The more I think of the political issues on Quebec’s 2022 electoral dining table, which at first ear-shot is a serving of the usual sociopolitical and mental edibles — language, political bills, or a combination of both (language bills), whichever is easier on your ears and mind, the more averse I become to that constant serving-up of that typical and unique provincial diet and serving up electoral serving of electoral serving up of those unique ‘same old, same old’ political goodies that are perennially on provincial dining tables…
I woke up last Monday morning, August 15, turned on the radio to get a feel for what would be the top news story of the day.
The Quebec election was a good guess; it was well underway, for weeks, although it hadn’t been officially announced by the premier, but the number of political parties involved in the campaign were acting as if the provincial political contest was underway. Well, it was, unofficially, until the premier and leader of the governing CAQ party officially announced in a 26-second video on social media that the election is on… Right up to voting day, October 3.
Truth is, the election campaign has been well underway for weeks now. But to borrow the old saying: “the premier was just playing coy?”
Right now, as has been the case since his ascension to political power in 2018, he has nothing to lose but his majority win in 2018. In fact, polls are favoring him to win another majority mandate in the coming election. It’s as if he has a stranglehold on the provincial electorate.
He made sure that will be granted by the provincial electorate when he finally made the election announcement last Tuesday in a 26-second video on social media. He said, after the fact (or matter-of-factly) in electoral helpings, drum roll svp) “the campaign will officially begin Aug. 28 and continue right up to voting day, October 3.
“I want, of course, to wish a good campaign to all the candidates,” he said, somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Or toying with his captive (or captivated electorate).
I for one can’t wait to spend my voting privilege change come E day.
And judging by what we’ve been hearing so far it will be a steady diet and serving of what wins political elections in this province, served with constant political sound bites/helpings/tidbits… of ‘protecting and strengthening the French language’ along with servings of numbered Bills (not of the financial but the political kind) numbered ones of various political denominations (101, 106… etc. Actually, I’ve forgotten them – the different numbers, so much so that I’m losing count…
The real bills, political affiliation notwithstanding, we’ll have to pay those as usual), but of various political denominations nevertheless… whatever catches your ears and interest is a whole different matter.
Political Bills, which in past/recent decades have become synonymous with Quebec elections and winning power… and ostensibly Quebec’s survival as a French-speaking country on the North American continent, is always the main course for the politically interested, concerned and converted.
As long as you’re residing and dining here in “Resto Quebec” it will be a case of the unchanging ‘same-old-same-old’ unchanging provincial Quebecois menu — language, politics and Bills…
(To be continued…)
