Affiliation Quebec
Encyclopedia
AffiliationQuebec is a registered political party
in Quebec
, Canada
. It is strongly in favour of Canadian unity and opposes Quebec nationalism
and sovereignty
. Aside from the party's federalist
agenda, its stated mission is to "actively pursue the full rights and interests of staunch Canadians living in the Province of Quebec." It also opposes Quebec's language law
. Since the resignation of its leader and most visible official in December 2008, the party has not had any reported activities.
Its founder and leader, Allen E. Nutik, announced his plan to form the party in May 2007. He described AffiliationQuebec as: "A NEW political party to refocus the agenda! We don't want to be LIED TO, nor undervalued again." He aimed his message primarily but not exclusively at Western Montreal anglophones. Nutik predicted that the party would succeed the defunct Equality Party
and aimed to build on voter disappointment with the Quebec Liberal Party and the Action démocratique du Québec
, which Nutik said didn't offer any particular consideration to minorities. Although the party's first meeting attracted several dozen people, Nutik was at first unable to collect 100 signatures of supporters, which was the minimum number necessary to officially register the group as an official political party with the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec
. The party was eventually registered on January 15, 2008.
On March 2, 2008, AffiliationQuebec held a rally, inviting Howard Galganov
to speak. At the rally, an AffiliationQuebec supporter wrestled with a member of a small, sovereigntist
fringe group protesting the Galganov speech.
When founding the party, Nutik announced his intention to run as a candidate for the next election of the National Assembly of Quebec
. He later said that he wanted the party to run candidates in six or seven of the assembly's 125 ridings. In October 2008, with the resignation of Notre-Dame-de-Grace
riding Member of the National Assembly Russell Copeman
, Nutik declared his intention to contest the seat.
However, on November 10, 2008, Nutik announced that neither he nor his party would be running in the Quebec provincial election of 2008, citing lack of support. After the election was concluded, Nutik stepped down as party leader, stating that he was "with Mario" (a reference to Mario Dumont
, who had recently stepped down as leader of the Action démocratique du Québec
). Nutik has not been replaced as leader and the party's website has not been updated since he announced his resignation. The party has never submitted an annual report to the Director General of Elections, nor does it have an Official Representative as required by the Elections Act, leaving its status as an active party in limbo.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is strongly in favour of Canadian unity and opposes Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
and sovereignty
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
. Aside from the party's federalist
Quebec federalist ideology
Quebec federalist ideology revolves around the concept of Quebec remaining within Canada, in opposition to the desires of Quebec sovereigntists and proponents of Quebec independence....
agenda, its stated mission is to "actively pursue the full rights and interests of staunch Canadians living in the Province of Quebec." It also opposes Quebec's language law
Charter of the French Language
The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province...
. Since the resignation of its leader and most visible official in December 2008, the party has not had any reported activities.
Its founder and leader, Allen E. Nutik, announced his plan to form the party in May 2007. He described AffiliationQuebec as: "A NEW political party to refocus the agenda! We don't want to be LIED TO, nor undervalued again." He aimed his message primarily but not exclusively at Western Montreal anglophones. Nutik predicted that the party would succeed the defunct Equality Party
Equality Party (Quebec)
The Equality Party was a political party in Quebec, Canada, that promoted the use of English in Quebec on an equal basis with French. Four Equality Party members were elected to Quebec's National Assembly in 1989, as part of an anglophone reaction to changes made by the governing Liberals to...
and aimed to build on voter disappointment with the Quebec Liberal Party and the Action démocratique du Québec
Action démocratique du Québec
The Action démocratique du Québec, commonly referred to as the ADQ is a centre-right political party in Quebec, Canada. On the sovereignty question, it defines itself as autonomist, and has support from both soft nationalists and federalists....
, which Nutik said didn't offer any particular consideration to minorities. Although the party's first meeting attracted several dozen people, Nutik was at first unable to collect 100 signatures of supporters, which was the minimum number necessary to officially register the group as an official political party with the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec
Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec
The Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec is the official responsible for the administration of the electoral and referendum system in Quebec, Canada....
. The party was eventually registered on January 15, 2008.
On March 2, 2008, AffiliationQuebec held a rally, inviting Howard Galganov
Howard Galganov
Howard Galganov was briefly a political activist and radio personality in Montreal during the late 1990s...
to speak. At the rally, an AffiliationQuebec supporter wrestled with a member of a small, sovereigntist
Sovereigntist
Sovereigntism may refer to:*Souverainism, a doctrine which supports acquiring or preserving political independence of a nation or a region*Quebec sovereignty movement...
fringe group protesting the Galganov speech.
When founding the party, Nutik announced his intention to run as a candidate for the next election of the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
. He later said that he wanted the party to run candidates in six or seven of the assembly's 125 ridings. In October 2008, with the resignation of Notre-Dame-de-Grace
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (provincial electoral district)
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec.The riding was created in 1939 from parts of the former Westmount provincial electoral district. The riding was called Montreal-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce from 1939 to 1965 and...
riding Member of the National Assembly Russell Copeman
Russell Copeman
Russell Copeman is a Canadian politician. He was the Liberal Member of the National Assembly of Quebec representing the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce from 1994 to 2008....
, Nutik declared his intention to contest the seat.
However, on November 10, 2008, Nutik announced that neither he nor his party would be running in the Quebec provincial election of 2008, citing lack of support. After the election was concluded, Nutik stepped down as party leader, stating that he was "with Mario" (a reference to Mario Dumont
Mario Dumont
Mario Dumont is a television personality and former politician in the province of Quebec. He was a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec , and the leader of the Action démocratique du Québec , from 1994 to 2009...
, who had recently stepped down as leader of the Action démocratique du Québec
Action démocratique du Québec
The Action démocratique du Québec, commonly referred to as the ADQ is a centre-right political party in Quebec, Canada. On the sovereignty question, it defines itself as autonomist, and has support from both soft nationalists and federalists....
). Nutik has not been replaced as leader and the party's website has not been updated since he announced his resignation. The party has never submitted an annual report to the Director General of Elections, nor does it have an Official Representative as required by the Elections Act, leaving its status as an active party in limbo.