RIMOUSKI, Que. – An independent Quebec would seek to recover its share of national assets such as CF-18 fighter-bombers and Canadian Coast Guard ships, Parti Quebecois Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau said Tuesday.
Peladeau added a sovereign Quebec would also want its share of Canada Post offices and ownership of other federal infrastructure such as bridges.
But Quebec isn’t only interested in taking things from Canada, he said, adding that an independent Quebec nation will also assume its responsibility over its portion of the national debt.
“So, yes, these are contributions that were made by Quebecers throughout the federation in the hundreds of billions of dollars, so it belongs to us,” he said Tuesday in Rimouski, about 300 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.
Peladeau’s comments came as the PQ caucus began two days of meetings in the city in preparation for the resumption of activities at the provincial legislature in mid-September.
The PQ leader was continuing on a theme put forth by Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, with whom he recently campaigned in eastern regions of the province.
Peladeau — who has already publicly discussed the idea of an independent Quebec army — says the PQ will open a special institute designed to study independence.
He said Tuesday the question of what Quebec is owed from Canada as well as the possibility of an army “will be studied in due course” by the independence institute.
PQ house leader Stephane Bedard wouldn’t add to Peladeau’s comments about a potential army or coast guard.
“I have the impression, the conviction, that it’s not worth it for Quebec to be in Canada,” he said.