With Trump coming in, time is now for economic nationalism, PQ says

Quebec must be more aggressive in defending its economic interests given the current global surge in protectionism, Parti Qubcois Leader Jean-FranoisLise told party members, Sunday.

Just days before Donald Trump, a strident free-trade critic, is set to become president of Quebec's largest trade partner,Lisesaid it was urgent for the province to adopt a more economic nationalist stance.

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"We're not only surrounded by altar boys on this continent," Lise said, referencingto the incoming U.S. president."We have to show some muscle, defend our jobs, our market-share in the years ahead."

Lisehas asked the party's finance critic, Nicolas Marceau, to draw up proposals for buy-local legislation. As examples, they pointed to various Buy American provisions passed by the U.S. Congress, which require public funds be spent within the country.

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At a news conference following Lise's speech, Marceau saidhe wants a greater percentage of government spending in Quebec at both the provincial and municipal level reserved for Quebec suppliers.

Marceau said the buy-local legislation in the U.S. provides a model for balancing protectionism with free-trade.

'Audacious' proposals

The call for greater economic nationalism was framed byLiseas part his push to make the PQ more "audacious" in its policy proposals.

His speech on Sunday wrapped up a two-day party conference, the first such gathering since Lise took over the party's leadership in November 2016.

As part of his leadership campaign,Lisepromised not to hold a referendum during the first mandate of a PQ government.

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And while that proposal appeared to contribute to his victory in the leadership race, it rankled some hard-line sovereigntists. The weekend meeting was a chance for Lise to consolidate his sovereigntist bona fides.

In a speech to party members on Saturday, he bemoaned the state of French language? in Montreal, claiming it would soon only be spoken in a minority of homes on the island.

He also said a PQ government would force anglophones to pass a standardized French test in order to graduate from CEGEP. This too he characterized as evidence of the PQ's"audacious" turn.

"Their home is Quebec, and here French is the official and common language," Lisesaid of young Anglos. "To not give them that tool is to fail at the task at hand."

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