Campaign Bulletin | The Press

Experts invited for the duration of the electoral campaign, professors Stéphanie Yates and Thierry Giasson give their opinion each Saturday on five of the main themes of the week.

Commitment of the week

Horne Foundry: what responsibility for the Prime Minister?

The debates around the levels of arsenic in the air in Rouyn-Noranda clearly show that in 2022, we no longer accept, as a society, to suffer the health damage of an unscrupulous multinational on the environmental level. But is it really up to the citizens of Rouyn to choose between the health of their children and their paycheque? A terrible dilemma! Doesn’t a responsible prime minister rather have the role of better supporting the affected populations? This can be done, in the short term, by imposing on the company standards that are close to international standards. And in the longer term, by stimulating reflection on alternative economic development opportunities for the region, respectful of citizens’ aspirations.

Stéphanie Yates, professor in the department of social and public communication, UQAM

A good relative equality

Consistent with his right-wing position which wants to impose a lean state, Éric Duhaime proposed on Wednesday to limit the size of ministerial cabinets to 20 ministers. To achieve this, he proposes, for example, to eliminate the deputy ministers or to bring together the skills in the fight against inequalities, including those of the Secretariat for the Status of Women, within a new Ministry of Equality. Mr. Duhaime believes that Quebec has made progress for 50 years and that it is now time to celebrate the equality achieved between Quebec men and women. But during the same press briefing, without seeing the obvious contradiction with his previous assertions, the Conservative leader refused to commit to forming a joint council of ministers. Thus, contrary to the equality that the Conservative leader says he observes between men and women in Quebec, it would seem that the recognition of the equality of skills of the candidates of the Conservative Party of Quebec with those of their male colleagues is not yet damage within the party. Faintness.

Thierry Giasson, Professor in the Department of Political Science, Université Laval

The memorable moment

A call from the heart

Much has been said about Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s different campaign, which stands out for its positive and authentic approach. He offered an eloquent illustration of this during his visit to Everybody talks about it last Sunday, demanding a mandate to form a strong and constructive opposition against a François Legault who risks obtaining “absolute powers” after the vote. This momentary candor — it is rare for a leader to admit that his chances of taking power are nil — could pay off in the context where the leader of the Parti Québécois represents the second choice of a large segment of the electorate.

Stéphanie Yates, professor in the department of social and public communication, UQAM

Controlled solidarity slippage

While Québec solidaire (QS) was heading towards flawless organization and electoral communication, a surveillance camera surprised the party candidate in the Montreal riding of Camille-Laurin, Marie-Eve Rancourt, “hand in the mailbox”, removing a Parti Québécois flyer to drop off his own. The gesture is illegal and quickly puts QS on the defensive. Nevertheless, in order not to see the end of the solidarity campaign get out of hand and to quickly stifle the crisis, the management of QS reacts quickly and drops its candidate. The withdrawal of this candidacy could reshuffle the cards in the riding and give an additional chance to the PQ leader, who is running there, to perhaps win the election. Verdict Monday evening.

Thierry Giasson, Professor in the Department of Political Science, Université Laval

The leader in action

A true model of resilience

Despite a difficult campaign and polls predicting a disappointing — even catastrophic — result for the Quebec Liberal Party, Dominique Anglade has managed to maintain her spirit, her determination, her optimism and her good humor over the past five weeks. The video of her dancing to the sound of the Black Eyed Peas just before the Radio-Canada debate, which has gone viral on social media, shows a chef capable of having fun (and perhaps putting things into perspective?) in adversity. Beyond partisan affiliations, she offers the model of a strong and resolute woman, fiercely intelligent and above all, resilient.

Stéphanie Yates, professor in the department of social and public communication, UQAM

Leaders who provide

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Dominique Anglade provided effective leadership in the face of the upheavals in their campaigns this week. The first two were firm and quick to react to the problematic behavior of their candidates or activists who stole their opponents’ promotional material or made degrading remarks towards Muslims. No way for them to see this weigh down their campaign. Apologies or the door for offenders and the campaign continues!

And then, Thursday, when a negative video from the Liberal camp denouncing the statements of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) on immigration begins to circulate, Dominique Anglade does not scroll and says he fully approves of the content of the message. , which includes several direct quotes from François Legault that marked the campaign. The “real Dominique”, the daughter of immigrants, stands up and continues her offensive against the CAQ on identity issues. Solid !

Thierry Giasson, Professor in the Department of Political Science, Université Laval

The rising/falling star

The courage of the candidates

It’s hard to ignore Jean Boulet’s outrageous remarks on immigrants, perpetuating unfortunate stereotypes quite unworthy of his position as outgoing Minister of Immigration. But at the end of the campaign, let’s be rather positive by applauding all the people who have applied, especially those who have done so without any real chance of winning. It is certainly very courageous to appear like this (literally!), to suffer insults, even threats (alas), to sometimes try to defend the indefensible, and above all, to put your life aside for five weeks. . Beyond the publicity stunt likely to propel the careers of these headliners, running in politics demonstrates a deep commitment to our democracy, and we can only be grateful to those who embody this ideal.

Stéphanie Yates, professor in the department of social and public communication, UQAM

The ball…

A Minister of Labor and Immigration who lies about the levels of francization and employment of immigrants during a debate is inexcusable and completely discredits him. For electoral reasons or to show off during a debate, Minister Jean Boulet, candidate for his re-election in Trois-Rivières, cast umbrage at the campaign of his party, which is already accumulating clumsy and insensitive statements on the issue of immigration since the start of the campaign. Prime Minister François Legault has announced that he has disqualified himself as Minister of Immigration. The fault seems so serious that he could simply have been disqualified from the next council of ministers if the CAQ is returned to power on Monday.

Thierry Giasson, Professor in the Department of Political Science, Université Laval

The picture that is worth 1000 words

Québec solidaire candidate Marie-Eve Rancourt learned the hard way this week that in this era of widespread surveillance, it is easy to get caught in the bag (or in the mailbox, in this case). Even if one might think that the practice of stealing leaflets from other parties is relatively common (in fact, a Parti Québécois volunteer was also caught red-handed for a similar offence), the visual proof of this lack of fair play was clear: the candidate of Quebec solidaire in Camille-Laurin had to withdraw from the race. An incredible opportunity for Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, whose election in this same riding, so far far from assured, has suddenly become an ambition within reach.

Stéphanie Yates, professor in the department of social and public communication, UQAM

“Scripted by the CAQ”

Advertising usually changes tone at the very end of election campaigns to stimulate positive or negative emotions in the last undecided voters. A few days before the vote, the Liberals are giving negative publicity by launching a message on social media of more than two minutes that skillfully attacks the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) on the issue of immigration. The purpose of this message is no doubt to arouse indignation, fear or anger among voters who are hesitating between a vote for the PLQ and the CAQ at the party’s many clumsy statements on immigration during the country. This disturbing compilation could well hit home with voters of immigrant origin, among others, who are thinking of supporting the CAQ.

Thierry Giasson, Professor in the Department of Political Science, Université Laval