(Drummondville) With “economic dangers” and “turmoil” threatening Quebec, “this is not the time to embark on adventures with left or right ideologues,” warns Premier François Legault, promising to give taxpayers a breath of fresh air.
Posted at 11:20 a.m.
Surrounded by his deputies and numerous candidates, in front of a thousand CAQ activists gathered in congress, he revealed on Sunday the main lines of his electoral plea. The campaign will be launched in three months, in view of the October 3 election.
“Of course the pandemic prevented us from carrying out some of our commitments, but we still changed Quebec! “, he launched in his closing speech, with the slogan “More than ever” on giant screens. Quebec is “prouder” and “more prosperous” than in 2018, the two most important elements according to him to “assess [son] balance sheet”. He recalled, on the one hand, the adoption of laws 21 on the secularism of the State and 96 on French and, on the other, the low unemployment rate as well as the financial relief granted by his government during of the mandate.
“The question that we must now ask ourselves in the coming months is: do we break this momentum by changing the government or do we continue? Because there is still work to be done. In the health sector, but also in terms of the economy.
“Inflation, the war in Ukraine, a possible global recession and unstable markets are all factors of instability for the economy. Here too, the elections will be decisive, ”he argued.
It was then that he launched attacks against Québec solidaire and the Conservative Party without naming them – almost completely ignoring Liberals and PQs in his speech.
“There are oppositions of left and right. On the one hand, there are those who believe that money grows on trees. There are those who think that we always need more taxes, more taxes, more deficit and more debt. And on the other side, there are those for whom climate change doesn’t matter. Those who think it’s not important to build a green economy. Those who think it’s not important for future generations,” he said.
“When times are full of uncertainty, turbulence and economic danger, it is not the time to embark on adventures with left or right ideologues. In fact, when the sea is rough, it’s time to entrust the helm to a competent, experienced and solid team,” he added to loud applause.
After the famous $500 check paid earlier this year, he promised to do more to help Quebecers cope with the rising cost of living.
A CAQ government will not let you down in the face of inflation and will continue to give you the means to get through it, that is a commitment I am making today.
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
In recent weeks, François Legault has hinted that he will promise tax cuts during the election campaign.
He says he has “a clear plan to return to a balanced budget […] in moderation, without the liberal austerity that has done so much damage”. He pledged to “continue to invest in our infrastructure”, “nothing crazy”, “common sense, good management, solid”.
“Quebec is becoming a world leader in electricity. I have great ambitions for Quebec. What I want is for the 21e century, this is the century of Quebec! he launched.
After pleading that he had “developed our national cohesion” with laws 21 and 96, he said a few sentences in English to try to reassure this linguistic minority: “I know that there are some who add oil on fire claiming that Bill 96 will prevent English-speaking Quebecers from receiving health care in English. We are committed to protecting your access to healthcare.”
He reiterated his request to Ottawa to transfer all immigration powers to him. “I am asking, in the next election, for a strong mandate to go and negotiate this with the federal government. This is a matter of survival for our nation,” he argued, triggering a standing ovation.
While the CAQ is leading the polls, he asked activists to “take nothing for granted”.