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Fernand Daoust

vice-president,
Quebec Federation of Labor

I am disturbed by the disunity
of the Left in Quebec; but I am
not particularly optimistic about
the chances of reuniting it be-
fore the next provincial elec-
tion. My pessimism dates back
to the orientation convention of
the Quebec NDP in 1963, which
provoked a split between those
who wanted a party linked or-
ganically to the NDP and those
who wanted an_ independent
Quebec party. It brought about
the Parti Socialist du Quebec,
but also provoked the division
of the Left.

During the ensuing years
there have been few attempts
to reunite it and these have not
been successful.

My pessimism stems in part
from the sectarianism of those
who call themselves the Left. A
second reason for my pessimism
is the dispute between the two
union centres. Conflict on: the
labor scene does not create a
climate helpful to reunification
of the Left.

I hope the QFL, CNTU, CFU,
UGEQ (students union), etc.,
will eventually bring a popu-
larly-based Left-wing party into
existence. I am not speaking of
the federal scene, where there
already is a party which even

the PSQ recognizes as the only

effective one.

I do not see the provincial
party having an organic relation-
ship with the NDP. I see it as
quite different in its radicalism
and in its economic critique. It
will, I think, be more radical.

Lionel Sorel

president,
Catholic Farmers’ Union (CFU)

We are not going to support
any political party. This applies
on the national as well as the
provincial level. We never have
and we are not going to now.

We might approve a party

which included help for the poor
in its program. We could ap-
prove a certain policy, such as

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WAGES oes

During its Dec. 8-12 convention the Quebec Federation of Labor
debated a future role for itself on the provincial electoral scene and
adopted a resolution which was far from clear but did anticipate the
formation of a workers' party. Political and labor leaders were asked
how they understood the proposal. They were also asked their opinions

of the position of Emile
of the PSQ, who called for the
Left of Quebec around it. He
with the federal NDP, and

Opinions quoted are those of

organizations they represent.

SPE em a pre een ag Cec EE
From DAVE DENT—MONTREAL |

the nationalization of hydro; but
above all it is the policies and
not the parties.

In the coming election we will
support any reform which is ad-
vantageous for the people. We
will give our support to such
policies as adequate pensions.

Jean-Marie Bedard

first vice-president
Parti Socialiste du Quebec (PSQ)
and regional representative,
International Woodworkers of
America (QFL)

I was among those in both
the CCF and NDP who demand-
ed autonomy for their Quebec
sections. I have always rejected
the principle that the English-
speaking majority of any pan-
Canadian socialist party should
be able by force of numbers, by
majority vote, to reject policies
decided upon by its Quebec sec-
tion which affect the existence
as well as the rights of Quebec
as a nation.

Because the NDP refused to
establish a Quebec section and
to write into its program and
statements of ‘principle the un-
equivocal recognition of Que-
bec’s right of self-determination,
I joined the PSQ.

In spite of its vagueness the
QFL resolution allows us to tell
the workers of Quebec that it
is essential they build a genuine
socialist party capable of lead-
ing the fight which will over-
throw capitalism and end the
exploitation of the working
people.

Since the PSQ is still not a
mass party it cannot alone con-
Stitute a numerically satisfac-
tory opposition to the Lesage
government. A solid and effec-
tive opposition must be organ-
ized so that the French Canadian
masses can express -their dis-
content and put a certain brake
on the increasingly reactionary
orientation of the Lesage gov-
ernment.

The Quebec Left cannot allow
the Right to constitute the op-
position to the existing govern-
ment. A_ Left-wing electoral

front based on a minimum pro-
' gram is needed.

Mare Boulard

provincial organizer,
New Democratic Party

The QFL has expressed the
desire to form a provincial party
of the Left—a social democratic
party like ours. If it is formed
and some of our members want
to support it, it will be up to
the convention to decide. In any
case it certainly will not be
formed before the next provin-
cial election.

A provincial party built on
the base suggested by Boudreau
is essential; but if I am not mis-
taken previous initiatives in this
direction have not been very
fruitful.

