The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, Éric Duhaime, made a link on Tuesday between Prime Minister François Legault’s demand for parity and the number of women who have changed positions in his government since the start of the current mandate.
Mr. Duhaime explained that there would be no quota of female candidates within his party for the next elections.
“I think it’s important to take people according to their skills,” he said. I look at the Legault government which has given us a lot of women and I look at the demotions since the start of the mandate and I am obliged to note that it has been a lot of women, I think of Mme Chassé, to Mme D’Amours, Mme McCann. “
Mr. Duhaime thus reacted to the formation of the new council of ministers of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau which, in Ottawa, will be equal.
Non-determining criteria
After asking the Legault government to give up banning the exploitation of hydrocarbons in Quebec, Mr. Duhaime answered journalists’ questions during a press briefing at the National Assembly.
Mr Duhaime said criteria of gender, sexual orientation or skin color do not factor into his choice of those around him.
“I have a 100 percent female caucus right now and I find her to be very competent,” he said, referring to Conservative MP Claire Samson who was accompanying him.
Mr. Duhaime said he does not want his members to take his sexual orientation into consideration in any support they can give him.
“I hope they’re not here because I’m gay but because I’m the best at defending our ideas,” he said.