Marois pleased with ‘short, intense’ first session
Premier highlights corruption battle and financial steps as accomplishments
“We have turned back corruption, changed the rules.”
PREMIER PAULINE MAROIS
QUEBEC — Pauline Marois, Quebec’s first female premier, wrapped up her first session of the National Assembly on Friday, describing it as “short but very intense.”
And contrary to assumptions her minority Parti Québécois government would have its hands tied, Marois said “there was a lot of action,” with the adoption of a budget and nine of its 15 bills.
“We have turned back corruption, changed the rules for financing political parties and put a ceiling on campaign expenses,” Marois told reporters.
“(We have) put order in public finances, supported economic growth, restored social peace, given a tax break to families, reinforced the position of the French language and defended Quebec’s interests in all forums,” she said.
In addition to Bill 1, creating the obligation for companies seeking public-sector contracts to have a certifi- cate attesting that have not been convicted of a crime or other offences, and Bill 2 setting new limits on contributions to political parties, the PQ waited until this week to present its Bill 14, overhauling Bill 101, the Charter of the French Language.
Marois said consultations by Immigration Minister Diane De Courcy indicated “there was not only no unanimity, but there was a very significant objection” to a PQ proposal to extend Bill 101 rules to CEGEP, meaning graduatesof Quebec’sFrench high schools would be barred from English CEGEPs.
Earlier, François Legault, leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, said the Marois government was “disconnected” from the populace.
“If I had been disconnected from the population I would not have changed my mind about certain bills or certain measures we presented,” she said.
The PQ accepted opposition amendments to Bill 1 and agreed to allow party contributions of $200 and $500, in addition to the original planned $100 limit in Bill 2, which now includes an $8-million ceiling on total campaign spending.
Marois said she would listen to Quebecers, contrasting her approach with the stubborn stance of the previous Charest government in the tuition dispute. She said the PQ ended that conflict by cancelling the fee hikes and abrogating Bill 78, condemned by Quebec’s human rights commission as violating fundamental rights.
She also took credit for putting pressure on former Liberal premier Jean Charest to call a public inquiry into corruption.
Provisions in Bill 14 would oblige English CEGEP graduates to demonstrate they can speak and write in French, while offering only optional English courses in French CEGEPs, with no requirement they be fluent in English.
Asked whether this would give bilingual English CEGEP graduates an advantage in the labour market, Marois said she does not see this as a problem.
“First of all the CEGEPs are supported by public money,” she said. “The official language of Quebec is French and I believe in our public institutions we should ensure that even when we study in English we should learn the common language, French.”
“We want to continue to live in French, to work in French in Quebec, to communicate in French in commercial establishments,” she added. “I think we are right to demand and it is justified to ask that young people in English CEGEPs graduate with an adequate knowledge of French.”
Asked what her government would do in its second hundred days, Marois noted there will be “a major consultation” on Bill 14 and she plans to go ahead with a new mineral royalty regime. She also plans to establish the new Banque de développement économique in the next session.
“We will continue at the same pace.”
Earlier Jean-Marc Fournier, interim Liberal leader, said “incompetence and trickery,” were trademarks of the Marois government.
He also referred to the “twofor-one” offer to former PQ leader André Boisclair, when he was named Quebec’s representative in New York and given a lifetime guaranteed civil service job when that assignment ends.
Asked whether the Liberals plan to defeat the minority PQ government, Fournier said the message Quebecers gave in electing a minority government is that they want the parties in the assembly to work together.
François Legault, leader of Quebec’s third party, the Coalition Avenir Québec, said he doesn’t think the PQ will be defeated in the new year, triggering a 2013 election.
Asked when Liberals will stop propping up the PQ government, Legault said, “after the Charbonneau Commission.”
The commission began hearings in June but must deliver its report by Oct. 19, 2013 unless it gets an extension.
On the record of the Marois government, Legault called it “trial and error,” “disconnected,” and living in “a parallel dimension.” He added that most PQ promises have been “put in the garbage,” referring, among others, to the PQ election promise to abolish the $200-a-head health tax.
François David, co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire, said that if Marois could only win with a minority government after nine years of Liberal rule, she should take a hard look at the PQ program and its practices.