He may have had something of a colourful past but you have to hand it to Maxime Bernier for telling it like it is.
Bernier is the Tory MP and minister from the Beauce who, you may remember, had to resign because his girlfriend at the time had some ties to the Hells Angels.
Bernier always speaks his mind and doesn’t fear swimming outside the Tory pool.
This week he gave a speech that made a lot of sense.
Speaking to a business audience in Montreal, Bernier sent out a wake-up call to Quebec.
He said it is high time for Quebec to embrace the Canadian experience.
He says the focus should not be on what happens to the PQ but on how Quebec can reclaim its rightful place in Canada, a country that is more than a credit card or an ATM used to buy Quebec’s loyalty
He is right.
At one time Quebec played a leadership role in the federation.
Quebec had strong alliances with other provinces such as Alberta but that is no longer the case.
For years we sent Bloc MPs to Ottawa with no interest in the governance of Canada.
Whenever the PQ is in power, Quebec isolates itself and opposes anything that smacks of a maple leaf.
Bernier went further with this plea to his fellow French-speaking Quebecers.
Can we not just clearly acknowledge that English is a part of us, a part of our history, a part of our culture and a part of our identity? Acknowledge that English isn’t some foreign language but is one of Quebec’s languages. And consequently, give up the endless battle to restrict its use and its legitimacy through coercive policies.
Wow. He is right again.
For years, it’s the exact point anglophones have been trying to make.
We are not the enemy. We are family... although often we are treated like black sheep.
We are here and we will stay, even though there are times when our patience and goodwill is sorely tested.
So bravo to Mr. Bernier for speaking some common sense and saying what needs to be said.
The election of April 7th may turn out to be a historic game changer in realigning Quebec politics.
There is so much more to gain by joining together than trying to find fault in our differences.
Let’s hope Bernier's message gets though.
In his inaugural speech on Wednesday Premier Couillard promised Quebec would assume Quebec’s traditional place in the federation.
"We will exercise leadership in the heart of Canada. We will make the voice of Quebec be heard," said Couillard.
There are many rivers to cross but it seems we are finally on the right path.
Our destinies have always been bound together and to quote JFK “what unites us is far greater than what divides us.”
