Quebec sovereigntists look to Scotland for independence hope

Quebec sovereigntists are watching closely as Scotland heads to the polls for its historic September 18 vote on independence.

A number of Quebecsovereigntists, including representatives of the Parti Qubcois, are heading to Scotland this week to observe the vote and bring back ideas for breathing new life into their flaggingmovement back home.

Andranne Villeneuve is one of those making the trip.

It will maybe prove the shot in the arm for independence in Quebec that weve been waiting for, she told CBC News.

One idea the PQ is already promoting is a Scottish-influenced approach toquestions of immigration and cultural diversity in Quebec.

That means putting to rest the ghosts of the controversial secular values charter promoted by the recent PQ government under Pauline Marois, which wanted to ban the wearing of overt religious symbols by members of Quebecs public service, as well asformer PQ leader Jacques Parizeaus blaming the ethnic vote for the 1995 referendum loss.

I think we have to do the same here in Quebec. We have to make sure everyone is welcome and they have a place here in the Parti Qubcois, said PQ MNAAlexandre Cloutier.

Sovereignty supporters are also pointing to the simplicity of the six-word question that Scottish voters will be asked to answer 'yes'or 'no' to:"Should Scotland be an independent country?"

The question that voters in Quebecs 1995 referendum on independence had to answer was43 words long and was widely criticized for being unclear.

Universit de Montreal professor Pierre Martin said the clarity of the Scottish referendum question may come back to haunt British Prime Minister David Camerons government.

Perhaps the British government was confident that this this clear kind of question would repel voters, he told CBC News. Now, independence is something they might have to accept.

All of these lessons are food for thought for the PQ and are helping them with their strategy for the next general election in Quebec.

We take the next four years to renew the substance, the content, the arguments, to show Quebeckers that it would be to their benefit, said PQ MNA Bernard Drainville.

Potential PQ leadership contenders are even pledging to hold off on any referendum in their first term in power.

Let's build Quebec, build its economy, build its social net and come back later on this issue, said PQ MNA Jean-Franois Lise.