Coalition Avenir Québec
AbbreviationCAQ
LeaderFrançois Legault
PresidentSarah Beaumier
FoundersFrançois Legault
Charles Sirois
Founded4 November 2011 (2011-11-04)[1]
Split fromParti Québécois
Headquarters1260 Rue Mill, Montreal, Quebec
H3K 2B4
Membership (2022)Increase 50,000[2]
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right[3][4][5][6][7]
Colours  Blue[8]
Seats in the National Assembly
89 / 125
Website
www.coalitionavenirquebec.org

The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ; French: [kɔ.a.li.sjɔ̃ av.niʁ ke.bɛk], lit. 'Quebec Future Coalition' or 'Future Quebec Coalition') is a Quebec nationalist,[9] autonomist[10] and conservative[11][12] provincial political party in Quebec.

It was founded by former Parti Québécois (PQ) cabinet minister François Legault and businessman Charles Sirois; Legault also serves as the party leader. The party membership includes both Quebec nationalists and federalists. Legault has said it will never endorse a referendum on sovereignty; the party doesn’t support Quebec independence, but will seek more autonomy within Canada if necessary.

Not long after its formation, the party gained nine sitting Members of the National Assembly of Quebec (MNAs) who had been elected as members of the PQ and of the Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ); the ADQ later merged with the CAQ in January 2012.[13] The party is registered with the Director-General of Elections in Quebec under the name Coalition avenir Québec – L'équipe François Legault.[1]

Members and supporters of the party are referred to as "caquistes", derived from the French pronunciation of the party's initials. However, the party has requested that the term "coalisés" be used instead.[14]

On 1 October 2018, the CAQ won a majority of seats in the National Assembly of Quebec, allowing it to form a government for the first time.[15] It increased its majority in the 2022 elections.

History

Foundation and 2012 provincial election

In February 2011, François Legault and Charles Sirois held a press conference to announce the formation of a movement called the Coalition pour l'avenir du Québec (lit. 'Coalition for the future of Quebec').[16]

Logo used before official party launch on 14 November 2011.

In September 2011, the CAQ began discussions with the ADQ on the possibility of a merger between the two groups.[17] The two parties were very similar ideologically.

On 14 November 2011, Legault held a press conference to launch the movement as a political party under the slightly modified name of Coalition Avenir Québec, unveiling a new logo at the same time.[18] The actual registration of the party with the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec had already taken place on 4 November.[1]

On 13 December 2011, the CAQ and the ADQ announced an agreement in principle to merge, pending final approval with the ADQ membership.[19]

On 19 December 2011, two former PQ MNAs (Benoit Charette and Daniel Ratthé) and two former ADQ MNAs (Éric Caire and Marc Picard) who had earlier left their respective parties to sit as independents announced that they were joining the CAQ, becoming the new party's first sitting members.[20][21]

In January 2012, PQ MNA François Rebello switched party affiliation to the CAQ, becoming its fifth sitting member.[22]

On 21 January 2012, the results of the ADQ's mail-in vote were announced: of the 54% of members who voted, 70% approved the merger with the CAQ. The ADQ's four remaining MNAs—Sylvie Roy of Lotbinière, Janvier Grondin of Beauce-Nord, François Bonnardel of Shefford, and leader Gérard Deltell of Chauveau—joined the CAQ, boosting its caucus to nine.[23][24]

On 23 January 2012, the CAQ announced its first president, Dominique Anglade, who would also be a candidate for the party in the next election.[25] She left the party in 2015, cited objections to the CAQ's positions on ethnic identity and immigration and ran for the Quebec Liberal Party.[26]

On 5 August 2012, Jacques Duchesneau, the whistleblower behind Quebec's anti-corruption unit, announced his candidacy for the riding of Saint-Jérôme in the 2012 provincial election.[27] He won the MNA seat.

On 4 September 2012, the CAQ won 19 seats in the 2012 provincial election.[13]

2014 provincial election

First party logo.

In the 2014 provincial election held on 7 April, the CAQ won 22 seats, a gain of three seats.[13] The TVA-sponsored second televised debate was noted as a turning point in the campaign and party leader François Legault's performance reflected positively on the CAQ's standing. Therefore, early voting results revealed a disastrous outcome for the party, while ballots cast on Election Day were much more favourable.[28]

Also, overall returns marked a significant geographic shift in the CAQ electoral base. In the Capitale-Nationale area, reputed for its conservative leanings and the influence of its talk-radio hosts, the Quebec Liberal Party won four of the six seats previously held by the CAQ. A strategic vote of the anti-PQ electorate,[29] as well as a pledge by Legault to spend no public money on projects dear to Mayor Régis Labeaume, such as the construction of a $97.5 million covered ice rink, the completion of the $60 million theatre Le Diamant, promoted by Robert Lepage, and the $20 million revitalization of the French colonial era new barracks,[30] are possible causes for the backlash.

