The Suburban advised against panic after the 1976 PQ victory

By Joel Goldenberg, September 12th, 2012

Federalist Quebecers breathed somewhat of a sigh of relief the night of Sept. 4, when it became clear the PQ was elected with a minority government, which would - among other things - hobble any attempt to hold a sovereignty referendum. Coupling that with polls indicating very low support for the sovereignty option, and angst has been lower than it could have been.
But that's not how it was in 1976. When the PQ was elected for the first time, numerous people among The Suburban's readership talked of moving out of Quebec in the face of what was anticipated to be potential separation from Canada. Unfortunately, many did more than just talk about moving - they flocked to Toronto and other locales. Some head offices - most notably Sun Life - did the same. The subsequent language laws only gave added incentive for leaving.
In the immediate aftermath of the 1976 election, The Suburban published a commentary piece by publisher Max Wollock called “Where do we go from here?”, which counselled against panic.
“Whatever you wish to do with your cash is your business and I am sure you will do what is the right thing,” Wollock wrote.
The article also considered what lay ahead for then-new premier René Lévesque. “He has a big job ahead of him and he knows that if he does not control the radical elements or if there is any violence perpetrated by his people, that he would be finished,” the commentary piece. “He has the job of trying to eradicate patronage (Quebec's cancer) and develop an honest administration. Personally, I do not think he can eradicate patronage entirely. It is in the bloodstream of Quebec and it calls for a complete blood transfusion.”
Wollock also advised Liberal supporters to maintain close communications with local Liberal MNAs, and said those MNAs must counter any form of injustice by “screaming from the rooftops so that all will hear.
'Widespread protest in the press, which will be the real opposition, is our only salvation.”
Notably, a free ad space was reserved for then-D'Arcy McGee MNA Victor Goldbloom to communicate with his constituents. Goldbloom subsequently had a regular column.
Today, newly elected premier Pauline Marois has promised language, secularism and economic measures that have not pleased a significant portion of the Quebec population. But the element of angst has greatly lessened as a result of time, events and a not disastrous election result.n