Over the past few days, many have questioned the credibility of the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ), suggesting that the organization’s positions were motivated by a desire to present me for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec. . As leader of the CPQ, I’ve been repeating it for several months and I’m saying it once and for all: I don’t want to go into active politics. I want to put an end to the rumor mill.
With each voice which carries, with each intervention which does not go in the same line as the government, will one doubt that there are political aspirations behind an organization?
First, let’s recall the origin of the CPQ. We were created to represent companies to governments and other stakeholders. We are the main group representing the interests of employers in Quebec from all sectors and all regions. And history teaches us that we have played an important role in economic and social debates over the decades. Over the years, we have demonstrated our relevance by helping to implement policies and reforms conducive to economic development in Quebec.
Our 54 years of existence prove it and we continue this work even today.
If we have succeeded in becoming this strong voice for employers, it is because we have taken the means so that our organization can formulate recommendations that are always useful, credible and connected to the priorities of entrepreneurs.
A relevance that is articulated by our ability to place the economic prosperity of Quebec and Canada at the center of everything to allow a flourishing business environment for employers. Each of our positions is deployed in the interest of our members.
This relevance is also reflected in the quality of the professionals who work at the CPQ. Experts of all political colors who pool their knowledge in the service of the economy. The CPQ’s independence is a sine qua non of its relevance and credibility.
All of these elements give us the means to, at times, congratulate the government and, at other times, criticize it constructively. Whether we agree or not, the important thing is to have this discussion so that we are able to reach consensus, it is the basis of social dialogue that characterizes Quebec and differentiates us from the rest of North America. It is dishonest to associate the positions of the CPQ with politics.
One thing is clear: I’m not going anywhere. My bias is the employers, and it will remain so. It is the place of the economy that I care about, no matter the color of the government.