Seniors need an ombudsman, because the mandate of the Québec Ombudsman is “very broad”, believes the leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
The PQ reiterated its commitment on Sunday to create a position of protector of seniors, at a press conference in Saguenay. “It’s one thing to have a coroner who intervenes when the damage is done, deplores its leader. We do not accept that seniors lose their lives in unacceptable circumstances. »
While the Ombudsman must protect the entire population, the reality of seniors raises specific issues, according to Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon. “We want the protector of seniors to be entirely dedicated to this mission and to develop expertise in terms of preventing mistreatment. »
Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon refuses to create another structure, while the Québec Ombudsman has already considered the subject. “When we talk about public finances, it’s an expenditure of $12 million. It’s not an outrageous expense, either. »
If the Public Protector must protect the entire population, the reality of seniors raises specific issues, according to the head of the sovereignist party. “We want the protector of seniors to be entirely dedicated to this mission and to develop expertise in terms of preventing mistreatment. »
“The Public Protector, with the resources given to him, does useful work, but we cannot expect the Public Protector to be able to cover all aspects of respect for the rights and then the fate of each citizen. . It is a very broad mandate. »
Bridge in Tadoussac
A PQ government would not wait for another feasibility study to build a bridge between Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine over the Saguenay River, promised Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon.
The PQ caravan stopped in Tadoussac, later in the morning, to meet members of the Union 138 Coalition, which is advocating for the project of a bridge that would connect the two segments of Route 138. is currently provided by ferry.
Two new studies, one on the technical aspects and the other on the social and economic aspect, are expected by 2023. The PQ leader does not see the point of waiting until the end of 2023 before making a firm commitment. “We have a bridge that has been the subject of 14 studies since 1973, all of which conclude that it is necessary to connect the Côte-Nord to the rest of Quebec,” he replies.
According to him, the project on Route 138 cannot be compared to the debate on the third link in Quebec, which has become an electoral issue across the province. He says that building a bridge would be more environmental than the ferry, which makes 40,000 trips a year. “The ferry burns a lot of fuel. »
Present at the announcement, Coalition Union 138 spokesperson Guillaume Tremblay confirms that the PQ is the political party that has made the strongest commitment to the infrastructure project. “He is ready to move forward, that’s what we understand from his speech. »
However, he claims to have had a “nice listening” from François Legault, the leader of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ). “He speaks of positive study, if the studies are positive [le projet pourrait être lancé]. We would like to know, for him, what are positive studies because, me, positive reasons to build a bridge, I have plenty of them. »