CAQ Will Offer Quebecers More Changes In Upcoming Elections, Says Legault

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TROIS-RIVIÈRES – Prime Minister François Legault says he will offer more of the same to Quebecers in the next elections; in other words, another dose of the change agenda that marked his first four years in office.

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But he said that health will be a problem among others. The economy and, more specifically, economic nationalism will also feature prominently when election campaign buses begin to circulate through Quebec.

“Continuing the changes that we are making at this time,” Legault said Sunday when asked what he thinks the 2022 Quebec general election will be about. “More changes; we still have a lot of changes to make in Quebec. “

At a press conference that wrapped up an Avenir Québec Coalition general council weekend marking the party’s 10th anniversary, an optimistic Legault was eager to talk politics after two years stuck managing the COVID-pandemic. 19.

The 850 CAQ members here seemed to agree, spending the weekend adopting policies designed to woo the electorate in regions where the party traditionally shines.

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Legault defended the fact that most policy discussions had little to do with Montreal. And a journalist pointed out to him that he broke with the tradition of including some lines in English in his closing speech.

“Not at all,” Legault said when asked if his French speech was a new CAQ policy.

Legault insisted that he has not canceled the island of Montreal, where the CAQ only has two seats. Minority communities also have a number of problems with the CAQ’s focus on identity and language issues during its first term.

“We want to have more than two seats on the island of Montreal,” Legault said. “The difference with the Liberal Party is that we are not only on the island of Montreal. We are everywhere in Quebec. “

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While making the comment about the potential in Montreal, he gestured to CAQ party chair Sarah Beaumier, who was by his side and is considered a rising star in the party. Her action suggested that she could be a candidate.

“I didn’t say anything,” Legault joked.

On Saturday, announcing that the CAQ intends to present a candidate on the newly liberated Marie-Victorin promenade on the South Shore, Legault dropped another clue when he said the candidate would likely be a woman, which seemed to suggest that Beaumier might apply there.

However, the issue of the elections and his political legacy is clearly on Legault’s mind and it featured prominently in his closing speech, which he delivered on stage with a huge photo of himself. He was surrounded by the 74 members of the CAQ caucus. Members of the CAQ stood for most of the speech, thunder pounding.

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Legault asked the troops if they were ready to fight another campaign so that he could finish what he started.

“We have already made many changes together, but we will have many more to do,” Legault said. “I have the impression that we will need another mandate. It seems to me that it would be a drag to break this momentum.

“For my part, I am ready to continue for another four years. Would you like to get on board?

However, he warned the troops not to go ahead.

“It sure is good to see the polls,” Legault said. “But we don’t take anything for granted. We have to earn the trust of Quebecers every day. “

Part of the CWC day was overshadowed by the announcement in Montreal by former liberal health minister Gaétan Barrette. With Liberal leader Dominique Anglade by his side, Barrette announced that he would not seek a new term in 2022.

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Legault thanked him for his contribution to Quebec, but said he had no intention of hiring Barrette as a permanent political advisor. In recent months, Legault’s chief of staff, Martin Koskinen, met with Barrette for his ideas on the healthcare system.

And on the subject of language, Simon Jolin-Barrette, the minister responsible for the French language, got into the controversy of the Air Canada CEO’s English speech by telling reporters that the airline could be sanctioned under Quebec law for not operating with a sufficient level of French. in Quebec and that includes its top management.

Quebec’s Bill 96, which revises the Charter of the French Language, includes a clause that extends Quebec’s francization rules to companies regulated by the federal government, Jolin-Barrette told reporters. The bill is currently being studied by a committee of the National Assembly and is not yet law.

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“They have to follow the francization process and the OQLF ( Office Québécois de la langue française ) is there to make sure the process is adhered to, ”said Jolin-Barrette. “The objective is to accompany them in the process.”

“Ultimately, if the company does not respect the francization process, the OQLF has the power to order compliance, which can translate into criminal penalties.”

Jolin-Barrette was asked to explain the comments made by Legault on Friday. Legault said he wants to identify the “small minority” of Quebec CEOs who don’t speak French so he can convince them to learn.

However, on Sunday, Legault said he asked Economic Development Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon to seek incentives for CEOs to learn French.

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