(Rimouski) « Quand on sent qu’on a plus le même enthousiasme malgré les projets super intéressants, c’est peut-être le temps de partir et de laisser la place aux autres », a soutenu Pierre Fitzgibbon mercredi pour justifier sa démission au beau milieu de son mandat.
La politique, c’est une « aventure extraordinaire », « de loin le métier le plus stimulant » de sa carrière. Mais la motivation n’y était plus depuis deux ou trois mois.
« Disons que je sentais un certain déclin pour aucune raison spécifique », a-t-il affirmé en conférence de presse aux côtés du premier ministre François Legault.
Il s’en était ouvert à Martin Koskinen, chef de cabinet du premier ministre. Puis François Legault a eu des entretiens avec son ministre sur le sujet.
« J’aurais souhaité qu’il termine son mandat. À partir du moment où il me dit “j’aimerais quitter en décembre”, je pense que, par transparence, il fallait le dire et ça devient difficile au niveau de la légitimité quand on annonce qu’on s’en va éventuellement. […] I wasn’t comfortable with that […]to have someone leaving in four months,” explained the Prime Minister.
He asked him to resign immediately, just before the parliamentary session begins next week. He argued that “when you are in politics, you have to be 100% motivated.” The superminister’s departure was sealed on Monday.
« Oui, j’aurais aimé terminer le projet de loi [sur l’énergie]but the Prime Minister asked me to leave at this time. […] “I accept that decision and I understand that it’s the right one for the government and ultimately probably the right one for me as well,” Mr Fitzgibbon said. He feared becoming a “distraction” which “would not have been a good outcome” for him.
In the “aquarium” of parliament, “being told every day ‘are you leaving? are you staying?’, I found that it was not right for my colleagues.”
“It’s time for me to move on,” he added. But move on to what? Two certainties: he will neither be a lobbyist nor a media commentator.
He will inquire about the post-mandate rules imposed on members and ministers under the National Assembly’s code of ethics. Will he respect them? “I hope so. I will read them first,” said the politician who has been the subject of embarrassing reports from the ethics commissioner.
“I feel very good about myself”
Pierre Fitzgibbon is not upset about leaving politics in the middle of his mandate. He does not see it as a breach of contract with voters. “Six years” devoted to politics, “I feel very good about myself,” he said, noting that he has the second longest tenure as Minister of the Economy in Quebec history. “It’s a demanding job. I gave a lot of my time,” he argued.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Pierre Fitzgibbon and François Legault
I leave today with my head held high and with a clear sense of duty accomplished.
Pierre Fitzgibbon
François Legault praised the contribution of this “genius of financial transactions” to the economic development of Quebec.
“It’s not always easy to work with Pierre. You know, I’ve always chosen in my career to surround myself with strong people. That’s how you get things done. We’ve often had good discussions, but we’ve always managed to find compromises together to be able to achieve our goals, our ways of thinking,” said the Premier. “He devoted six years of his life, which is no small feat, to serving the interests of Quebecers.”
Pierre Fitzgibbon does not believe he is giving the Parti Québécois a gift by calling a by-election in Terrebonne. “The government has plenty of time to convince the population that we are the government that will remain in 2026,” he said. François Legault said “not [avoir] “had time” to think about when to call this election. It must take place within six months by law.
François Legault will make a “ministerial adjustment” on Thursday only. Christine Fréchette, who stood out at Immigration, is expected to become the super minister of Economy and Energy.