Québec solidaire (QS) wants to be more “listening” to Quebecers, but does not rule out proposing new “improved” taxes, despite its difficulties in selling them during the election campaign.
The party took advantage of its national council on Saturday to take stock of the general election of 2022. The observation is clear: QS has not been able to progress, in particular because it has failed to explain and communicate its new taxes and levies.
In the campaign, the left-wing party had, among other things, proposed a wealth tax and a tax on gasoline vehicles of “on average 15%” of the purchase cost. Described as an “orange tax” and constantly attacked by the leader of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), François Legault, the latter was “more difficult to plead in more rural territories, despite the modulation by region and the exemptions for large families and work”, underlines the report presented Saturday to the solidarity delegates gathered in Montreal.
“This proposal needs to be improved. She was complex. It allowed some of our adversaries to attack us, ”agreed the solidarity co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois in a press scrum at the entrance of the National Council.
The solidary elected representative wishes to see the “party, its deputies, its militants, its militants [mettre] in listening mode”, especially with voters in the regions, who did not support QS enough for their taste in October. Does this mean abandoning surcharges and additional taxes? Not at all, said “GND”.
“Quebec solidaire will always fight for a better distribution of wealth in Quebec”, hammered the deputy for Gouin. Moreover, although at times unpopular, surtaxes still have the potential to work with the average voter, he said.
“I think people in Quebec want it to be fair. I think they are ready to make an effort, but they expect the biggest polluters to do so too. This justice in the climate transition is essential,” said Mr. Nadeau-Dubois.
The “precious” tax
The national councils are the occasion for the delegates to discuss the general orientations of the party. At times, they allow party regulars to resurface. On Saturday, it was the former co-spokesman of QS Amir Khadir who allowed himself a visit to the solidarity rally.
Asked about the usefulness of taxing and taxing Quebecers, the former member for Mercier said he was in complete agreement with his successor Nadeau-Dubois. “There is no one more proud, more obsessed [que moi] by the idea that taxation is one of the most important and precious discoveries of mankind. […] If we take the time to explain all the conditions surrounding these measures, many people will be very interested, even in the regions, ”he said.
Also present on Saturday, longtime solidarity activist François Saillant, who has run for the party on several occasions, raised doubts about the campaign team’s strategy. “I completely agreed with the content of these measures, but when, during an election campaign, you campaign positively and you say: ‘we’re going to tax’… Maybe it’s not the right one something to say,” he said.
Reaching out to the regions
During a speech to delegates on Saturday, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois called for the party to become “in 2026 an even better version of [lui]-even, a version that will be even more connected”.
“It’s up to us to have the courage to get out of our comfort zone, to think outside the box, to get out of the echo chambers, to go see them, to talk to them. […] That’s good because the next elections are in four years. We can take that time to work on our project, to come back to Quebecers with a project that brings us together, then that looks even more like them,” he said.
While he won two new ridings in Montreal, QS also won the riding of Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue in October. It is the CAQ which now occupies this seat.
In fact, the solidarity team has 34 rural constituencies where it lost more than one percentage point in the last elections. This “fracture” with the regions will be the subject of debate this weekend: a proposal has been placed on the agenda for the co-spokespersons to tour Quebec and meet voters outside the areas. urban.
In a press scrum on Friday, Manon Massé agreed that QS needed to simplify its message. “Does that mean that we are going to let go of the substance of what Québec solidaire is? Me, I think not. I don’t think we’re going to do a slogan campaign,” she said.
The solidarity rally continues Saturday and Sunday in Montreal.