The elected officials do not believe the experts
Thank you, Mr. Mercure, for reminding us that the CAQ government has no serious and credible plan to make the climate transition a success. The concentration of economic power in the hands of a single person illustrates how this government does not understand the meaning of what the green economy and social progress can be. The real fight against climate change goes through education – and we can clearly see that with the minister in place, this is far from being a priority – and through legislation that encourages and even forces citizens to adopt new life habits. Let’s be clear: there is no will in this government to fight against climate change. In fact, what we see is that these elected ministers do not believe what the experts and members of the IPCC are saying. The problem will be even worse in four years. Let’s hope that on this date, Quebecers will be more awake.
André Clermont, biologist and environmentalist
Politics take up too much
I was very surprised, sad and worried at the announcement of the departure of Mr.me Leaflet. Sad to lose a person of this stature within our precious institution that is Hydro-Québec. Also worried about seeing Mr. Fitzgibbon and politics taking up so much space in the debate and wanting to make Hydro-Québec a tool for Quebec’s energy development, without being sure that this will serve the interests of Quebecers in the long term. I applaud your analysis and hope that the government’s decisions will be based on expert analyzes that will take into account not only economic growth, but also the impact on the environment and climate issues. Wealth creation is not just about closing the income gap between Ontario and Quebec.
France Hubert
life will go on
Philippe Mercure’s editorial is nonetheless surprising… as if Sophie Brochu were an irreplaceable icon who holds the absolute truth and that the government had no say in the strategic direction of our largest state-owned company. We are told that we should let so-called experts manage our Hydro-Québec in a bubble, in a closed circuit, and forget the levers that this company gives us in order to decarbonize our economy and create wealth for the community. Hydro-Québec will survive the hasty and unexplained departure of Mme Brochu and life will go on. If we don’t like the strategic orientation of the government, then we just have to vote for it in the next election.
Lawrence Tremblay
No specific plan
I am in complete agreement with you. It is inconceivable that in 2023, the Quebec government has no specific plan and that, in addition, we leave almost total control to Minister Fitzgibbon over Hydro-Quebec. I shared the same concerns as Mr.me Brochu: Let Hydro-Québec become the Dollarama of businesses.
Doris Painchaud
Tackling poverty first
What’s wrong with wanting to attract businesses to Quebec? We are one of the poorest provinces in North America. It’s beautiful, climate change, but if the United States, China and India do not take the right measures, it is not what Quebec will do that will change anything. Let’s stop thinking like Quebec solidaire that Quebec must show the way to the whole world. The problem of poverty is much more important.
Marcel Rivest
People will suffer
You are absolutely right and I doubt that this “new committee” will have the same impact as Sophie Brochu had on the energy transition. It is very unfortunate what is happening, and the whole population will suffer from it, sooner or later.
Francine Roy
A dark plan
I just hope the government’s plan for the energy transition is clearer than what it had and continues to have with the third link in the nation’s capital. At the moment, there is no indication that this is the case. The departure of Sophie Brochu certainly does not help matters.
Yves Côté, Terrebonne
heavy loss
Most of the time, I supported Mr. Legault’s decisions and I agreed with them, but here we have just lost one of the best managers in Quebec! I fear that the majority obtained in the last elections by the CAQ gave it a right of supremacy.
Mario Brouillette
Mme Brochu knows how to count
The future president of Hydro-Québec will have to face several challenges, including the energy transition, the modulation of consumption as well as a reorganization of the human resources of this immense flagship of our economy. This president will be disturbing and his image will tend to fade. Mme Brochu leaves his post when his reputation and his competence are at the zenith. No matter who will be her future employer, she will command a salary in the seven figures! Nothing less. Mme Brochu took an economic and not a political decision… no offense to those who dream of seeing a rooster chicane there. Mme Brochu based his decision on the market value of his reputation. Should we hold it against him? I have never tended to throw stones at those who know how to count!
Norman Briand