Liberal MP Marwah Rizqy accuses the government of having favored the construction and renovation of schools in CAQ constituencies.
Mme Rizqy made this observation Thursday based on a list of projects for which financing is provided for in the Quebec Infrastructure Plan for 2023 to 2033.
“Of all the requests for expansion, renovation, construction of schools, 100% in the CAQ counties, all others were refused. How can you explain this? “, she said in the House to the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville.
According to the MP, five school projects located in liberal ridings are still in planning even though they had been deemed a priority by the government, which included them in Bill 66, the objective of which was to accelerate construction of certain infrastructures.
“You took 220 million away from school construction in liberal counties,” accused Mme Rizqy, citing in particular projects in Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne and Saint-Laurent.
Mr. Drainville responded that the analysis prior to the choice of projects is the responsibility of civil servants and not partisan interests.
“The classification of projects does not take into account the color of the counties, it takes into account the needs, and there are officials who have been there for many years, who evaluate the projects and who, yes, classify the projects, prioritize them, and then we move forward with this classification,” he declared.
Prorated
The minister pointed out that the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) had deputies elected last year in 72% of Quebec’s 125 ridings.
“There are 90 CAQ deputies in this House, so it is normal that there are pro rata more schools inaugurated in 90 counties,” he argued.
According to Mr. Drainville, it may happen that a school service center must submit a project several times before it is approved.
” For what ? Because there are many more demands than there are resources, even though resources have been increased by 150%,” he said.
In a press briefing that followed, Mr.me Rizqy objected to Mr. Drainville’s analysis.
“To hear the Minister of Education say: yes, but there are more deputies… I would like there to be more deputies but all things considered that does not give 100% of the schools,” she said. said.
The Minister of Culture, responsible for the Outaouais region, Mathieu Lacombe, also responded to Mr.me Rizqy.
“Schools are not chosen based on political color, I find it frankly insulting that Marwah Rizqy comes to insinuate that,” he said in a press scrum after question period.
According to him, the CAQ government has inaugurated schools in liberal constituencies in the region.
“It’s not the CAQ constituencies that are privileged,” he said.