Marguerite Blais probably did not tell the coroner everything “to protect the CAQ”, accuses the Parti Québécois. Québec solidaire sees it as an attempt by the Legault government to “instrumentalize” Géhane Kamel’s investigation “to wash its hands” and “relieve responsibility” for its management of the crisis in CHSLDs.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
The new revelations that the minister responsible for seniors, Marguerite Blais, and her chief of staff, Pascale Fréchette, did their utmost to sound the alarm on the situation in CHSLDs during the first wave of the pandemic are a ” incredible contradiction ”with the testimony delivered by the elected official during the public inquiry of coroner Géhane Kamel, in January, according to the opposition.
In a book to be published this Tuesday by Éditions du Boréal, which deals with the slaughter of COVID-19 in CHSLDs, Katia Gagnon, Ariane Lacoursière and Gabrielle Duchaine, three journalists from The Press, reveal unpublished interviews with Mme Blais and M.me Frechette. Their versions shed new light on the tragedy from within the crisis unit itself.
” [Marguerite Blais] went to the coroner to say the opposite under oath to protect the CAQ. I would be ashamed […]I would resign, ”said Parti Québécois MP Lorraine Richard bluntly.
In an interview for the book, Mme Blais confirmed the multiple interventions, in particular to stop the transfer of patients from hospitals to CHSLDs, that she and her chief of staff carried out inside the crisis unit itself: “We scream, we scream, Pascale and me. We scream all the time. “However, in front of the coroner, she rather affirmed that the CHSLDs were not on anyone’s radar in the spring of 2020.
At the end of the line, the deputy Lorraine Richard does not take off. “It’s all up to one person. It falls to François Legault who appointed Marguerite Blais Minister of Seniors. A minister who has no influence, who has no powers. As long as that, you do not appoint a minister, ”protests the elected Duplessis.
Moreover, she still cannot believe the statement of the former Deputy Minister of Health, Yvan Gendron, who would have replied to Mr. Legault that the CHSLDs “were used to” epidemics, evoking gastro , from March 9, 2020. “The pandemic and gastro, it seems to me that they are not the same thing. Instead of having pencil pushers in Quebec, there should be people on the ground capable of giving the right time, “said Mme Richard.
Crisis unit: “A place of debate”, answers Blais
In a statement sent to The Press Monday, M.me Blais denies having delivered contradictory versions. “The crisis unit was a place of debate and it is completely normal in this kind of situation. In all my actions, I have always been guided by the well-being of elders,” she writes.
For my part, I answered all the questions put to me by the coroner. I even came out of my sick leave to testify before her. I gave myself fully to the exercise, out of respect for deceased elders and their loved ones.
Marguerite Blais, Minister Responsible for Seniors
The Minister adds: “No one can rewrite history. Our government made the necessary decisions, based on the information and knowledge we had at the time. All the decisions we made were to protect and save lives. »
Minister Blais is due to attend the unveiling of Minister Christian Dubé’s Health Plan in Montreal on Tuesday and then participate in question period at the Blue Room in Quebec City. However, her office confirmed on Monday that she had been tested for COVID-19 as a preventive measure since she was experiencing symptoms. She is therefore awaiting the result.
For a public inquiry
The opposition demanded in unison on Monday the launch of a public and independent inquiry into the management of the pandemic by the Legault government, which Quebec has already refused on many occasions.
“When we read [les révélations du livre]we say that the CAQ has instrumentalized the coroner’s public inquiry to wash its hands, relieve itself of responsibility and carry out a comm “, protested the deputy Sol Zanetti. The elected representative of Québec solidaire mentions in the same breath the interview that Mme Blais gave the show Investigation, where she claimed not to have felt listened to by the government.
“Out of three stories, there are two telling the same story, and that’s not the version the government likes the most, it’s not the version that they staged. It bothers me deeply and it’s one more argument, as if one more was needed, to have a public inquiry into the entire management of the pandemic”, illustrates the solidarity, spokesperson for elders.
Liberal MP Monique Sauvé claims to have “fallen out of her chair” on Sunday when the excerpts were revealed. “As we move forward, whether with stories or reports, we are more involved than ever. The independent public inquiry, once again, we are asking for it. »
According to Mme Saved, M.me Blais cannot be “the bearer of two contradictory truths”.
“If this is the truth [qu’elle a hurlée], well I can’t help but say that means she lied to the coroner. And if she lied in front of the coroner, it’s very serious. She did it under oath, ”lamented Monique Sauvé in an interview.