The CAQ losses in the Capitale-Nationale area were largely compensated with a significant breakthrough in the "450 area" (Laurentides, Lanaudière and Montérégie), where it ended up with seven more seats.

Meanwhile, the CAQ support in Chaudière-Appalaches and Centre-du-Québec remained steady.

After 2014 provincial election

On 15 August 2014, CAQ MNA for Lévis Christian Dubé resigned his seat to take a job at the Caisse de dépôt et placement.[31]

The subsequent 20 October 2014 by-election was won by CAQ candidate François Paradis with 47 per cent of the popular vote.[32]

Following much speculation, Gérard Deltell announced on 7 April 2015, that he would be running for the federal Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of Louis-Saint-Laurent in the upcoming 2015 federal election. His resignation as MNA for Chauveau took effect the same day.[33]

On 26 August 2015, CAQ MNA Sylvie Roy resigned to sit as an independent following personal issues with party leadership.[34]

On 2 October 2017, Geneviève Guilbault won a byelection in the riding of Louis-Hébert that had long been held by the Quebec Liberal Party, winning over 51 per cent of the vote.[35]

2018 Quebec provincial election and Legault government

On 1 October 2018, the CAQ won 74 seats, a gain of 53 seats compared to their performance in 2014, propelling them from third place to a strong majority government. The CAQ won 37.4 percent of the vote, four percentage points fewer than what the Liberals tallied four years earlier, and the lowest vote share on record for a party winning an outright majority.[36] However, the CAQ dominated its traditional heartlands and also scored sweeps or near-sweeps in Mauricie, Estrie, Lanaudière, Montérégie, the Laurentides and northern Quebec. Historically, Quebec elections have seen very large disparities between the raw vote and actual seat count.

This marked the first time since the 1966 election, which was won by the now-defunct Union Nationale, that a party other than the Quebec Liberals or the Parti Québécois formed government in Quebec.[37] It was also the first time since then that a centre-right party had won government in the province.[38]

The CAQ picked up support from a number of former PQ supporters who had come to believe there was no realistic chance of becoming independent from Canada. For instance, Patrick Légaré, a longtime PQ supporter from the longstanding sovereigntist stronghold of Terrebonne, told The Guardian that he decided to vote for the CAQ because he believed "the dream of a separate Quebec is dead." His main concern was finding "someone who can beat the Liberals–and it isn't the PQ."[39] As it turned out, most of the CAQ's gains came at the expense of the PQ, with several ridings that had been in PQ hands for four decades or more falling by landslide margins.

The CAQ then took the seat vacated by the resignation of former premier Philippe Couillard in a by-election held 10 December 2018, increasing its total to 75 seats.

In December 2019 the party won the by-election in Jean-Talon and in April 2022 won the by-election in Marie-Victorin, both of which had been Liberal and Parti Québécois strongholds, raising its seat total to 76.

The party won another majority government in the 2022 elections, raising their seat count to 90.

Ideology and policies

The party long described itself as being neither of the left nor the right: it is not particularly economically conservative, with economic policies similar to the Quebec Liberal Party and social policies to their right.[40][41] However, its politics have been described in the press as centre-right and populist by Quebec standards.[11][12][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] From the time the CAQ's merger with the ADQ until the Conservative Party of Quebec gained its first MNA in 2021, the CAQ was the right-most party in the National Assembly.

The party includes former federal Conservatives, provincial Liberals and ex-péquistes.[49]

Education

The party proposes government investment in education and partial decentralization of the healthcare system. They promise "to further develop the entrepreneurial culture in Québec" and provide government resources for the private sector. The party also supports austerity "to provide the government with the flexibility it needs to adapt to the ongoing changes in the economy"; one measure specifically mentioned is leaving 6,000 open Hydro-Québec employment positions unfilled.[50]

The party supports abolishing school boards and increasing the autonomy of principals and their governing boards.[51]

