Article content

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois says sovereignty for the province is an “emergency” and “more important today than it was 10 years ago, 15 years ago, 20 years ago.”

Attempting to revive the independence debate, Marois told a weekend meeting of Parti Quebecois delegates that it is “very important to explain” the benefits of making Quebec a country, which include the province making its own decisions and ending the duplication of two levels of government.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'We are on the offensive:' Pauline Marois claims Quebec sovereignty is an 'emergency' Back to video

Signalling statehood will be the prime focus of the PQ, Marois said that it was time for a new “offensive.”

We do not have any real responses to our needs with the federal government, if you talk about language or investment in the economy

“We have been on the defensive since the ’95 referendum,” Marois said. “From now on we are on the offensive,” she said.

Marois’ new sovereignty push comes despite a Léger Marketing poll for the Montreal Gazette and Le Devoir, conducted Feb. 5—6, finding support for independence has dropped to 37% from 43% a year earlier.

“That is an emergency now,” she said. “It isn’t because of a lack of interest that sovereignty is not more important today than it was 10 years ago, 15 years ago, 20 years ago.”