François Gendron is taking its final bow

Photo Agence QMI, Simon Clark
The member of parliament for Abitibi-Ouest has announced yesterday that he will not be candidate in the next elections, after a political career of 42 years.

Patrick Bellerose

Sunday, 25 February, 2018 01:00

UPDATE
Sunday, 25 February, 2018 01:00

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The dean of the national Assembly, announced yesterday that he would retire from political life in October, after having been member of parliament for Abitibi-West for 42 years, without interruption. In an exclusive interview with the Newspaper, François Gendron traces the balance of his political life. Elected for the first time in the first pq government of René Lévesque, he also shares his observations on the evolution of Quebec since 1976.

At the age of 73, you seem to be always in good physical shape. Why leave the life policy now ?

The reason is the loss of time in airports and in cars. I have already done it 60 times around the earth, just traveling in my county ! All this, added to the age that I will have in the next election. I do not find it serious to make a commitment of four years to 74 years.

Are you afraid to bother you by taking your retirement from politics ?

Is it that I have a rather large concern on the following things ? The answer is yes. It is necessary that I stay active, I’m involved, but at a slower pace.

I used to live with a busy schedule, I have a life active and vibrant. Then, when you cut this link, there is a danger to feel a little bit forlorn, lost, the phone no longer rings.

Do you have plans post-career ?

I want to serve, volunteer. It could be continue to go to schools to speak to young people, as I do already. It pains me to see that they have too little knowledge of the impact of the policy on the citizen.

What observation do you make of the evolution of the policy over the last forty years ?

The policy has changed enormously, negatively. We no longer have the respect we already had for the men and women in politics. I preferred my first twenty years of political life in the last twenty.

And there are a lot of “commentateux,” today, a lot of opinions live, not very thoughtful, not very documented. Today, I read business that has nothing to do with reality. The facts became secondary.

You came into politics to advance two causes : the social-democracy and sovereignty. Where is Quebec today, in these areas ?

On the social-democracy, it has been argued, for sure. Quebec, as a whole, is a liberal State, open, modern, with a lot of consideration for the poor. I think, for example, to the CPE, which help to reduce the school drop-out.

But on the sovereignty, the supports are down.

The sovereignty is in decline, sure. We teach not even the story. But, for a nation, it is legitimate to aspire to make all of the decisions that come with the status of a normal State.

What is it that makes the support for the sovereignty steadily decreasing ?

On the one hand, the sovereignists are split between them. The second factor, one always tries to “négativiser” to death, this option, described as ” outdated “.

There is also individualism. 20 years ago, people were talking about what Quebec should do. There was a collective will to do business as a society. Today, it is ” my ski-doo, my divorce, my retirement plan “. Me, myself and I.

Do you hope to see the Quebec access to the sovereignty of the next 15 years, 20 years ?

I am not a futurologist. I’m not in the heads of all these young people that I love. But all these young people have had a lot more distractions related to the consumption and acquisition of goods. They have the right, but I would add the good of the nation.

In closing, forty years on the road, between Quebec and The river Saar, it must be difficult for the family life ?

Yes. I am very proud of my professional result, but there are other aspects that have been affected ? The answer is yes.

When I decided that my children would come to do their college and university studies in Quebec city, it was to be closer to them, take care of it more. Because I was aware that I had neglected not hurt the step of the secondary. It is hard to see, but it is also part of the lives of other people and you just have to have the intelligence to adapt.

► The questions and answers have been condensed for easier reading.