The license plate says it all: “Je me souviens.” Or does it? Quйbec has maintained a strong regional and cultural identity despite being under Anglophonic control for the past 250 years. While Quйbйcois politics has not always encouraged the defiant regionalism of the province’s motto, Quйbec’s rising political star Andrй Boisclair believes that this regionalist movement has not yet lost its momentum. Since November 2005, Boisclair has been the leader of the Parti Quйbйcois (PQ), a separatist and social democratic party in provincial politics. Now, this momentum has been channeled into a new separatism that returns to the so-called beau risque—late separatist leader Renй Lйvesque’s idea of creating a more nearly sovereign Quйbec. So far, the PQ has tended more toward compromise than actual independence, as Quйbec vociferously maintains its cultural distinctions while hesitating to promote a much-discussed “Third Referendum.” Two referendums on sovereignty have been held, and although neither has passed, a rejuvenated separatist party could make the dream of sovereignty a reality.

The Quйbйcois separatist movement has varied in popularity in the latter half of the twentieth century. It first gained widespread popularity as a political struggle in the 1960s, when the “Quiet Revolution” increased separatist sentiments, secularized society, and brought in welfare reforms. However, the desire for political autonomy for Quйbec became notably muted in the 1980s: the 1980 Referendum on Quйbec’s complete independence from Canada failed with only 40 percent of Quйbйcois voting in favor of sovereignty. Thereafter, a strategy of compromise was introduced by Premier Renй Lйvesque, leader when the PQ was in power. Separatist ambitions were revived briefly, but another referendum failed in 1995 after a brutal and close contest—50.6 percent voted non and 49.4 percent oui to sovereignty for Quйbec.

These gains have also been reflected in the province’s legislature: in the past five years, the non-separatist Parti Libйral du Quйbec won provincial assembly seats from the PQ. Indeed, political separatism has appeared increasingly irrelevant to the young generation. Paradoxically, it might have been the success of previous PQ campaigns that caused the referendum’s unpopularity: as the official opposition in the 1970s, the PQ passed laws that preserved French as an official language of the government, courts, and businesses. Still more legislation was introduced in the form of Bill 101 in 1977, which mandated French-language education for immigrants to the province. Lйvesque identified the feelings of the modern generation with the idea of the beau risque, a philosophy promoting political compromise with Canada instead of complete separation.

However, new leadership elected in November 2005 might restore the separatist movement’s vitality. The Toronto Star dubbed Andrй Boisclair, the new leader of the PQ, as a “separatist wunderkind,” in reference to his enthusiasm for the Quйbйcois cause and his relative youth.

Boisclair is not just a sensational figurehead. Elected to the provincial legislature at age 23, Boisclair has since become a prominent politician, garnering the support of Premier Jean Charest of the Parti Libйral. Charest has even stated he would not run anyone in opposition to Boisclair should he campaign for a seat in the provincial assembly. This unexpected support comes in addition to a more predictable collaboration with Gilles Duceppe, leader of the federal political party Bloc Quйbйcois, who plans to work with the PQ. The telegenic Boisclair’s public speaking skills and good showings in opinion polls, are also factors that lend support and credibility to the young political leader.

The centerpiece of the renewed separatist movement’s agenda is Quйbec’s sovereignty. During his election campaign, Boisclair promised to set forth a third referendum on Quйbec’s independence. His chances are good: the Ottawa Citizen’s polls indicate a 49 percent approval for sovereignty within the province. As the party leader, Boisclair is not pushing for such a vote immediately, and appears to be understandably cautious on the issue. Analysts believe that Quйbec is not yet economically stable enough for independence, and that to propose another referendum without sufficient support certainly would be unwise for the separatist cause.

Boisclair has begun to revitalize the PQ and has said that his leadership will give the beau risque the “new momentum” it requires. While regionalism remains, the conciliatory trends today seem to have replaced the old defiance. Yet the influence of a charismatic separatist leader could reverse this, if Canada’s most volatile province reconsiders its history.