By pointing out the unreasonable energy consumption of Quebecers and the too many vehicles on the roads, the superminister of Energy has made his government dizzy. Traumatized by the rejection of its “orange tax” of 2022, even QS is walking on eggshells in the face of Pierre Fitzgibbon’s formal exit!
Quebecers are “the bottom of the class” in energy sobriety, “we consume poorly”, the vehicle is “the greatest destroyer of values”… Fitz multiplied the punchline formulas in an interview given to the Newspaper last Saturday, as if he wanted to machine-gun people’s consciences.
His findings are lucid on the eve of a social debate on ways to generate the energy that Quebec will need in the future.
And he used words that directly appeal to citizens, to shake off a certain drowsiness.
The Legault government could have rejoiced at this preparation of minds.
On the contrary, in high places, people stood with stiff bodies and soft ears, rather fearing the backlash in the face of comments that could be judged moralizing.
It is astonishing to note that the titular superminister of the Economy would visibly impose the start of a surcharge on large vehicles if it were up to him, while his colleague of the Environment and the PM are slamming on the brakes .
“It’s a political question,” admitted Fitzgibbon, who therefore turned the spotlight on the municipalities.
The CAQ government adopted a law allowing cities to levy a tax on vehicle registration, which can be modulated according to weight, in order to finance their public transport.
Thus, François Legault can boast that he is not increasing any taxes, and leaves the dirty work to the mayors.
Allies
Fitz, however, has allies in the Council of Ministers.
Behind closed microphones, some do not hide the fact that they would like to see their government take action to encourage Quebecers to be more responsible.
Québec solidaire could have benefited from the publication of the file of the Newspaper and Fitz’s coming out to demand the imposition of a surtax, which he had proposed during the 2022 election campaign.
GND become shy
The self-proclaimed champions of the environment have instead kept a low profile.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois and the other deputies are careful not to make any more mistakes.
However, during the last campaign, GND said it was “sincere” with voters by warning that “ultra-polluting vehicles, if we add more and more of them, the planet will go to waste”.
François Legault once again put the “orange taxes” of 2022 in the face of GND on Thursday, while the solidarity questioned him about the absence of BAPE for Northvolt.
“Québec solidaire has no respect for Quebec taxpayers, it has no respect for the middle class, it just wants to take more money from their wallets.”
QS completely missed its chance to rally Quebecers by proposing a surtax that was far too high, which would have been imposed all at once, which derailed its electoral campaign.
But demonizing the principle as the CAQ leader does is irresponsible.
Without declaring war on the automobile, we must initiate changes, gradually, in order to encourage support from Quebecers.
Pierre Fitzgibbon understood this.
His government should take responsibility for it.