(Drummondville) Premier François Legault is already setting the tone for his election campaign. He warns Quebecers against “left or right ideologues” and the risk that Quebec will become “a Louisiana” if Ottawa does not give him full powers in immigration.
Posted at 11:20 a.m.
Updated at 1:52 p.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.
« La question qu’il faut maintenant se poser dans les prochains mois, c’est : est-ce qu’on casse cet élan-là en changeant de gouvernement ou on continue ? Parce qu’il reste encore du travail à faire. » Dans le secteur de la santé, mais aussi en matière d’économie.
« L’inflation, la guerre en Ukraine, une possible récession mondiale et des marchés instables sont autant de facteurs d’instabilité pour l’économie. Là aussi, les élections vont être déterminantes », a-t-il soutenu.
C’est alors qu’il a lancé des attaques contre Québec solidaire et le Parti conservateur sans les nommer — ignorant quasi totalement libéraux et péquistes dans son discours.
« Il y a les oppositions de gauche et de droite. D’un côté, il y a ceux qui pensent que l’argent pousse dans les arbres. Il y a ceux qui pensent qu’il faut toujours plus d’impôts, plus de taxes, plus de déficit et plus de dette. Et de l’autre côté, il y a ceux pour qui les changements climatiques, ça ne compte pas. Ceux qui pensent que ce n’est pas important de bâtir une économie verte. Ceux qui pensent que ce n’est pas important pour les prochaines générations », a-t-il affirmé.
« Quand les temps sont pleins d’incertitudes, de turbulences et de dangers économiques, ce n’est pas le temps de se lancer dans des aventures avec des idéologues de gauche ou de droite. En fait, quand la mer est houleuse, c’est le temps de confier la barre à une équipe compétente, expérimentée et solide », a-t-il ajouté sous des applaudissements nourris.
Après le fameux chèque de 500 $ versé plus tôt cette année, il a promis de donner une bouffée d’oxygène aux contribuables s’il est réélu.
Un gouvernement de la CAQ ne va pas vous laisser tomber face à l’inflation et va continuer de vous donner les moyens de passer au travers, c’est un engagement que je prends aujourd’hui.
François Legault, premier ministre du Québec
Au cours des dernières semaines, François Legault a laissé entendre qu’il promettra des baisses des impôts lors de la campagne électorale.
Il dit avoir « un plan clair pour revenir à l’équilibre budgétaire […] 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.
Photo CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, REUTERS
“It’s not in the plans” for him to hold a referendum on immigrant powers as activists have suggested to Congress, he said at a press conference. “What I need is to find a balance of power by having the support of as many Quebecers as possible” during the elections. He has “confidence to convince one of the federal parties which has the possibility of forming the next government” to agree to his request. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau still refuses to do so – but “is he going to be there” in the next few years? said Mr. Legault. For him, the situation “will evolve” on the federal scene and could work in his favor. He says he is acting in “good faith” because “there is no question that François Legault will hold a referendum on sovereignty”.
For him, “it is important that Quebecers fully understand the urgency of repatriating immigration powers”. The holding of Estates General or Bélanger-Campeau style commissions are means of mobilizing the population around the issue, he mentioned. If Quebec does not obtain full powers, “it could become a matter of time before we become a Louisiana”, according to him.
He argued that 43% of newcomers are chosen by Ottawa – 26% come from the family reunification program and half of them do not speak French when they arrive.