Hundreds of residents of Montreal 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 event, noted a growing involvement of young people in the independence movement. She emphasized that for the younger generation, independence represents a path towards bringing about systemic changes.
The federalists narrowly won the 1995 referendum with a slim margin of 50.58% of the vote. Another referendum was held in 1980 by the Parti Québécois, receiving 40.44% support. Despite being ahead in the polls leading up to the next provincial election, the party remains optimistic about a potential third referendum by 2030.
Goyette-Gingras highlighted the emergence of a citizen-led, non-partisan movement that she believes could lead to another referendum in the coming years. She pointed out that many young individuals view independence as a solution to critical issues like the climate crisis.
During the march, young college and university students joined forces with participants from the past referendums in 1995 and 1980. Politicians Manon Massé and Ruba Ghazal from Québec Solidaire, a pro-independence party, also rallied with the crowd, echoing chants of “Le Québec un pays” (Quebec, a country).
Students Laure Fateux and Olivia Bégin from Cégep du Vieux Montréal expressed strong support for Quebec’s sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of preserving Quebec’s culture, language, and history. Leonard Vidal, another student at the college, asserted that independence is necessary to break free from what he described as the Canadian government’s “colonial, petroleum state.”
Catherine Lamoureux-Schmidt, a student at L’Université du Québec à Montréal, echoed similar sentiments, advocating for Quebec’s sovereignty as the only path forward. She and Vidal are part of a Quebec-wide coalition of student groups pushing for independence, which has rapidly grown in numbers over the past year.
Lamoureux-Schmidt emphasized the importance of a “nation-to-nation” relationship with First Nations in Quebec, underscoring the need for meaningful consultation. Like many participants, she anticipates a referendum vote in her lifetime, stressing the significance of allowing the public to voice their opinions.
Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez, speaking from the party’s assembly in Trois-Rivières, acknowledged that an independent Quebec could be viable but economically challenged. He echoed concerns of potential economic repercussions, emphasizing the need to renegotiate trade agreements and the country’s economic status outside the G7.