On the weekend, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe gave a speech in Quebec City on the occasion of his having served in the House of Commons for 20 years now.
He celebrated 20 years in Ottawa — 20 years in which, as some have noted, he and the Bloc have failed to advance their separatist cause — by exhorting his followers to be like the “resistance fighters” in France during the Second World War who went underground to battle the occupiers from Nazi Germany..
“For now, we're members of a resistance movement,” Duceppe said, in French, in his speech. (That's my translation: Here is what Duceppe said in French: “Pour le moment, nous sommes des résistants. Mais les résistants d'hier seront les vainqueurs de demain. Vive le Québec souverain!”
Later, speaking to reporters, Duceppe continued to stand by the metaphor which, if it is extended, suggests that the rest of Canada must be some kind of Nazi-like occupying force in Quebec. “Quebec sovereignty is not possible, just as the Liberation was not possible, without the work of resisters.”
The Montreal Gazette's Kevin Dougherty reports that, when asked by reporters if he was drawing a parallel between the Bloc and the French resistance to Nazi occupation, Duceppe merely joked that the French resistance did not give news conferences.
Federal Liberal and Conservative politicians were quick to say it was one of the dumbest things they've heard from Duceppe or any separatist.
“The comparison is outrageous,” Liberal MP Denis Coderre announced to his Twitter followers.
Dimitri Soudas, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief spokesman, called Duceppe's remarks “ridiculous and unacceptable. It seems that Gilles Duceppe has forgotten that Canadians, including Quebecers, bravely fought Nazism during World War II.
“Instead of making zany comparisons, Gilles Duceppe should say clearly to Quebecers that his Party’s only goal is to prevent Quebec from developing within Canada. “
Mr. Duceppe has finally realized separatists are loosing relevance in modern day Quebec. He is trying to revive that which most Quebecers do not want. His party gets virtually all of it's operating funds from the $1.95 per vote subsidy garnered at election time. Less then 20% is received from donation by private citizens.
One important thing to remember is that the Conservative party is the largest recipient of taxpayer subsidies once you factor for both the per-vote subsidy AND regular tax credits for political donations. As the most successful fundraiser the Conservatives are also enjoy the largest tax offset.