that could have had a major effect on the declaration, but the dissenting members came around at the last minute.
The party has been in crisis since the sudden resignation of Émilise Lessard-Therrien only a few months after her election as the party’s co-spokesperson with Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. In a message in which she explained the reasons for her departure, she said a clique of professionals around Nadea-Dubois was shunning her.
In the wake of Lessard-Therrien’s resignation, Nadeau-Dubois said he wanted the QS to become a “governing party” with a platform that was more “pragmatic.” The adoption of the Saguenay Declaration is a step in this direction.
The past few weeks have been punctuated by open letters published in the media supporting or criticizing the actions of Nadeau-Dubois.
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