Many will be tempted to slip into Chicken Little mode today when the see the Globe's front-page story, "54% in Quebec back sovereignty":
QUEBEC -- Support for sovereignty in Quebec has broken through the 50-per-cent barrier to its highest level since 1998 amid growing controversy over the sponsorship scandal. A new poll shows 54 per cent of decided voters would support sovereignty in a referendum that offered an economic and political partnership with the rest of Canada -- the same question asked in the Oct. 30, 1995, referendum.
Polls over the past year asking similar questions showed support of between 44 and 49 per cent for sovereignty.
The question asked in the poll is the same one that was asked in 1995, meaning a wishy-washy, convoluted question.
Now, to be sure, this is not good news. That is a high number, and Leger is a respected polling firm. But is it really that bad? Read further down in the story (I wonder how many people ever do?) to get the big picture. For instance, we learn that:
When asked if by voting for sovereignty they still wanted Quebec to continue to be a part of Canada, 56 per cent of respondents said yes and 40 per cent responded no, with 4 per cent undecided.
Renewed federalism remained the preferred option for a sizable portion of the population, according to the poll, but voters are still deeply divided over the issue.
There you have it. Even at the height of this sponsorship scandal, 56% of Quebecers want to stay in Canada. As Sheila Copps said on CTV last weekend, the separatists don't have the guts to ask a real question on separatism. Because if they do, they can't win.
