Former premier Jacques Parizeau said Tuesday extra money for Quebec contained in the federal budget doesn't really mean very much.
"Since this morning, we've seen the birth of the sledgehammer argument against sovereignty," the ex-Parti Québécois leader said in a speech to university students.
"Is it [the promised $935 million] going to change the future of Quebec? No," he said.
"Somebody opened the tap [Monday] until someone else comes along to close it."
Parizeau also called for sovereigntists to return to the PQ instead of flirting with Mario Dumont's Action Démocratique du Québec.
He said the ADQ is vainly clinging to the hope that it will achieve increased autonomy for Quebec.
He compared its aims to a gag by comedian Yvon Deschamps that Quebecers want an independent Quebec in a united Canada.
"It was a joke," Parizeau pointed out.
In a professorial speech, Parizeau ticked off progressive measures brought in by PQ governments, including $5-a-day day care, drug insurance and pay equity.
Parizeau called on all sovereigntists to unite behind the PQ.
To those who questioned whether the PQ could govern properly while preparing for a referendum, Parizeau pointed to the 1995 sovereignty referendum, when the sovereigntists almost won.
"It was shown then that we are able to chew gum and walk at the same time," he said.
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| Party | Elected | Leading | Total | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIB | 48 | 0 | 48 | 33.08% |
| ADQ | 41 | 0 | 41 | 30.80% |
| PQ | 36 | 0 | 36 | 28.32% |
| QS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.65% |
| GRN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.89% |
| OTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | .26% |
| Last Update:March 27, 12:52:21 AM EDT | ||||
Quebec Votes 2007 Headlines »
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