Prime Minister François Legault denied Tuesday that he had attributed the increase in the next budget deficit to public sector union members whose salaries were increased in their new collective agreements.
Mr. Legault affirmed that his government has made the decision to improve the working conditions of state employees.
“We must be very clear, I have never blamed the teachers, the nurses, the unions,” he declared to the Salon bleu. What I said is that our government has made the choice, the choice to invest massively in the working conditions of the people who work for our public services. »
In the morning, the opposition parties had all denounced the comments of Mr. Legault who, on Sunday, underlined the link between the increase in the deficit of the next budget and the increases granted as part of the renewal of collective agreements in the public sector. The unions also deplored his comments.
In the House, Mr. Legault was notably the target of interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay on this subject.
“The CAQ will delay the return to a balanced budget,” said interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay. We are faced with the poor state of public finances. The Prime Minister has only himself to blame, especially since he does not blame the teachers. »
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