After mocking the “committees”, the “forums”, the “tables” and other discussion groups, Prime Minister François Legault announces with great fanfare the creation of a “committee on the economy and energy transition”. What should we understand?
“We are going to decarbonize Quebec,” argued Mr. Legault after the presentation of his new Council of Ministers – and committee – on Thursday afternoon.
The committee on the economy and energy transition is not a “committee” like those it ridiculed, assures a member of its close guard to the To have to. “It’s an executive committee. It’s not for gossip. It is to “ground” government action”, he continues, recalling that the Prime Minister will chair its work.
Thus, Mr. Legault will not only be able to continue to “talk about the environment” with his sons “on Friday evening”, but also give “a clear and assertive direction” to key players in the energy transition within the Quebec state. , namely Ministers Pierre Fitzgibbon (Economy, Innovation and Energy), Eric Girard (Finance), Benoit Charette (Fight against climate change), Ian Lafrenière (Relations with First Nations and Inuit) as well as the President and Chief Executive Officer of ‘Hydro-Quebec, Sophie Brochu. He may, if necessary, settle disputes between them.
The idea of creating a first ministerial committee on the decarbonization of Quebec society through hydroelectricity had been germinating in the Prime Minister’s head for some time. But the decision to include Sophie Brochu’s name on the list of participants was taken only after she had publicly raised her fears of seeing the state company sell off its electricity. The CEO of Hydro-Québec will occasionally offer a “different perspective” from that of ministers like Mr. Fitzgibbon, according to whom “renewable energy will serve two objectives: […] create collective wealth […]but also to green the economy,” said a government source.
The former first official of the Quebec State Louis Bernard does not find the idea of forming a committee at all silly. “If it’s a committee that meets regularly, then works well, it will simply be integrated into the operating methods [de la machine gouvernementale et] it can be very useful. If it is a committee which arbitrates, it is another kind. Everyone has their positions, then goes to discuss them in front of the Prime Minister. It’s very different”, he remarks in an exchange with The duty.
Even if he will not invite the leaders of the other political parties to swell the ranks of his committee, Mr. Legault is nonetheless interested in hearing their “best ideas” in order to accelerate the energy transition without pointing the finger at the public opinion.
The CAQ government rejects the idea of hitting the most polluting vehicles with a new tax, as proposed by Québec solidaire during the election campaign. However, he is ready to discuss other proposals made by his political opponents, such as cutting public transport fares (Québec solidaire) or creating a “PasseClimat” giving unlimited access to public transport for $365. per year (Parti Québécois). “There is a track on that side”, mentions a political adviser, according to whom “this is the moment when we can put pride aside”.
“I am sincere when I say that I want to meet the opposition. [La lutte contre les GES,] it has to be a common project. Then I undertake to work on it, then to put a lot of energy into it in the coming months, “said Mr. Legault before the members of the Council of Ministers, their guests and the “craftsmen” of the Coalition avenir Québec on Thursday. “I owe that to my two guys, but we also owe that to all the next generations. It is important to work on it, ”he added.
Moreover, the “strongest pressure” or almost exerted on the government so that it intensifies the fight against climate change does not come from the pressure groups, but rather from the children of the members of the Council of Ministers, has it -we entrusted to To have to.