Québec will come to the aid of municipalities that are struggling with a problem of access to drinking water.
Posted at 2:04 p.m.
Premier François Legault declared Thursday morning that he intends “soon to arrive with a program where a large part will be paid for by the Government of Quebec because we know very well that the cost associated with that cannot be assumed by the municipalities.
Mr. Legault was in Saint-Michel in Montérégie to present his candidate in Huntingdon, Carole Mallette, who herself alluded to the problems of access to drinking water in her region.
The Prime Minister had already been confronted with this question on Tuesday, when he was in Venise-en-Québec, promising to financially support the municipality of Clarenceville, which is also facing difficulty in accessing drinking water. and which estimates the investments required to solve the problem at 22 million.
“In 2022, everyone must have drinking water in Quebec, so it is clear that this problem must be solved,” he said at the time, adding that he understood very well that a municipality could not absorb a bill of this magnitude.
On Thursday, however, he went much further, pointing out that this is an issue “that is growing in importance. We calculate that there are 600 places in Quebec where there is a problem. »
He specified that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Agriculture and that they should be concluded soon.
His words left no doubt as to the sequence of events: “We are coming with a program and yes, there is a challenge on that side and yes, we are going to settle that. »
Carole Mallette will try to keep the seat of Huntingdon, narrowly acquired in 2018 by the caquiste Claire IsaBelle, who had snatched it with only 711 votes in advance, thus dislodging the liberal Stéphane Billette who had held it for three terms.
Mme Mallette, an engineer and businesswoman, is the former president and general manager of Usinages Mallette, of Saint-Michel.