I am not concerning myself
with the coming election. In my
constituency I will vote for the
best man. I am not going to try
to decide that such-and-such a
party is more Left than another.
Any of our members who want
to work for a party, Left or
other, have full freedom to do
so.

Pierre Valieres

Mouvement de Liberation
Populaire (Parti Pris)

I think the QFL is seriously
approaching the foundation of a
Labor party, in the British sense.
This will do no good for the
working class because it will
cause bewilderment among lead-
ers and among the workers
themselves. Both will imagine
great changes which will in rea-
lity be nothing more than an-
other “quite revolution.”

The only effective way is to
create a workers’ party which
will really oppose the ruling
class. Such a party will be made
illegal. A legal party cannot help
but aid the ruling class.

The only way elections can be
effective is by the election of a
tribune—a man of prestige re-
ceiving all the money and sup-
port available. Otherwise only
a boycott is useful. Robert

Boudreau, Steelworker delegate and member
formation of a party able to rally the
said a party should have a relationship
with socialist parties around the world.

the individuals and not necessarily of the

Cliche refuses to do this, and
Rene Levesque is on the other
side. Marcel Pepin is not in-
terested.

Since the RIN is running can-
didates they must be supported
with reservations. I would
rather vote for an independen-
tist than a Left which does not
have the courage to call itself
independentist. The central ques-
tion is that of independence; it

‘is a revolutionary demand.

Pierre Maheu
(MLP—Parti Pris)

The QFL resolution is so
vague you do not know whether
it means a socialist or a social
democratic party. If it is a real
sociatist party I am for it; but
I suspect they want to form a
social democratic party. If the
RIN runs in the coming elec-
tion we are going to be forced
to vote for it. In my constit-
uency I will vote for the candi-
date nearest to my socialist and
independentist ideas.

The most important question
is socialism. There will be no
genuine independence without
socialism, no genuine socialism
without independence.

Andre L'Heureux

Confederation of National
Trade Unions

I was one of the founders of
the PSQ and adhere to the prin-
ciple of a party capable of rally-
ing all the Quebec Left. But it

cannot be done right away.

Some people in the QFL want
to see the NDP form a provincial
wing in Quebec. Others are look-
ing for an independent party
which could group together the

whole Quebec Left. I do not

think the QFL is ready to ‘set
about forming such a party.

1 do not see any electoral al-
liances at present. There are
those in the PSQ who do. The
RIN is still a right-wing party.

Its leaders are young and spirit-.

ed; but the base is still petty
bourgeois.

Sam Walsh
chairman
Parti Communiste du Qué!
(PCQ)

I think the leadership of
trade union movement has ©
to the sound conclusion th
is necessary to create a Pp
cal force independent of

Liberal Party. This is a pro i.

ing step. The proposal should
examined in terms of spec!
details — that is, form
breadth. Is it to be a cop

taking into account all ten
cies on the Quebec Left?

be envisaged before the n@
provincial election. The work!
people cannot, meanwhile,
condemned to support the Li
als. The PCQ has been advo
ing an electoral agreement
Left-wing bloc — of existing P
litical groupings prepared to
operate on a minimum prog
as an alternative to the Libe
the party of big business.

We would like to see

PSQ, the MLP, even the RIN
other groups, cooperate in

of the population, as the p'
cursor of an all-in, federaté
working people’s party.

In my opinion the PCQ wo ha
be remiss in the development 9 —

j;'e

Ve

such a bloc if we did not nam) X;
at least five or six candidates. “nt

A new party cannot come int®T0j

being without previous expe! a

ience of cooperation, unless it is &
to be a more-or-less monolith!
party of the social-democrat!
type, which could not meet th
urgent need of the workin
people for a broadly-based fedet
ated party.

The proposition

Emilé
Boudreau is in the same gener
direction, but his emphasis on ‘

of

special relationship with the”
NDP in English Canada is ob”
scure and might not be particu’ i
larly helpful. 4

The NDP has decided not tO)
enter=— the
scene as.an independent force ”
I consider this decision helpful
to the stability of a broadly}

Nar
(
Quebec _ provincial "sc

\

v
h

based bloc and subsequently: yp,

perhaps, a federated party.

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January 14, 1966—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 6