Parti Québécois leader Jean-François Lisée says his party will “go further than before” in reaching out to cultural communities and said the party’s pledge to not hold a referendum in its first mandate should help improve relations with immigrant groups.
“The fact that we have decided to not hold a referendum in the first mandate is a way of improving the atmosphere,” Lisée said during a news conference in Montreal on Sunday.
Evelyne Abitbol.
Carole Poirier.
The new PQ leader made the comments as he announced several measures to improve his party’s relationship with immigrants, many of whom often vote Liberal in provincial elections. The party has appointed longtime sovereignist Évelyne Abitbol as a special adviser and asked her to develop links with various immigrant groups before the next provincial election.
Carole Poirier, the PQ’s spokesperson on immigration issues, will speak to party members and her colleagues about the importance of attracting immigrant voters.
According to Lisée, members of cultural communities will be more receptive to the party’s message because it has pledged to not hold a referendum during its first mandate.
“There are people who agree with us, but who don’t know us well enough,” he said. He said that certain members of cultural communities don’t support the PQ because the provincial Liberals always tell them that a vote for the PQ is a vote against Canada.
