(Amqui) The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, will go on Thursday to meet the citizens of Amqui, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, who have remained affected since last Monday, a van hit groups of pedestrians, killing two people and resulting in nine injuries.
During his visit, Mr. Legault will be accompanied by the leaders of the three opposition parties: Marc Tanguay, of the Liberal Party (PLQ), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, of Québec solidaire (QS) and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, of the Parti Québécois (PQ). Amqui politicians will be present at events on the Premier’s agenda.
Mr. Legault will discuss with local actors and hold a press scrum around 11 a.m.
Steeve Gagnon, a 38-year-old man from the Amqui area, faces two counts of dangerous driving causing death. The prosecutor on record said other charges should be brought against the ram-vehicle driver.
Earlier this week, Premier Legault said his visit to the shaken community was meant as a heartwarming gesture. He traveled to Laval a few weeks ago for a similar tragedy, when a man driving a Société de transport de Laval (STL) bus crashed into a building housing a daycare centre, which cost life with two children.
A candlelight vigil is planned in front of the Saint-Benoit-Joseph-Labre church in Amqui on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Friday evening, Kindé Cosme Arouko, the priest responsible for the 22 parishes of the Matapédia Valley, will celebrate a mass with the Archbishop of Rimouski, Denis Grondin, to honor the victims of the carnage in Amqui.
Father Arouko chose texts and prayers from Friday Mass, in an attempt to make sense of what is considered foolish and to provide comfort. He said he would send a message of hope and that despite the difficult times, the world does not stop.