(Québec) Ce qui se déroule dans la capitale n’est « pas comparable du tout » à ce qui passe à Ottawa, estime François Legault. Un premier convoi contre les mesures sanitaires s’est frayé un chemin jusqu’à Québec jeudi. Québec a convenu de « ne pas les laisser s’installer » pour éviter de paralyser la ville, a déclaré le premier ministre.
Publié à 11h57
François Legault a réaffirmé que les forces de l’ordre ne toléreront aucun écart de conduite au cours des prochains jours alors que des dizaines de manifestants contre les mesures sanitaires doivent converger vers la Colline parlementaire, au centre-ville, vendredi et samedi. Mais les images qu’il a vues jusqu’à présent ne sont pas « comparables » avec ce qui se passe à Ottawa où la ville est carrément assiégée.
« On a peut-être profité de l’expérience de ce qui s’est passé à Ottawa. Ce qu’on a convenu avec [le maire de Québec] Bruno Marchand and the police, it is not to let them settle, “said Mr. Legault on the sidelines of an economic announcement in Montreal. “We cannot compare the two situations,” he added, refusing to comment on the state of play in the federal capital, after nearly a week of siege.
Mr. Legault said that “a lot of tow trucks are ready” to free the trucks, if necessary. “We will not at all tolerate trucks preventing citizens from circulating,” he warned. Moreover, he invited Quebecers to come in large numbers to the Carnaval de Québec, which opens this Friday.
“Go to Carnival as a family, go to restaurants in Quebec. […] What we want is for citizens to continue to live normally, ”he added to journalists.
Satisfied merchant…for now
Bruno Marchand said he was satisfied the day after the first evening of demonstration. “I found the demonstrators on Thursday respectful. They are able to assert their point of view without disgusting the world, they have demonstrated it,” noted the mayor of Quebec.
However, he was annoyed by the excessive use of the horns. He notes that the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ) has also issued 14 statements of offence. “The police won’t delay. Is honking for hours respectful? No. Is this tolerable? The answer is no. Regulations prohibit this and the police can apply them according to their judgment. »
The demonstrators were very supervised by the SPVQ. Only a few trucks were able to park near the Parliament. Cars and vans absolutely had to circulate.
But several trucks and demonstrators are expected on Friday and Saturday, the culmination of the demonstrations. The mayor said he was confident that they could take place with respect. “Our police officers are ready for all scenarios”, however assured Bruno Marchand.
A first convoy against sanitary measures set off from Sept-Îles early Thursday morning. Led by well-known trade unionist Bernard Gauthier, dozens of cars joined the group, which made several stops on the North Shore and as far as Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean before stopping at Stoneham-et- Tewkesbury. Demonstrators from Beauce, in particular, must join the troops on Saturday.
With Julien Arsenault