Parti Quebecois candidate Pierre-Karl Peladeau reacts to a question from reporters before taking part in a local candidates debate Monday, March 31, 2014 in Saint Jerome, Que.. Quebecers will vote in a provincial election April 7, 2014.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan RemiorzRyan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
Pierre Karl Péladeau has the great virtue – or is it an impediment? – of saying whatever is on his mind. At the summer meeting of the Parti Québécois caucus in Rimouski this week, the Opposition Leader of Quebec was quick to start thinking aloud about how to divide up the assets of Canada and Quebec in the event of separation. He didn't deal in the hypothetical.
For example, Mr. Péladeau asked how many CF-18 fighter jets Quebec would get in the divorce settlement. He raised similar questions about the Coast Guard, Canada Post, airports, docks, bridges and much more.
"Quebeckers contributed to all this federal infrastructure, and it will be the subject of a deep analysis," he said. "Some of this infrastructure should remain Québécois."
To his credit, Mr. Péladeau said he would also recognize the division of Canada's accumulated debt; he doesn't expect a glorious, new, independent Quebec to come into being scot-free.
One thing he wasn't ready to discuss yet was whether or not Canada and Quebec should share the armed forces, rather than divvy up its planes and tanks. That, he said, is for another day, as is the question of which currency an independent Quebec would use.
In the meantime, he will establish an institute of "scientific and applied research" on independence to answer the relevant questions. He did not make it clear whether this think-tank would be paid for from party funds or from his own wealth – or perhaps both.
There is the suggestion of something less than a level playing field in all this. Since Mr. Péladeau has already stated that his province would be entitled to a share of all of Canada's assets, the "scientific" findings of his proposed research institute seem destined to be tainted by a strong dose of confirmation bias.
Nevertheless, Mr. Péladeau is a bold visionary. Few separatists have broached such questions since the 1995 referendum. He said he plans to perfect his vision and have it ready for the next provincial election, scheduled for three years from now.
Will the voters of Quebec will be ready?