The first caquiste mandate, bogged down by the pandemic, revealed to us a paternalistic François Legault with nationalist overtones. If the latter tries to maintain this public image, it is clear that the second term seems to be sailing in different waters. Indeed, the nationalist color is increasingly bleached by the federalist tenors of the party, while government policies leave more and more space to the private sector.
This orientation towards the private sector had been detected when the Coalition avenir Québec was founded. Now that Legault has free rein, recourse to the private sector seems to be the new trademark of this government. With health, the economy, innovation, energy and housing entrusted to incumbents from the private sector, the orientation was given. The Dubés, Fitzgibbons, Duranceaus and others have the entrenched entrepreneurial genes to demonstrate the efficiency of the private sector to the detriment of the public sector. We understand better the departure of Sophie Brochu and the arrival of Michael Sabia at Hydro-Québec. We are not surprised, moreover, by the use of private clinics by the Minister of Health and the penchant of the Minister responsible for Housing for her business partners who are still involved. Similarly, Minister Drainville does not intend to move a single stone in the shaky foundations of a school system that favors the private sector to the detriment of public schools.
The Legault government is increasingly lodged in the business world. This reality is reflected in the negotiations with its employees in the public and parapublic sectors. By their meager salary offers and the search for maximum efficiency, often dehumanizing, in the organization of work, the boss Legault and his minister Sonia
LeBel provide us with a clear demonstration of their adherence to neoliberal principles aimed at diminishing the role of the state for the benefit of the private sector, which is waiting in the wings to pick up this manna offered on a silver platter.
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