(Quebec) Some CAQ members support Youri Chassin’s grievances, acknowledges Premier François Legault, who asks them to “be patient” in implementing the vast health reform and returning to a balanced budget within five years.
At a press conference on Thursday, François Legault spoke about his MP’s departure. “I knew there were things he didn’t agree with,” the premier admitted. “I felt that for some time, there were certain things that were bothering him,” he added to reporters.
During a meeting Wednesday evening, the Saint-Jérôme MNA tried to convince the premier to force unions to reveal their financial statements, which would provoke “an atomic war,” according to Mr. Legault. Mr. Chassin also argued that Minister Christian Dubé’s health reform was taking too long to produce results and that the march toward returning to a balanced budget was too long.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Francois Legault
Grievances that find support within the caucus, François Legault admitted. “On health reforms and on balancing the budget, there are some who would perhaps like us to move faster,” said the premier. During his press briefing, Youri Chassin also stated that some of his colleagues applauded him when he made his opinion known last week during the CAQ caucus in Rimouski.
“I feel that some deputies… Yes, [M. Chassin] was applauded by a number of members who want to see the deficit reduced and changes made more quickly in the health network. I also think that he has some support, Youri, to take action in union transparency, but […] “It would be a bit like an atomic war in my opinion,” said Mr. Legault.
We are talking about places where there are small differences, perhaps even more on the appearance than on the substance, because I too want things to change in health, I want to find a balanced budget, but on the majority of issues, I think that the members are in the same position as me.
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
François Legault still says he has the support of his caucus, which met Thursday morning as usual before question period. “I’m told I don’t have to worry,” he said.
The prime minister tried to downplay the four departures among his troops that have occurred since the start of the second mandate. “I think the number is reasonable,” he said, arguing that previous governments have also had to deal with resignations.
Last week, after the surprise resignation of Pierre Fitzgibbon, Mr. Legault indicated that he was not considering any other departures.
Patience
The head of government is also asking his deputies to be patient. This is the message he gave to Mr. Chassin on Wednesday evening. “I asked him to be patient […] and that unlike other governments, we will not give up,” added Mr. Legault.
What I tried to tell Youri is that we will try to have a balanced, pragmatic, responsible approach, but hey, he chose to sit as an independent. Obviously, I am disappointed with his decision.
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
“Some would like us to move faster” to return to a balanced budget, “but at the same time, when I ask them: very well, what expenditure would you like to cut? They don’t have an answer,” he said, defending his “responsible approach.”
MP Youri Chassin caused a shockwave in Quebec City on Thursday by announcing that he was leaving the CAQ caucus to sit as an independent. He announced his decision without warning, without informing Premier François Legault in advance. The two men met Wednesday evening, a meeting that convinced the MP to leave.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, THE PRESS
Youri Chassin
The elected representative from Saint-Jérôme published an open letter this morning severely criticizing the Legault government. He denounces, among other things, an orgy of spending that does not produce results for the population, an increase in the size of the state and a record budget deficit.
This is contrary to CAQ values, he argued. The government no longer has the “audacity” of its first mandate and Quebec is becoming “a republic of the status quo,” according to him. He had “increasing difficulty defending” the government in the circumstances. The MNA said he had “tried everything internally […] to bring back the CAQ agenda.”
“I didn’t succeed and my conclusion is that we’re at the halfway point of the mandate, we can hear the ticking clock. If I can’t look voters in the eye and tell them that the government is currently making the right choices for Quebec, it’s time for me to leave,” he explained to reporters.
Mr. Chassin’s departure is a new blow for Mr. Legault. Last week, when Pierre Fitzgibbon resigned last week, he said he did not expect any other departures among his MNAs. Five months ago, former whip Eric Lefebvre also left the CAQ to sit as an independent MNA, waiting to represent Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party of Canada. Last year, CAQ MNA Joëlle Boutin left politics, causing a by-election in Jean-Talon won by the Parti Québécois.