The Legault government inadvertently transmitted its press lines for Wednesday to journalists.
In a message that was supposed to contain the names of the press attachés, the media relations coordinator, Alice Bergeron, instead conveyed what the ministers had to repeat to journalists throughout the day.
For example, if journalists asked whether Quebec was heading towards a period of budgetary austerity, ministers had to respond:
– “What the Minister of Finance presented yesterday was a prudent and responsible (economic) update of public finances. »
– “Quebec’s situation is no different from that of other economies: the slowdown is harming the financial room for maneuver of citizens, businesses and governments. We have to be careful. »
– “Now, the minister has been very clear: we will never cut State missions or services to citizens. »
– “Moreover, yesterday he announced a total envelope of $4.3 billion to respond to the priorities of Quebecers. This is without counting the $2 billion annually which will be used to protect the purchasing power of Quebecers. »
If the journalists were to raise the question of Quebec content in the battery sector, there again, the ministers had their answer ready:
– “Northvolt and other companies have chosen Quebec, particularly for our supply chain, and we are proud of it. »
– “I remind you, our strategy is to provide Quebec with a complete sector: from the exploration of our minerals, to their extraction, to their production, to the battery, then to recycling. »
– “For one of the rare times in Quebec, we will transform and create added value to our natural resources before exporting them. »
– “The battery sector will transform our economy. »
Finally, regarding the tram and the meeting planned for Wednesday with the mayor of Quebec Bruno Marchand, we had to limit ourselves to saying:
– “As always, we want to work in collaboration with the city and the federal government to provide Quebec with a structuring public transportation project. »
– “In the current economic situation, we have to sit down and look at what our options are. It’s the responsible thing to do. »
In a press scrum Wednesday morning, Prime Minister François Legault chose to laugh about it. “Since you had a line, I don’t need to answer you,” he said with a smile.
“It looks like it’s my lines!” », Exclaimed earlier the minister responsible for the National Capital, Jonatan Julien, when asked about the tramway.