It’s not every day that opposition leaders get invited to meet the Prime Minister for anything more than a polite chat. Wednesday, however, is what happened.
In a press briefing – which, predictably, would be eclipsed by the resignation of Sophie Brochu, CEO of Hydro-Québec – François Legault said he was in great shape and in a hurry to “electrify Quebec”.
Then he added this: “I am announcing that, as of next week, the dates are beginning to be set, I will meet the four opposition leaders, including [celui du] of the Conservative Party of Quebec. »
Why ? “To listen to their suggestions, he said, first on this file, but also on the other priorities. His list? Inflation. Reorganization of the health network. Education. Labor shortage. Decline of French. Immigration. Extensive program, as the other would say.
It is true that at the very end of the campaign, Mr. Legault had undertaken to work with the opposition parties: “That is what Quebecers want, that we work together. ” TRUE.
The famous devil is always hiding in the details, however, it remains to be seen whether his intention to be “more attentive” to the opposition parties will materialize concretely or not.
Sentiment d’injustice
In strategic terms, the Prime Minister’s invitation can be explained. Having abandoned his promise to reform the voting system, he nevertheless knows that a Léger/The newspaper published in October showed that 53% of Quebecers want a new voting system that is more representative of the real division of votes between the parties.
From the moment the CAQ, with 41% of the vote, won 90 seats out of 125, the democratic inequity of such a result, however legitimate it may be, was obvious to many Quebecers.
Even if his government has a strong majority, François Legault therefore knows that he must try to at least attenuate this feeling of injustice.
Hence his outstretched hand to the other leaders: the Liberal Marc Tanguay, the solidarity Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, the PQ Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the Conservative Éric Duhaime, even if he has no elected.
For this intention to be credible, however, listening to Mr. Legault will have to result, from time to time, in the adoption of proposals that will be made to him by his opponents. Will he?
The resignation of Sophie Brochu gives her a first opportunity. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon asks him to ensure that the next CEO of Hydro-Québec is appointed in an “apolitical” manner with the support of at least two of the opposition parties and following an “audience granted to each gone with the candidate. To be continued…
Rain of crises
As I have already written, this second mandate of the CAQ promises to be that of all crises. The health system is collapsing. Public schools are vampirized by the subsidized private sector.
Inflation and the housing crisis are eating away at the quality of life and the mental health of many Quebecers. The decline of French is accelerating. Labor shortages threaten the sustainability of vital sectors of the economy. The energy transition promises to be difficult. Etc.
The Prime Minister may enjoy a huge capital of confidence, the reality is that between now and the 2026 elections, a long rain of crises awaits him. If they last too long, especially in health, even the legendary patience of Quebecers might crumble.
Hence the strategic, but also very down-to-earth, need to listen to what the opposition has to offer. It remains to be seen if this listening will be truly active or if it will be more passive…
