Libman: 'Twas many nights before the next Quebec election

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
barely a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

There were in fact three, having trouble getting sleepy,
Pablo, and Legault, and PSPP.

Their minds were active, deep in reflection,
with less than a year now, before the election.

Pablo, reluctantly, made his decision,
his dream, being premier, won’t come to fruition.

His leadership blindsided, by his second in command,
when she fired her chief of staff, his former right hand.

Then allegations of vote buying, started to surface,
you could see on his face, how he looked so nervous.

He tried very hard, to extinguish the fire,
but every day, the flames grew higher.

The knives got sharper, as more news broke,
any gains his Liberals made, went up in smoke.

For most everyone, the writing was on the wall,
for the sake of the party, Pablo had to take the fall.

Will his successor be new blood, or from the old guard,
former MNA Karl Blackburn, or Charles Milliard?

Any new leader’s, first task at hand,
will be to cleanse, the Liberal brand.

******

Pablo had it rough, caught in a furor,
but he’s not the only one, looking in the mirror.

Legault and his CAQ, still languishing in polls,
a foundering boat, taking on more and more holes.

From the financing of Northvolt, and Lion Electric,
to a half billion wasted, on the scandal at SAAQclic.

Record deficits, tariffs, cost of living so high,
he’s running out of options, not much left to try.

Battles with doctors, unions, religious minorities,
all blowing up, as bungled priorities.

Education and health care, with no viable solution,
So he turns the focus, to a Quebec Constitution.

Even that won’t work, seen as an attempt to deflect,
as a Hail Mary pass, that just won’t connect.

Will his fortunes turn, after his backtrack on Bill 2?
Or is the damage done, that he can’t undo?

The CAQ’s only hope, may be for Legault to go,
but he seems to be held back, by his own ego.

******

PSPP, too, has been tossing and turning,
about how to keep, his momentum burning.

Every time he glances, into the mirror,
he thinks he’s staring, at our next premier.

But despite his poll numbers, being so telling,
Quebecers aren’t buying, what he’s selling.

He’s bent on holding, a referendum on separation,
which is still opposed, by two-thirds of the population.

But can he lead a government, if he really does win?
We’ve seen his temper, and his very thin skin.

He blasted the cultural milieu, as if they did something sinister,
for merely congratulating, Canada’s new culture minister.

He raves and he rants, about the federal “regime,”
trying to convince voters, to buy into his dream.

He’s unveiling chapters, in what’s called the Blue Book,
peddling how good, an independent Quebec will look.

Promises, assertions, and rose-coloured glasses,
he’ll try anything it seems, to hoodwink the masses.

But Quebecers have, other priorities these days,
they want competent leadership, and better ways.

We can’t afford a leader, who puts the province in disarray,
yet he may be elected, because there’s no other play.

Will Duhaime’s Conservatives, come up the middle,
and offer some hope, maybe just a little?

******

The CAQ and Liberals, big decisions to make,
in the coming year, there’s very much at stake.

If they choose the right leader, their parties they can save,
we’ve seen political shifts in Quebec, become a sudden voter wave.

Perhaps the sleepwalk, toward a PQ win,
might no longer be, as obvious as it’s been.

And it’s hoped Quebecers, from their dreams do wake up,
not to a third referendum, but a 25th Stanley Cup.

Happy holidays and health, to one and to all,
let’s not dwell, for a few days, on the election next fall.

Robert Libman is an architect and planning consultant who has served as Equality Party leader and MNA, mayor of Côte-St-Luc and a member of the Montreal executive committee.

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