(Quebec) The Parti Québécois (PQ) took advantage of a tribute to the Alouettes, Gray Cup champions, on Tuesday to present famous player Marc-Antoine Dequoy with a jersey on which it is written “keep it your English”.
The independence party thus wanted to highlight the brilliant move of number 24 who, during an interview after the victory on November 19, delivered a fiery plea for the Frenchman’s place in this Canadian Football League final in Hamilton.
The elected representatives of the National Assembly also celebrated the spectacular victory of the Alouettes on Tuesday with a motion and a ceremony at the Salon rouge, evoking their feeling of belonging to French Quebec.
“It will be okay, there will be no cry from the heart today,” declared Marc-Antoine Dequoy, smiling during his speech during the ceremony, in the presence of his other comrades, party leaders , several deputies and the owner of the team, Pierre Karl Péladeau.
Last November 19, during their close 28-24 victory against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Hamilton, he said: “They never believed in us! You look everywhere in the stadium, it’s written in English. Even on the TSN TV guide, it said Toronto versus Winnipeg. But you know what, keep it English! »
“You were right to show off, you said out loud what Quebecers are thinking,” said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, in his speech, tabling the motion which was adopted unanimously in the House.
“It’s not for nothing that we experienced a great collective thrill,” testified the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire (QS), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
The PQ, known for having passed Law 101 and for its positions in favor of the French fact, was not going to stop there. After the ceremony, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon gave Marc-Antoine Dequoy a sweater on which it was written: “Keep your English.”
“It is a very, very great source of pride for Quebec that a team from our region, that good people from our region accomplish a feat like yours and for many, with French tattooed on their hearts.” , declared the President of the National Assembly, Nathalie Roy.
She recalled that at the start of the season, predictions placed the Alouettes in last place in the East division.
Nobody believed in the chances of this team, underlined Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon in his speech in the House.
“Your belonging to Montreal and to all of Quebec touched us,” he said.
“We, a team which starts with few resources, which perseveres and which goes until victory, that inspires us”, continued the PQ leader, as if he were referring to the destiny of his party which was given for died after the 2022 elections and who would now be in the lead according to the polls.
“This story of coming back against all odds is a bit like ours, basically, in Quebec,” said Mr. Nadeau-Dubois.
“This fight for respect, for who we are, for the language we speak, is also fought on the football field. »