Quebec Prime Minister tells party members to be ‘a bit chauvinistic’ – Montreal | The Canadian News

The faithful of the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) party are gathering in Trois-Rivières this weekend for their annual convention.

The meeting will serve to determine much of the party’s platform. It also marks the 10th anniversary of the CAQ, which has never been so popular before.

“Be a little chauvinist“Prime Minister François Legault told a room of 850 CAQ party members in French, which translates to” Be a little chauvinist. “

“Together, we have completely changed politics in Quebec,” he continued in French, to applause. “For 50 years, it was always the same two parts.”

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The leader and founder of the CAQ presumed that 10 years after its creation, the party stands out above all at the polls, as well as in the number of seats it has in the National Assembly.

Speaking to reporters in English, Legault said: “When I compare (us) with the other three parties, we have enough people to make two cabinets.”

The CAQ is here to stay, the prime minister added, hinting that he knows some of his ministers are already thinking about taking office.

“You can see as me, many would be ready to replace me, so I am happy to see that,” he emphasized, “but I am here for at least another term, so they will have to wait.”

READ: Legault tells the party’s youth wing that Quebec voters chose a nationalist party

At its annual convention, party members adopted resolutions to improve economic productivity in Quebec regions.

“The CAQ is a party of the regions,” said Deputy Prime Minister Geneviève Guilbault.

Party members voted for resolutions to create more public sector jobs in rural communities and support young people who want to start businesses outside of urban centers. This goes hand in hand with the prime minister’s own economic vision for the province, which also includes a push to buy premises and promote more green alternatives made in Quebec.

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While there was little on the agenda about Montreal or English-speaking Quebecers, Christopher Skeete, relations with the parliamentary aide to the English-speaking Québec prime minister, said he is not convinced that the CAQ is unpopular with English speakers.

“I think it would be a short cut to say that the English community doesn’t like Bill 9, Bill 21 or Bill 96,” Skeete said, explaining that the English community is not monolithic. “I think they are as dynamic and diverse as any (other) Quebecer.”

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Polls consistently show that the majority of non-Francophones still support the Quebec Liberal Party. Still, Skeete said the election, in less than a year, will be the real test.

“I’m looking forward to knowing what the outcome will be,” he said.