Quebec Premier Pauline Marois promises push towards sovereignty

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois is raising the spectre of another sovereignty referendum.

On Thursday, following a Parti Quebecois caucus meeting in Shawinigan, the Premier told reporters that if her government wins a majority mandate in the next election, she will issue a white paper about separation and follow that up with consultations with the public.

"I am a sovereignist," she said, according to the Globe and Mail.

"And should the people elect me and my government, I will have the possibility to [achieve] sovereignty."

[ Related: Quebecers leaving the province in big numbers: poll ]

Newspapers in Quebec, are suggesting that Marois may be poised to call a general election for April 14.

A minority government has stymied the PQ from passing some divisive legislation including Bill 14 which would have strengthened French-language requirements for businesses and schools.

A majority in April would help the PQ pass that law, the controversial Values Charter and move the province towards a sovereignty vote.

If you listen to one of Marois' senior cabinet ministers, that seems to be the plan.

"Canada has not done its work to respond to the aspirations of Quebecers, in spite of the two signals we sent them in 1980 and 1995, and now at the dawn of [Canada's 150th] anniversary, it is time to ask the question again," International Relations Minister Jean-François Lisée said, according to the Montreal Gazette.

He also hinted that the PQ would be active in moving quickly on the public consultations.

"We're not going to be idle. We're going to try to hasten the pace, but we'll respect the pace."

[ Related: Is Quebec's values charter the PQ's ticket to a majority? ]

According to the latest poll, 36 per cent of Quebecers would vote for the PQ while 33 per cent would vote Liberal. Because of the geographic distribution of votes, that would be enough for Pauline Marois' government to earn a majority.

"This is the first time that the PQ is mathematically in position to win a majority government since their election in fall 2012," Leger vice-president Christian Bourque said, according to QMI Agency.

While Marois may be able to win an election, polls suggest that, as of now, Quebecers want to be a part of Canada.

According to a Leger/Le Devoir poll from Decmeber, 33 per cent of those surveyed said that they would vote for sovereignty while 51 per cent would vote against.

But with a majority government, Marois would have at least four years to create the 'winning conditions' for independence.

You have to believe that's the PQ strategy.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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