Now that Justin Trudeau has been returned to power, François Legault, who denies being on the right by defining himself as an “effective leftist” politician, does not regret having taken a position by lambasting the Liberal leader during the federal election campaign.
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In the last few hours, Mr. Legault took the phone to congratulate Mr. Trudeau on his re-election.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
François Legault reacted to the results of the federal election during a press briefing in the lobby of the Honoré-Mercier building on Parliament Hill.
“I spoke to him earlier. Of course we have differences, but we both said that we were able to work together […] for the sake of Quebeckers, for the interests of Quebeckers, ”he summed up, reacting to the results of the ballot.
If it had to be done again, the CAQ leader assures us that he would intervene in exactly the same way.
“I intervened. I do not regret it. […] I have defended the autonomy of Quebec and I will always defend the autonomy of Quebec, ”insisted Mr. Legault.
In his view, the re-election of a minority government to the Canadian Parliament confirms that no party in Ottawa can aspire to a majority without greater support from Quebecers.
“Quebec is essential,” he said, repeating that most Quebecers voted “blue”, either for the Conservatives or the Bloc Québécois.
“Mr. Trudeau must take this into account,” considers the Premier of Quebec.
According to him, it is because the voters voted according to several issues that the Conservative troops of Erin O’Toole, whose approach he praised, did not score more points in Quebec.
- Listen to the analysis of Philippe-Vincent Foisy and Antoine Robitaille with Benoit Dutrizac on QUB radio:
Message to the “shocked” liberals
To disgruntled liberals – like Mélanie Joly, whom he did not hesitate to name – François Legault suggests taking note of the “very clear” message sent by Quebecers.
“Let them take into account the fact that the majority of Quebeckers want Quebecers’ areas of jurisdiction to be protected, they want our language to be protected, they want our values to be protected,” said the Prime Minister.
Woke
The Caquist leader also refuses to be attached to the label of the right-wing conservative, as the liberal Joël Lightbound (Louis-Hébert) did on Monday evening. “I have always defined myself as being on the effective left,” said Mr. Legault.
Asked by a journalist whether Mr. Trudeau is woke, François Legault limited himself to saying that the liberal leader is “a multiculturalist”.
Mr. Legault, who recently passed the torch of the presidency of the Council of the Federation to his counterpart from British Columbia, John Horgan, also announced that the premiers of the provinces and territories will call for a summit meeting with Justin Trudeau. by the end of the year.
Unsurprisingly, increasing health transfers will be the first item on the agenda. “There is an urgent need to act,” insisted Mr. Legault.
A 3rd link with or without Ottawa
In addition, the CAQ leader reiterated his commitment to build a third highway link between Quebec and Lévis “with or without the money” from Ottawa.
“But I expect to have federal money,” he added.
During the election campaign, only the Conservatives agreed to promise funding equivalent to 40% of the costs of the tunnel, which are estimated between $ 6 billion to $ 10 billion, as Mr. Legault requested.
“We would like to have federal money and then currently, there is no one who has presented me with a better project,” said Mr. Legault.
“Currently, there is congestion, he recalled. We predict that it will deteriorate, it will not improve so it takes a solution. […] There is a problem, the problem must be solved. ”
Group shot on Le PM
“I think the big loser in this election is François Legault. François Legault bet big and he lost, and in this defeat he led all Quebecers. “
—Dominique Anglade, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
“François Legault had made a choice, he had chosen the Conservative Party with all that that represents as values. Last night, Quebeckers made different choices. I note that there was no Legault effect, I note that François Legault lost his elections. “
—Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire
“François Legault decided to take the bet to bet on the Conservatives, to tell Quebecers who to vote for, and Quebecers did not listen to him. And there we find ourselves in a cul-de-sac. “
—Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois
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