(Quebec) The president of the Coalition futur Quebec (CAQ), Sarah Beaumier, ensures that there is room for dissent within the party.
However, she herself hesitates to comment on the CAQ’s megaproject to dig a third road link under the St. Lawrence River between Quebec and Lévis.
Discussing her personal position is not “relevant”, she says. “I think if the government decided it was the right thing to do, […] well me, I line up behind the government. ”
When he took office last year, Mr.me Beaumier had said he wanted to “revitalize the democratic life” of the CAQ, saying he saw serious “shortcomings”.
She had hinted in an interview with Press that the party had to show more listening, the militants often having the impression to be placed in front of accomplished facts.
Joined in Europe where she was on a business trip this week (she works for an electric car company), Mr.me Beaumier says changes have been made.
The former candidate in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in 2018 notably congratulates the elected members of the CAQ for having recently held a series of virtual assemblies with their fellow citizens.
It also underlines all the work that was done before the general council this weekend to arrive at the fifty resolutions that will be put to the vote.
The event, which will be held in Trois-Rivières in a hybrid format on Saturday and Sunday, will bring together several hundred members of the CAQ.
“Everyone had their right to speak, supports Mme Beaumier. Everyone had time to watch […] the various proposals to be able to come back with amendments.
“It was really very fertile,” she said, before adding that the CAQ still remains a “pragmatic” party that does not want to drag on debates “where we end up agreeing not to to agree “.
“Ultimately, we want to move forward. ”
The regions
With less than a year before the elections, the Caquists will take up a theme that is dear to them this weekend: that of the regions they consider left behind.
In its proposal book entitled “Stronger regions, a more proud Quebec”, the CAQ affirms that the regions do not enjoy the same advantages as the large urban centers.
“They need a boost, can we read. It means better funding, more government support. […] We have to make resources available and help people develop initiatives. ”
The CAQ notably proposes measures in the areas of economic development, agriculture, forestry, housing and land use planning.
It will invite its members to comment on the transfer of positions in the regions, the installation of electrical terminals and the valuation of wood in construction, for example.
10e birthday
Members will also mark the 10e anniversary of the CAQ, which was officially recognized as a political party on November 14, 2011.
Founded by François Legault and Charles Sirois, the CAQ absorbed Action Démocratique du Québec (ADQ) on February 14, 2012 and entered the National Assembly after the 2012 general election.
She remained second in opposition following the 2014 election.
The collapse of support for so-called “traditional” parties in the 2018 general elections brought the CAQ to power with 37.42% of the vote and 74 seats in the National Assembly.
This is the first time since 1970 that a political party other than the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) or the Parti Quebecois (PQ) has held a majority of seats in parliament.
The CAQ does not claim to be federalist or sovereignist, but autonomist, that is to say that it aims to defend the interests of Quebec – and to increase its powers – within Canada.
Since coming to power, the CAQ has counted among its main achievements the adoption of a law on secularism, the hardening of immigration policies and the abolition of school boards.