Nationalism and separatism

The CAQ contends that the near half-century debate over sovereignty has hampered Quebec's economic and political progress. While the party does not support independence, it does identify as nationalist; it believes Quebec can thrive in Canada if the federal government is willing to grant more powers to the province.[12][50] On 10 April 2014, Legault, previously a staunch sovereignist, stated that a CAQ government would never hold a referendum on leaving Canada: "[There] will never be a referendum for the life of the coalition even after 10 years, even after 20 years, so that's clear. And I was clear but people understood something else."[52] François Legault added, "Once it is clear that there will never be a referendum with the Coalition Avenir Québec, the anglophones and allophones, who don't want a referendum, have to understand that we offer an alternative to the Liberals."[53]

Anti-immigration

François Legault, leader of the CAQ

The motto of the province of Quebec, "I remember" (Je me souviens in French), is inscribed on all vehicle license plates circulating in that region of Canada. Despite its omnipresence, the exact meaning of the motto is a matter of debate. However, experts agree that it represents the importance that Québécois society places on collective memory, its history, and its traditions.[54]

One of Quebec's most deeply rooted traditions, especially in its metropolis, Montreal, is the welcoming of immigrants, who have played a fundamental role in shaping its identity. Therefore, the electoral victory in 2018 of the CAQ, which based part of its campaign on control of immigration, was seen as alarming. This party increased its parliamentary representation, going from 21 seats to 74, ensuring an absolute majority. It was the first time since 1970 that neither the liberals nor the separatists have taken control of the provincial government.[54]

The concern lies not so much in the specific proposals of the CAQ, which some European anti-immigration parties might consider moderate, but in the introduction of a previously marginal debate. François Legault, leader of the CAQ, argued that "Quebec has exceeded its integration capacity," proposing a reduction in the number of admitted immigrants and stricter controls in various migration categories. The most controversial proposal was the implementation of a French and culture exam after three years of residence in the province, with the risk of expulsion if not passed.[54]

This position has been strongly criticized by Quebec's business sector, which argues the need for foreign workers to support the province's economy. With an unemployment rate of 5.3%, close to full employment, and an economic growth of 3%, the Montreal Chamber of Commerce has pointed out the existence of 100,000 vacant job positions due to the lack of qualified candidates. Legault's proposals could, consequently, have a negative impact on the Quebec economy.[54]

The political situation in Quebec seems to reflect a global trend where leaders like Matteo Salvini, Viktor Orbán, and Donald Trump have popularized anti-immigration discourses in regions where they previously lacked influence. It is a reminder that Quebec, a land traditionally welcoming to immigrants, faces new challenges in the contemporary political landscape.[54]

As Canada seeks to strengthen its commitment to immigration, the federal government plans to welcome a record number of new immigrants, adding 1.45 million to its 39 million population by 2023. While immigration has caused divisions and the rise of political extremism in other Western countries, there is a widespread consensus in Canada about its value. However, Quebec has been a notable exception, with politicians exacerbating anti-immigrant sentiments, capitalizing on Franco-Quebecer voters' fears about the loss of their cultural identity.[55]

Cultural policy

According to the party, Quebec is defined by "its historical heritage, the French language, its democratic ideals and the principles of the secularity of the State, and equality among men and women".[50] The Party supported the Quebec ban on face covering but also argue the ban is not extensive enough.[56] They propose to prohibit the wearing of religious symbols by personnel in a position of authority, including teachers.[57] The party supports interculturalism to "integrate newcomers". This includes limiting immigration and promoting the use of French without creating new barriers.[50] However, they want to exempt Quebec from the requirements of multiculturalism.[58] In 2018, it proposed cutting the number of immigrants by 20 per cent, to 40,000 annually.[59][38][60] However, it plans to bring back numbers up to 52,000 a year in 2022.[61]

Other

Legault has stated "aggressive[ly]" that a CAQ government would not repeal Bill 101.[62] He has also stated that a CAQ government will demand greater power for Quebec.[49] The party is critical of the system of equalization payments in Canada and plans to remove Quebec from receiving such payments.[63] The party introduced an electoral reform bill in September 2019. It abandoned plans to hold a referendum on electoral reform in the 2022 general election[64] claiming there was not enough time.[65]

Election results

Election Results of CAQ in Quebec
ElectionLeaderVotes % of Popular Vote# of Seats WonChange +/–PositionGovernment
2012François Legault1,180,23527.05
19 / 125
Increase 12Steady 3rdThird Party
2014975,60723.05
22 / 125
Increase 3Steady 3rdThird Party
20181,509,42737.42
74 / 125
Increase 53Increase 1stMajority
20221,533,70540.98
90 / 125
Increase 14Steady 1stMajority


