Pressed to say whether she remains a sovereignist, Christine Fréchette on Friday again declined to give a direct answer, instead describing herself as an “autonomist.”
But the answer did little to ease pressure from opponents demanding that Fréchette clarify where she stands on the question of Quebec sovereignty.
“I am an autonomist,” the incumbent premier told reporters, saying she won’t be dragged into “this sterile debate between federalists and sovereignists.”
“I work to ensure there is no referendum. I work to ensure Quebec’s prosperity within Canada and to defend its language, culture and identity. That’s what we are at the Coalition Avenir Québec.”
Autonomist is also the term Fréchette used to describe herself in a social media video posted Thursday after questions about her views surfaced on the campaign trail.
In the video, she said she has “evolved” since working for the Parti Québécois between 2012 and 2014. Asked Friday what she meant by that evolution, Fréchette repeatedly described herself as an autonomist but would not say whether she still considers herself a sovereignist.
Fréchette declined to answer when a reporter asked her if she’s a proud Canadian.
“I’m a proud autonomist,” she said. “We are working to help Quebec reach its full potential, with all its strengths and talents, within Canada.”
In response to a question about the advantages of staying in Canada, Fréchette referred to the trade war with the United States.
“I think it’s important that we pool our efforts and make Quebec’s voice heard, and that this voice be carried by a group of federated states,” she said. “That gives us more weight.”
Fréchette was deputy chief of staff to Parti Québécois minister Jean-François Lisée from 2012 to 2014. She left that party because she objected to its proposed Charter of Values secularism legislation.
On Friday, Fréchette said 2014 “was the end of the road with the PQ.” She said that in subsequent elections, she voted for the CAQ, which has always vowed not to hold a referendum.
Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard, who has sought to portray his party as the only federalist option in the Oct. 5 election, called Fréchette’s response “pathetic.”
“On the ballot in a potential referendum, it will be ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’” Milliard said. “There won’t be an ‘autonomist’ option, and there won’t be a ‘prefer not to answer’ option.”
He said Fréchette is seeking to lead Quebec while refusing to tell voters where she stands on “the most important, most fundamental question for Quebec’s future.”
“It’s pathetic, frankly.”
The Parti Québécois, which is leading in the polls, has promised to hold a referendum if it forms the next government.
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Fréchette’s refusal to say whether she remains a sovereignist raises questions about her “transparency and honesty on issues that are important in this campaign.”
He added: “With us, there is no ambiguity about what we believe.”
The CAQ presents itself as a nationalist “third way” between federalism and sovereignty, arguing Quebec can gain greater autonomy while remaining within Canada.
St-Pierre Plamondon said the CAQ government, previously led by François Legault, had spent the past eight years claiming it could secure significant new powers from Ottawa.
“That approach has been a disaster. It has been a failure from A to Z,” he said. “We need to take note of what has happened over the past eight years with the CAQ’s failed recipe.”
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The Gazette’s On Quebec Politics newsletter by Andy Riga breaks down key election issues, from polling shifts to legislative manoeuvring to ideas circulating in francophone commentary that don’t make it into English-language coverage.
A Montreal native, Andy Riga has been with The Gazette since 1991. He covers politics, language and other Quebec issues, and writes the On Quebec Politics newsletter. Montréalais d’origine, Andy Riga travaille au Montreal Gazette depuis 1991. Il couvre la politique, les enjeux linguistiques et d’autres sujets, et est responsable de l’infolettre On Quebec Politics.
ariga@postmedia.com