(Quebec) Quebec solidaire (QS) accepts Premier François Legault’s offer to meet his candidate for the post of French language commissioner, Benoît Dubreuil, a candidacy he rejected last week.
On the last day of the short parliamentary session on Friday, François Legault wanted to propose to the National Assembly the appointment of Mr. Dubreuil, but he gave up after QS announced his intention to vote against it and the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ ) flip-flopped.
During a press briefing on Friday, the parliamentary leader of QS, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, argued that his party is opposed to this candidacy because it is not “unifying”. “This candidacy has, in the past, expressed positions that do not join us,” added, without giving details. He evoked, without naming it, the test The imaginary remedy – Why immigration won’t save Quebec (Boréal, 2011) that Benoît Dubreuil co-wrote with demographer Guillaume Marois.
PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Benoît Dubreuil (right) and Guillaume Marois (left) co-wrote the essay The imaginary remedy – Why immigration will not save Quebec published in 2011.
Over the weekend, a government source noted that QS had taken a stand without meeting Mr. Dubreuil. She added that François Legault will propose to QS and the PLQ to have an interview with the candidate. Because the Prime Minister wishes to return to the charge with the candidacy of Mr. Dubreuil during the next parliamentary session, which will begin on January 31.
QS has not yet received the government’s invitation but has confirmed to The Press that he will accept it. The party could change its position following this meeting, if Benoît Dubreuil allays his concerns, adds a source.
QS hopes that the Prime Minister’s proposal will lead to an improvement in the whole process regarding this type of appointment, which requires the support of two-thirds of MPs. We deplore the fact that the government is shaking up the process by giving the opposition parties the name of a candidate only a few days before the vote.
For its part, the PLQ will determine during a meeting of its caucus whether it accepts François Legault’s proposal to meet with Mr. Dubreuil.
The Coalition avenir Québec already has more than 66% of the deputies, but the government generally seeks unanimity, or at least broad support, to make this kind of appointment. The three members of the Parti Québécois will sit in the Blue Room during the next session and support the candidacy of Benoît Dubreuil, doctor of philosophy and senior federal civil servant.
The French Language Commissioner is a new independent watchdog created under Bill 96, the Legault government’s reform of Bill 101 passed last spring.