House leaders

MNA Years of service
Gérard Deltell 2011–2014
François Bonnardel 2014–2018
Simon Jolin-Barrette 2018–present

House whips

MNA Years of service
Daniel Ratthé 2012–2013
François Bonnardel 2013–2014
Donald Martel 2014–2018
Éric Lefebvre 2018–present

Party presidents

President Years of service
Dominique Anglade 2012–2013
Maud Cohen 2013–2014
Stéphane Le Bouyonnec 2014–2018
Sarah Beaumier 2019–present

Campaign slogans

  • 2012: C'est assez, faut que ça change ! (Enough, things have to change!)
  • 2014: On se donne Legault (Let's give ourselves Legault) (Play on words with "go ahead")
  • 2018: Maintenant. (Now.)[66]
  • 2022: Continuons. (Let's keep going.)[67]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Coalition avenir Québec". Directeur général des élections du Québec. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "Les nouveaux partisans du Parti conservateur du Québec" (in Canadian French). 3 May 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Dominique Auzias; Jean-Paul Labourdette; Collectif (2013). Québec 2013–2014 Petit Futé (avec cartes, photos + avis des lecteurs). Petit Futé. p. 35. ISBN 978-2-7469-6808-0.
  4. ↑ Sirma Bilge (2014). "Reading the Racial Subtext of Quebecois Accommodation Controversy: An Analytics of Racialized Governmentability". In Amanda Gouws; Daiva Stasiulis (eds.). Gender and Multiculturalism: North-South Perspectives. Routledge. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-317-66753-7.
  5. ↑ Kristin M. Bakke (2015). Decentralization and Intrastate Struggles: Chechnya, Punjab, and Québec. Cambridge University Press. p. 211. ISBN 978-1-316-30043-5.
  6. ↑ Philippe Van Parijs; Yannick Vanderborght (2017). Basic Income: A Radical Proposal for a Free Society and a Sane Economy. Harvard University Press. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-674-05228-4.
  7. ↑ "Is the Quebec Liberal Party Doomed?". 4 August 2022. because the CAQ has taken control of the political centre {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ↑ Martin Croteau (5 April 2014). "Une "vague arc-en-ciel" lundi, avance Legault". La Presse. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  9. ↑ . Le Soleil
  10. ↑ "La CAQ change d'identité". Le Devoir (in French). 7 November 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  11. 1 2 Kirkey, Christopher (15 December 2017). "The Quebec Election of April 2014: Initial Impressions". London Journal of Canadian Studies. 32 (1): 87–97. doi:10.14324/111.444.ljcs.2017v32.007.
  12. 1 2 3 "Quebec election: CAQ victory proves separatism is no longer a major issue". The Guardian
  13. 1 2 3 Tom Lansford, ed. (March 2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. Sage Publications. p. 1061. ISBN 978-1-4833-7155-9.
  14. ↑ Gilbert Lavoie (3 November 2011). "Coquetterie caquiste..." Cyberpresse.ca. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "Quebec elects a CAQ majority government, CBC News projects". CBC. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  16. ↑ "Francois Legault unveils Coalition for the Future". CTV. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  17. ↑ Lessard, Denis (7 September 2011). "Fusion de l'ADQ et de la CAQ: Deltell pressé par son parti". La Presse (in French). Québec. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  18. ↑ "New Quebec political party makes statement with logo". CTV. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "CAQ officially merging with ADQ". CTV. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  20. ↑ "Quatre élus indépendants se rallient à la CAQ". Radio-Canada (in French). 19 December 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  21. ↑ White, Marianne (19 December 2011). "New party boots its ranks with four new members". Canada.com.
  22. ↑ Philip Authier (13 January 2012). "Pauline Marois blasts former PQ MNA Francois Rebello". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  23. ↑ "Coalition for Quebec's Future, ADQ finalize merger". CTV News. 22 January 2012. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  24. ↑ Biggs, XiBit (22 January 2012). "Merger uniting new Coalition for Quebec's Future with ADQ a done deal". Global News. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  25. ↑ Kevin Dougherty (23 January 2012). "CAQ leader François Legault shows off party executive, 'ideal candidate'". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  26. ↑ Hicks, Ryan (25 September 2015). "Dominique Anglade abandons CAQ over identity, immigration views". CBC News.
