(L’Assomption) On the first day of advance voting, Sunday, François Legault raised the specter of an economic recession and called on voters to choose stability rather than “taking risks”.
Updated yesterday at 5:14 p.m.
Due in particular to the stock markets which ended the last week in sharp decline, the risk of a recession increases to 50%, argued François Legault, who ensures that the financial framework of his party still holds despite everything. So far, his outgoing finance minister, Eric Girard, estimated the risk of a recession at 35%.
“I had the opportunity to discuss with Eric Girard. We are getting closer to 50%. There is a global risk. And a risk that has increased in the last few days, ”said the CAQ leader during a press scrum, after having voted in advance in his riding of L’Assomption.
He sees it as “an additional reason to vote for the CAQ”. “Because we need an Eric Girard, a Sonia LeBel and a Pierre Fitzgibbon more than ever to get through it,” he said, once again implying that these would remain respectively in Finance, Treasury and Economy if the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) is re-elected.
He invites voters to choose stability, which predecessors have already done before him during times of economic uncertainty – Jean Charest in 2008, for example. “We are much better off with competent people who have proven themselves than taking risks in a situation like this when there is a greater risk of a global economic slowdown,” he pleaded.
Stock and financial markets ended the week down sharply on Friday, as investors grew increasingly concerned about a deterioration in global economic conditions.
According to François Legault, even if the economic outlook is bleaker, his party’s financial framework is still holding up. “Eric Girard told me yes. Because we took provisions of two billion a year, while some parties took zero provisions. We have a responsible, conservative financial executive with a small c. »
However, the economic growth forecasts included in its financial framework are higher than those of private sector economists and even than those appearing in the pre-election report of the Ministry of Finance. François Legault brushed off a question on the subject.
The CAQ leader began to evoke the prospect of dark clouds on the horizon on September 20, presenting his “question of the ballot box”. “With inflation, with global economic uncertainty, with interest rates that keep rising, I think the ballot box issue is around the economy. Who is able to help Quebecers and put money back in their wallets? “, he said. He has also addressed the consequences of supply chain disruptions in speeches since.
Advance voting
In an extremely rare gesture from a party leader, François Legault voted in advance on Sunday, in his riding of L’Assomption.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
François Legault voted in advance in his riding of L’Assomption.
As a general rule, the leaders of political parties exercise their right to vote on polling day. This is an opportunity for them to encourage voters to go to the polls by lending themselves to the exercise in front of the cameras.
But the CAQ leader has been insisting for several days already on the importance of advance voting in his speeches. He expects half of the voters who will vote in the election to do so early on Sunday and Monday.
Turnout at advance polls increased over the course of the election, but it never crossed the 20% threshold. It reached 17.9% in 2018 – compared to 11.8% 10 years earlier.
The total participation rate was 66% four years ago. Since 1931, the lowest rate was recorded in 2008, with 57.4%.
“You know, we expect that half of the world who are going to vote are going to vote today and tomorrow [dimanche et lundi]. Today and tomorrow is as important as October 3,” Mr. Legault told some fifty activists and volunteers gathered in L’Assomption.
“We have to convince the world to vote today and tomorrow. There is nothing gained, nothing should be taken for granted. There is even a challenge for the rest of us because there are those who think it’s already over. It’s not over, it’s not over until the world has voted,” he added.