‘We are ready for anything,’ federal minister says as Quebecers prepare to head to the polls with the PQ leading

Article content

OTTAWA — Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller said the federal government is prepared to work with whomever will win the trust of Quebecers in the election in early October — even if he has some personal beef with the frontrunner.

Article content

“I am prepared for any eventuality. I have my own hopes, but we are ready for anything,” said the outspoken minister on his way to a cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Article content

Article content

Article content

The separatist Parti Québécois seems well on its way to forming the next government, possibly with a majority, judging by the most recent polling. Quebec Liberals are poised to be the official Opposition, while the incumbent Coalition Avenir Québec is sliding in the polls.

Article content

Article content

Miller said the federal government will be working with the incoming government in Quebec, “whether it is a minority government or otherwise.”

Article content

“What we’re hearing from Quebecers is that they want different levels of government to work together,” he said.

Article content

Miller still threw a bit of shade.

Article content

“That is why (Quebecers) loathe referendums, because they are immensely divisive, highly emotional,” he added.

Article content

Miller has some recent history with PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.

Article content

Last year, St-Pierre Plamondon accused the cultural sector in Quebec of “intellectual vacuity and spineless subservience” to Ottawa after some groups had welcomed Miller’s nomination as the federal minister for culture and official languages.

Article content

The PQ leader lashed out after Miller said, right after his nomination, that he was tired of the politicization of the debate around the decline of French in Quebec.

Article content

Article content

St-Pierre Plamondon went even further by suggesting that some in the cultural sector lacked loyalty to Quebec, which caused a firestorm in the province. Miller accused him of going too far with his comments, and the PQ leader apologized a few days later.

Article content

Article content

St-Pierre Plamondon has slightly toned down his attacks in the lead-up to the election.

Article content

But he still has an axe to grind with the federal government, which he accused of “interference” near the start of the campaign given the many announcements Prime Minister Mark Carney made with Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette before the writ dropped.

Article content

No Quebec-Ottawa joint announcement has taken place during the campaign.

Article content

Article content

“Personally, I think we shouldn’t be afraid of democracy,” he said.

Article content

St-Pierre Plamondon said he wouldn’t back down on that promise, even if over 70 per cent of Quebecers currently say they would vote “No” to separate from Canada.