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Quebec’s English-speaking community has always felt uncomfortable about flirting outside of its long-standing relationship with the Quebec Liberal Party. Despite feelings of alienation or being taken for granted by the Liberals, we will very rarely stray.

Sensing our latest feelings of disaffection, emboldened by the perception that Health Minister Gaétan Barrette is picking on the MUHC and our health-care infrastructure, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has been winking at us and produced a seductive English video. Pundits have speculated that our community is now eyeing the CAQ and that their recent bump in the polls is an indication of this flirtation.

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History has proven, however, that the consummation of this relationship is unlikely.

In 1974, Quebec anglophones were furious at Robert Bourassa and the Liberals for adopting Bill 22, the first law that made French the sole official language of Quebec. Many voted for the Union National in 1976, splitting the vote, which indirectly helped the Parti Québécois win that historic election. Since then, in every provincial election for the next 40 years, fear of splitting the federalist vote has made it almost impossible for another party to supplant the Liberals as the choice for anglophone voters.