If François Legault really wanted to advance Quebec, he would recognize in the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) a valuable ally. I know it. I surprise you. But I am not talking here about its management of the pandemic, which is clearly questionable, but about the political offer of the PCQ, which deserves to be represented in the precincts of Parliament.
Posted at 2:00 p.m.
Let’s assume that François Legault really cares about “rebuilding” the health care system, for example. He was once Minister of Health. He knows very well that the system is clogged and that professionals leave or flee to more fulfilling work environments. Pinned down under the weight of corporatism and outdated ideological dogmas, the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) is frozen.
And then, curiously, with the advent of the PCQ, the CAQ is now proposing the addition of a larger contribution from private mini-hospitals where care would be provided paid for with the health insurance card (which is in the conservative platform).
At Paul Arcand’s microphone on Wednesday morning, François Legault goes further. Now it does not exclude mixed medical practice, which would allow doctors to practice in both the public and private sectors.
Should we believe it? Of course not. We are in the election campaign. None of that will happen… unless there are conservative votes in the National Assembly.
Voices that would encourage a real decentralization of the health system as advocated by the Quebec Network of Physicians for the Decentralization of the Quebec Health System.
Another example. Québec solidaire would like to convert private schools into public schools. Why ? Are they not going well, our private schools? But why not do the opposite, then? Marcel Boyer1a fervent defender of a competitive social democracy, recognizes that “the governance of our education system, based on centralized state-trade union co-management, is undermined by endemic conflicts of interest” to the detriment of students, teachers and I would even add to the economic prosperity of Quebec.
François Legault was once Minister of Education. He knows all that… Boyer proposes to abolish the public management of the school. Why not ? Let’s do the test! Let’s dare! And how is it, the hell, that the subject of education has been so neglected during this election campaign? No hope there… unless you have conservative votes in Parliament.
It is said that François Legault has an obsession, that of increasing the prosperity of Quebec. However, despite all the challenges before us, we are a long way from the years when Quebec was building, when it was not taboo to talk about economic development and prosperity. Where we recognized that the creation of wealth was essential to increase the quality of life of all. Isn’t economic freedom what assures us of an environment that creates opportunities? Isn’t competition a guarantee of greater efficiency?
Prosperity is not the priority of Québec solidaire, which advocates degrowth by imposing a radical fight against greenhouse gases (GHG). Nor is it the priority of the Parti Québécois, for which any solution passes through the independence of Quebec. François Legault may exert influence on all state levers to increase economic development, but the role of the state is to ensure reasonable tax rates that encourage work, favorable taxation for entrepreneurs, to encourage businesses to aim greater productivity, and to provide them with a qualified workforce.
On the theme of economic development, here again, no party other than the PCQ can serve as an ally to the CAQ and it will need it. Because in Quebec, now, powerful lobbies decide what is acceptable or not.
The demographic shock has struck. The labor shortage is glaring. Our public systems are failing and our infrastructure maintenance deficits are shameful. Carelessness, what. Health, education, justice, infrastructure, yet essential missions of the State, have become “boring” subjects. From now on, we look away from the real problems that affect thousands of citizens to choose utopia: completely crazy targets for reducing GHGs for some, and a sovereign country for others.
The vote on October 3 will determine the weight of the various opposition parties in the National Assembly. According to the polls, the CAQ is close to a hundred candidates out of 125. A disaster in terms of representative democracy. Let’s make sure we have real opposition.
Let’s make sure we have diverse representation in Parliament. Citizens do not deserve the arrogance of a prime minister and a style of leadership that divides and confronts citizens. In the context of such a significant fragmentation of the opposition parties, a head of state must recognize that he must demonstrate his height.
Because if this voting system gives him nearly 100 deputies out of 125, it would be difficult to govern as a sovereign. After all, he will only have them with just over a third of the voters. Small feat.