Hundreds of Montreal residents took to the streets on Saturday, expressing their aspirations for Quebec’s independence. The march in downtown Montreal preceded the upcoming 30th anniversary of the 1995 referendum set for October 30.
Camille Goyette-Gingras, the president of OUI Québec, a key organizer of the rally, noted the increasing involvement of young people in the movement for independence. She highlighted that the younger generation, particularly Gen Z, views independence as a means for significant systemic change.
The federalists narrowly won the 1995 referendum with 50.58% of the vote, while the 1980 referendum, also initiated by the Parti Québécois (PQ), garnered 40.44% support. With the PQ leading in opinion polls ahead of the next provincial election, they are optimistic about a potential third referendum by 2030.
Goyette-Gingras observed a grassroots, non-partisan movement gaining momentum, expressing confidence in the possibility of another referendum in the near future. Many young demonstrators believe that independence could address pressing issues like the climate crisis.
College and university students, both young and those who participated in past referendums, joined the march. Members of the pro-independence party Québec Solidaire, including MNAs Manon Massé and Ruba Ghazal, enthusiastically supported the call for Quebec to become a country.
Students at Cégep du Vieux Montréal, such as Laure Fateux and Olivia Bégin, indicated strong sovereigntist sentiments among their peers. They emphasized the importance of Quebec preserving its culture, language, and history through independence.
Leonard Vidal, another student at the college, expressed the view that independence is necessary to break away from what he described as the Canadian government’s colonial influence. Similarly, Catherine Lamoureux-Schmidt, a student at L’Université du Québec à Montréal, advocated for Quebec to become a sovereign nation.
Lamoureux-Schmidt and Vidal are part of a Quebec-wide coalition of student groups advocating for independence, which has grown from five to 22 clubs over the past year. They emphasized the non-partisan nature of the coalition and highlighted the importance of respecting First Nations in Quebec.
Many participants, like Lamoureux-Schmidt, anticipate a referendum within their lifetime, emphasizing the need for public discourse on the issue. They seek to shape their own future and express a desire for self-determination.
Pablo Rodriguez, the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, cautioned that an independent Quebec could face economic challenges, including potential exclusion from the G7 and the need to renegotiate trade agreements. Rodriguez emphasized the need to consider the economic implications of independence.
The march in Montreal signifies a renewed interest in Quebec’s independence, with a diverse range of voices advocating for self-governance and highlighting the importance of cultural preservation and democratic decision-making.