CAQ ranked ‘competent,’ ‘ideological’

Mr. Legault prefers to listen to his ... ideology rather than pay attention to science and the experts.

A little more than two months after his election, the government of François Legault is seen as either “competent” and “close to the people,” according to CAQ ministers, or “ideological” and “conservative” according to the opposition parties. In the absence of Premier Legault, who was in Montreal for the Canadian first ministers conference, the government’s record to date was delivered Friday at the National Assembly by vice-premier Geneviève Guilbault, and parliamentary leader Simon Jolin-Barrette. Guilbault defended herself from opposition criticism that she was a member of a government party quick to adopt ideological positions. “The only ideology we have is to be coherent with the promises that we have made, notably during the electoral campaign,” she said. The Coalition Avenir Québec was elected with “a clear mandate” and 74 ministers, which gives it free rein to carry out its program, she said in response to those who complained they weren’t consulted. Otherwise people would criticize the CAQ for not respecting it’s promises, she said. Recently, the government deposited three draft laws and adopted fiscal measures for the parents of young children and for low-income seniors. Opposition parties said the Legault government’s first steps indicate it’s defending a “conservative ideology” based on polls and marketing. The leader of the Official Opposition, Liberal Pierre Arcand, said he was having “difficulty understanding where (the CAQ) are going.” The sentiment was echoed by the Parti Québécois, which is impatiently waiting for the government to start investing in direct services for the population. “Why wait? The Coalition Avenir Québec announced targeted measures. It’s the choice they made. But no major investments in services. Whereas, that interests us. In health, for seniors. In education, for the success of students. In the regions of Quebec,” said interim leader Pascal Bérubé. “The sick cannot wait, seniors cannot wait, students cannot wait.” According to Québec solidaire, which has been demanding the government take concrete steps to battle climate change, if there’s one word to describe the Legault government, it’s “ideological.” “In the immigration file, in the cannabis file, in the file concerning the third link (connecting Quebec City to Lévis), in the environmental file, Mr. Legault prefers to listen to his conservative ideology rather than pay attention to science and the experts. So, it’s troubling,” party spokesperson Manon Massé said comparing Legault to former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.