  27. ↑ Canadian Press (5 August 2012). "Quebec anti-corruption crusader Duchesneau confirms run for CAQ". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  28. ↑ Croteau, Martin (7 April 2014). "La CAQ désormais "incontournable", selon Legault". lapresse.ca/. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  29. ↑ "La CAQ blâme le mouvement "anybody but Pauline"". lapresse.ca/le-soleil. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  30. ↑ "La CAQ paie pour avoir refusé d'endosser les projets de Québec, dit Labeaume". lapresse.ca/le-soleil. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  31. ↑ Authier, Philip (15 August 2014). "CAQ heavyweight Christian Dubé leaving politics". The Gazette. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  32. ↑ Vendeville, Geoffrey (21 October 2014). "CAQ holds the fort in Lévis byelection". The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  33. ↑ "Gérard Deltell jumps into federal politics with Conservatives". CBC News. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "Sylvie Roy quits CAQ to sit as independent". CTV News. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  35. ↑ "Coalition for Quebec's Future captures Louis-Hebert riding in byelection". The Chronicle-Journal. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  36. ↑ Benjamin Shingler (1 October 2018). "Quebec elects CAQ majority government, Liberals see historic losses". CBC News.
  37. ↑ "Francois Legault's CAQ wins majority in Quebec election, ends nearly 50 years of two-party rule". National Post. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  38. 1 2 Keating, Cecilia (2 October 2018). "What just happened in Quebec? Seven things you need to know about François Legault's historic victory". National Observer. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  39. ↑ Martin Patriquin (30 September 2018). "Canada: holdout of Quebec separatism faces end of the dream". The Guardian.
  40. ↑ Jonathan Montpetit The Canadian Press (10 August 2012). "How right-wing is the Coalition Avenir Quebec?". Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  41. ↑ "La CAQ se dit nationaliste mais pas a gauche ni a droite" (consulted March 2021)
  42. ↑ "Francois Legault unveils Coalition for the Future". CTV Montreal. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  43. ↑ Ljunggren, David (14 November 2011). "New Quebec party could marginalize separatists". Reuters. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  44. ↑ Ljunggren, David (14 June 2011). "The PQ falls on its separatist message". National Post. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  45. ↑ "Quebec unites its right". Winnipeg Sun. QMI Agency. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  46. ↑ "Legault's Coalition Avenir Quebec absorbs ADQ". CTV Montreal. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  47. ↑ "Jean Charest: Quebec Premier Eyeing 2013 Election". Huffingtonpost.ca. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  48. ↑ "CAQ not a tonic for economic conservatives". CBC. 10 August 2012.
  49. 1 2 Les Perraux (1 October 2018). "Coalition Avenir Québec wins historic majority as voters soundly reject old-line Liberals, PQ". The Globe and Mail.
  50. 1 2 3 4 "Taking Action for the Future — Action plan presented by the Coalition pour l'avenir du Québec" (PDF). 14 November 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  51. ↑ "La CAQ relance sa promesse d'abolir les commissions scolaires | Hugo Pilon-Larose | Politique québécoise". La Presse (in Canadian French). 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  52. ↑ "Francois Legault says CAQ would 'never' hold a referendum". ctvnews.ca. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  53. ↑ "'There will never be a referendum' with CAQ, Legault says". Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  54. 1 2 3 4 5 País, El (3 October 2018). "The essence of Quebec". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  55. ↑ Onishi, Norimitsu (17 December 2022). "How a Town Famous for Xenophobia Fell in Love With Immigrants". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  56. ↑ "Quebec's ban on face-coverings risks inflaming inter-communal tensions". The Economist.
  57. ↑ "What we've learned so far about the incoming CAQ government". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  58. ↑ "Un logo tout bleu pour le virage nationaliste de la CAQ". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  59. ↑ "Here are the priorities of Quebec's new CAQ government". CBC. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  60. ↑ "Legault Year One: How the CAQ has transformed Quebec so far". Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  61. ↑ Sucar, Daniel (16 August 2019). "CAQ keeps its promise of reducing immigration: study". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  62. ↑ "François Legault finds that Bill 101 and business don't (...) – Vigile.Québec". vigile.net. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  63. ↑ "Quebec without equalization? – Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  64. ↑ "How would proportional representation have shaped this election's results?". ICI Radio-Canada.ca. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  65. ↑ "Le gouvernement Legault met en veilleuse son projet de réforme du mode de scrutin". Le Devoir (in French). 28 April 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  66. ↑ Kestler-D'Amours, Jillian (22 August 2018). "What's in a slogan? Quebec's 4 main parties try to entice voters with one word or more". CBC News. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  67. ↑ "CAQ, Québec Solidaire unveil party slogans — and opposing messages". CBC News. 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022.
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