PKP is scaring away investors: Legault
But PQ leader says job losses have nothing to do with sovereignty
Even in his seat as opposition leader, Pierre Karl Péladeau is causing economic uncertainty in Quebec, the leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec said Wednesday.
But Péladeau rapidly dismissed François Legault’s claim — also suggested by Premier Philippe Couillard a day earlier — saying the sovereignty option has nothing to do with job losses or the departure of head offices with their high-paying jobs.
As the blame game in the National Assembly for the current economic climate entered its second day, Legault added his two cents when he said the election of Péladeau as head of the Parti Québécois Friday is affecting longterm investment decisions.
“There is already (an effect) and there would be an even greater one if he (Péladeau) was in power,” Legault, himself a former PQ cabinet minister, said on his way into a meeting of the CAQ’s caucus.
“There is a possibility, even if I judge it very improbable, that he (Péladeau) will be in power in three-and-a-half years. So financial markets which are nervous, which do not like uncertainty, actually ... it’s not the best way to attract private investment.”
When it was pointed out the Liberals under Couillard are in power, Legault had an answer.
“When we invest hundreds of millions in Quebec, it is not only for three years,” he said. “It’s for 10, 20, 30 years. The uncertainty created by Mr. Péladeau does not help attract business investments.”
The debate was sparked Tuesday when, on his first day as PQ leader, Péladeau invited Couillard to join forces and hold a summit on the economy and employment to curb the loss of head offices and investors.
But in the same statement in which he declined the offer, saying the Liberals already have a plan, Couillard fired back that the PQ’s option is not helping things.
“The best way to keep and attract head offices is to create a climate of political, financial and economic stability in Quebec,” Couillard said in the legislature. “And he (Péladeau) has a front-row seat from which he could correct the impression of instability, which his pursuit of independence creates for investors.”
Unwritten in the discourse is the fact that, tactically, Péladeau is undercutting the base vote of the Liberals and the CAQ.
With two byelections looming, Legault is fighting back, noting that Quebec would need $40 billion in investments a year — not the current $30 billion — to attain the same standard of living here as in Ontario.
Legault said the real problem is the PQ has no economic plan and the Liberal one is insufficient, which is why the March budget forecast less than 2 per cent economic growth for the next four years.
“Our priority is action on the ground with entrepreneurs to create jobs all over Quebec,” Couillard fired back.
Péladeau brushed aside all the criticism, saying studies show there are many other factors explaining the loss of head offices.
“It’s (the accusations) a diversion and in this matter the Liberals are masters,” Péladeau said.
And Péladeau got two breaks Wednesday. In a surprise move, Daniel Boyer, president of the Quebec Federation of Labour (FTQ), gave his support to Péladeau’s idea of an economic summit.
And Rosemont MNA Jean-François Lisée, one of Péladeau’s leadership critics because of Péladeau’s continued ownership of Québecor, announced he would stifle his public criticism and pulled himself off a committee that will examine the ownership issue next week.
“I’m part of the team, so we’re going to have our discussions inhouse,” Lisée said, denying the party has muzzled him. “It means I’m a willing member of the team.”