MONTREAL—What happened last night at the Metropolis was obviously the act of a deranged man, we should be thankful that it was not much worse, it easily could have been.
There have been some disgusting comments on social media today, but right-thinking people from every political stripe and language have denounced the attack. This was not a political act, just an act of a madman.
The election itself was not a bad outcome, considering.
It was a bittersweet victory for Pauline Marois. She will not be able to implement much of her platform that many Quebecers found so offensive. She will have little margin of maneuver. There will be no march to separation.
Her plans to run a separatist-style government have collapsed under the weight of the common sense of Quebec voters. The message she received was loud and clear: No referendum, no adventures into chaos.
She will be too busy just trying to keep her hands on the wheel in a province saddled with dangerous debt, soaring unemployment and high taxes.
Francois Legault reached for stars, but came up short.
Nineteen seats is not bad for the first time out, but he wanted so much more. It appears Liberal voters flirted with Legault, but then went home where they felt safer. They wanted change for certain, but Quebecers weren’t ready to consummate the relationship.
How Mr. Legault handles the balance of power in this minority government will largely determine his future. If he is responsible and prudent, he could have another shot.
We all owe Jean Charest a debt of gratitude and we will miss him. We should thank him for his key role in the 1995 referendum campaign, when we almost lost the country; thank him for coming back to Quebec to take on the Parti Quebecois.
I have no doubt that Jean Charest always did his best. He never was embarrassed about his love for Canada. He leaves the Liberal party not in shambles, but in a position of strength. But it is time for him to go and rightfully he has accepted the verdict.
All in all, the election brought out the best in us and the worst. With all of its warts, our democracy is thriving. The people spoke last night. We were engaged; and we should never allow the actions of a madman to diminish that. Not one iota.
