Party leaders put positive spin on their television face-off
JESSE FEITH, RENÉ BRUEMMER, CHRISTOPHER CURTIS
With only 11 days left until Quebecers head to the polls, its four major party leaders had one last chance to square off Thursday night. Here’s their take on the final debate of the provincial election campaign.
FRANÇOIS LEGAULT
“I think I was able to share my ideas about what we want to do with young children so they can better succeed. I spoke as well about putting more money in the wallets of Quebecers. I had the chance as well to speak about my exceptional team.
“I think we succeeded as well in highlighting the track record of the last 15 years of the Liberals.”
Asked what he meant when he said he wouldn’t expel immigrants, but wouldn’t accept those who fail his entrance tests, Legault said: “I tried to explain tonight that we will take fewer in order to take care of them. As premier of Quebec, I will do everything to make sure they are better integrated, they have access to French lessons, and to jobs, that they are able to know our values. I want to do everything to integrate all new arrivals ...
“That’s the power the Quebec government has — to give or not a selection certificate.
“To get the certificate, they have to pass those tests.”
PHILIPPE COUILLARD
“I think I managed to put forward our proposals to Quebecers in a calm and rational way. As well as the pride I feel for today’s Quebec and what it can become tomorrow.
“It’s obvious there’s confusion (about Legault’s stance on immigration). He’s not able himself to explain his position; ask him to explain it. He said a few days ago the opposite of what he’s saying today. That’s quite apparent to everyone.”
On Legault admitting mistakes: “Of course, I’ll also acknowledge when I make mistakes, I have before. Everybody makes mistakes. But this is a different type of situation here. This is something he himself put on the table a month ago, apparently to attract voters, and now he’s trying to extract himself from that. It’s quite particular.
“The question is who is most capable of being premier. A premier brings people together, doesn’t pull people apart. A premier unites people of all origins in Quebec, doesn’t distinguish among them based on criteria.”
JEAN-FRANÇOIS LISÉE
“We’re all there trying to take power. I see the polls and I see that there’s popularity around (Québec solidaire)
“Manon Massé and Gabriel Nadeau Dubois, the spokespersons for Québec solidaire are amazing, they’re amazing. But they’re not in charge. Who’s the boss at Québec solidaire? It’s a question that strikes to the heart of democracy at Québec solidaire. People hate that sort of secrecy, where people pull the strings in the shadows.
“They’re becoming a popular party, sure, but they need to answer questions. I’ve seen it happen, spokespersons for the party signing documents in public and then — behind the scenes — the real boss rips it up. There’s a democracy problem here and I wanted to highlight it.
“She didn’t answer it, she didn’t say why the leader wasn’t at the debate? Could the leader give a press conference tomorrow? He isn’t a candidate anywhere and yet Madame Massé has referred to him as “my boss.” It’s weird, we don’t know him.
“I (wasn’t trying to trap her), I was respectfully questioning her. I think I was very cordial, some of these questions are inconvenient truths and I like to tell inconvenient truths in a cordial way.”
MANON MASSÉ
On Lisée’s questions about who truly leads Québec solidaire: “I don’t understand. You all know this already. You know there’s no leader in Québec solidaire. We’re two co-spokespersons, one man and one woman. You know why? To always make sure there will be one woman and one man who will be our spokespersons. I think it’s extraordinary. There’s no leader!”
On questioning Legault’s motives on immigration: “As I said, I chat with Mr. Legault in the National Assembly and he’s an open guy. That’s why the only way I can imagine that he would use immigration to scare people is because his advisers told him it’s good for the vote. That’s why I asked him that, and I’m not sure he answered.”
On climate change: “On the ground, in the field, everybody, whether old or young, talks about the fear they have about climate change. They want a political party that is grounded in reality and when I talk to them about our transition plan, they totally recognize that Québec solidaire is the only one that has a real plan to fight climate change.
“I really don’t mind who I’m fighting. I want to convince Quebecers that if they want change, there’s only one party who will bring it, and it’s Québec solidaire.”