(Bromont) Worried about the state of public finances, the Liberals are calling for a new budgetary “rigor” plan, at the same time as they are celebrating this weekend in Estrie the legacy of former Prime Minister Philippe Couillard, who refuses still the label of austerity which was attached to the government he formed from 2014 to 2018.
Gathered in general council on Saturday and Sunday in Bromont, the activists of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) voted for a framework resolution which places the increase in “productivity” as a priority, but also the consolidation of public finances in the context where Quebec’s latest budget forecasts a record deficit of 11 billion for the year 2024-2025.
François Legault is someone who is absolutely incapable of making difficult choices. He doesn’t [prend] no, these difficult decisions there. He is throwing money left and right without having any real vision.
André Fortin, MP for Pontiac
Late Saturday afternoon, the Liberals highlighted during a long ceremony peppered with speeches the mandate as prime minister of Philippe Couillard, who had limited the growth in mission spending to 1.4% and 1.1%. % during his first two years in power. In turn, former prime ministers Daniel Johnson and Jean Charest highlighted Mr. Couillard’s successes, notably the start of construction of the REM which connects Montreal to the South Shore. All the former Liberal leaders still alive were present.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The Liberal Party paid tribute to its former leader Philippe Couillard
“Sound management of public finances is important,” proclaimed Philippe Couillard in his speech delivered largely in French, but with a few passages in English. He called for openness and inclusion to combat the division that in his eyes is encouraged by politicians who point the finger at immigrants and non-francophones for the economic or identity challenges of the province.
“The credit card is full”
At the dawn of a leadership race that will be decisive for the future of the PLQ, André Fortin believes that voters have turned the page on the frustrations that were expressed after the mandate of the Couillard government. “As soon as you leave a position like that of prime minister, there is always a small period where Quebecers want to try something else, [et] “it happened to Mr. Couillard as it has happened to many prime ministers in the history of Quebec,” he said.
Philippe Couillard went even further. “The Liberal Party is back!” », he proclaimed despite the always difficult polls that the political party is accumulating.
The parliamentary leader of the official opposition, Monsef Derraji, also believes that citizens do not have bad memories of the government of Philippe Couillard, who lost power in 2018 suffering a crushing defeat after just one mandate. “Quebecers miss you,” added MP Madwa-Nika Cadet in her speech, addressing the former prime minister.
We created wealth and managed public finances well. Public services, end of 2018, [comparativement] to today, were in a much better position. Look at emergency waiting times and access to the first line [en santé]. Nobody today is going to tell me that access to the front line has improved with François Legault.
Monsef Derraji, MP for Nelligan
By proposing to its members that a possible liberal government present “during the first year of its mandate a plan to return to budgetary balance,” is the PLQ preparing a new period of austerity?
“The Liberal Party has always been the party of rigor and good management of public finances. What we are going to promise Quebecers is to take public finances seriously. […] The credit card is full,” he said.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Marc Tanguay
For interim chief Marc Tanguay, “rigor is the key word”. “There’s nothing wrong with balancing public finances!” We must be proud of it,” added party president Rafael Primeau-Ferraro.
On the social network “I really have a hard time understanding the PLQ’s strategy today. The Liberals promise to bring back austerity, when that is precisely what pushed them towards the exit in 2018. Funny way to look to the future,” he wrote.
Show of force for Milliard
Earlier Saturday, in the morning, around twenty young supporters of the current president and CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec, Charles Milliard, from a “movement” bringing together nearly 80 people, like The Press revealed on Saturday, made a show of force in order to encourage him to enter the race for party leadership.
A few months ago, during a Liberal general council in Drummondville, Frédéric Beauchemin, who does not hide his interest in the leadership of the party, was accompanied in all his travels by a horde of young people who supported him. Where are they today?
“There are 1.1 million young people between 16 and 25 years old in Quebec. If we apply the percentage [des intentions de vote] that we had in the last survey, that’s 185,000. There are plenty of young people for everyone,” he said upon his arrival at the general council on Saturday.