“It smells good in Verdun, exclaimed François Legault, who was speaking at the Italian restaurant Crescendo. It will, I think, change color in Verdun on the evening of October 3. Finally ! »
The leader of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) campaigned on Tuesday morning in the Montreal riding of Verdun, where a real three-way fight is taking shape.
The county of Verdun has been a Liberal stronghold since its creation in 1965, but support for the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) has been declining since 2014.
That year, Liberal Jacques Daoust won with 50.6% of the vote. In the 2016 by-election, her successor, Isabelle Melançon, was elected with 35.6% of the vote, then in 2018, with 35.5% of the vote.
On Tuesday, Mr. Legault went to support his candidate, Véronique Tremblay, herself a former Liberal. Ms. Tremblay faces in particular Ms. Melançon and Alejandra Zaga Mendez, of Quebec solidaire (QS).
Ms. Melançon was Minister of the Environment under Philippe Couillard. More recently, she served as her party’s critic for the environment, public finances, employment and the status of women.
A former QS candidate in Bourassa-Sauvé, Ms. Zaga Mendez was elected on November 21 as party president. She holds a doctorate in sustainable development and conservation.
Arrows to the PLQ and QS
“I think what is most important is to have a government that is able to combine the economy and the environment,” said François Legault in front of a hundred supporters.
“We have parties who, on the one hand, tell us that they don’t want more hydroelectricity, but who want more hydrogen and who want to electrify Quebec. It does not work ! he thundered.
The CAQ leader was particularly scathing towards QS, a party which, according to him, does not help “the wallet of Quebecers in the short term”.
“QS doesn’t offer anything, not even for the poor, it’s ‘peanuts’ they offer to the poor,” he said. I can’t believe a party that claims to be united and that is not ready to help our seniors. »
Mr. Legault met with Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante later Tuesday afternoon.
Reduced schedule
Remember that François Legault has spent very little time in Montreal since the start of the election campaign. On Monday, he ended the day in the riding of Maurice-Richard.
Before that, he had made a leap to the county of Anjou—Louis-Riel to promise the construction of private mini-hospitals in Quebec. Its strategy does not plan to go door-to-door.
The caquiste caravan will remain nailed to Montreal on Wednesday and Thursday, Mr. Legault having planned no other public activity until the Face-to-Face of TVA.