This text is part of the special Syndicalism booklet
The recent election of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) came as no surprise to Luc Vachon, president of the Central of Democratic Trade Unions (CSD), since this is the result he was expecting. However, such a large majority, he believes, does not allow the Legault government to go it alone.
“The CAQ government must show openness, not only towards the elected representatives of the opposition, but also towards civil society, with which it must engage in a real dialogue”, announced the president of the CSD.
This dialogue with all the players in civil society appears to him to be a fertile way to establish the best public policies possible. “Citizens elect a government precisely so that it puts in place policies that best serve civil society,” he continues. It therefore seems incoherent to me that the latter should be excluded from the discussions that lead to the development of these policies. »
He gives the example of the pandemic: “Quebec has pulled through these two years of pandemic relatively well, not only thanks to the action of the government, which has responded, but also because the actors of civil society have , each in their own way, got their hands dirty. It is by working together that we give birth to the best ideas. »
If he has one humble piece of advice to offer the Legault government, it’s to make one of his personal convictions his own. “I also occupy an elected position, he explains, and the fact of being elected made me understand that I have this position because I was trusted. I was not elected to exercise power, I was elected to represent my members and I am accountable to them. The role of an elected politician is first and foremost to represent taxpayers. And how to do it properly if it does not engage in a dialogue with civil society? »
A very bad time
Of the many election promises made during the election campaign, the most ill-advised is the tax cut. “It’s a very popular measure, of course – who doesn’t like to receive money? — but lowering taxes and sending checks to citizens can have unfortunate consequences. »
He fears that public services will suffer since it will one day be necessary to compensate for the money put back into the pockets of taxpayers. “The pandemic has exposed major flaws in the major state missions of education, health and services for the elderly. Why would a government voluntarily deprive itself of revenue when it has to invest to redress the major missions of the State? »
Recovery of the manufacturing sector
The inflationary period that the economy is currently going through and the measures put in place by central banks to combat it could lead to an economic slowdown, or even a recession. The government must therefore have an economic recovery plan in its boxes.
“But I don’t believe that this economic recovery goes through concrete and asphalt, advances Luc Vachon. There is a limit to what infrastructure investments can accomplish, especially since there is a shortage of construction workers. I rather think that the economic recovery plan involves strengthening Quebec’s manufacturing sector. And to succeed, we must bet on innovation, because the manufacturing sector cannot return to what it once was. »
However, an obstacle stands in the way. “The low literacy and numeracy of Quebecers is a real obstacle to economic development,” he says. And any industrial policy must include a component on the training of the workforce. »
And this training must first take place in the workplace and with the full cooperation of employers. “It is illusory to think that a worker who has been on the labor market for a few years can easily return to school,” he continues. Rather, training should be developed that is easily accessible, and therefore in the workplace. And this training should not only be useful, it should be recognised, qualifyable and transferable so as to serve workers throughout their professional career. »
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.