Interim leader takes aim at QS and CAQ
Party plans to act as serious opposition to newly elected provincial government
QUEBEC Five days after their historic election loss, Quebec’s Liberals have picked an interim leader to hold down the fort in the coming months.
Emerging from a morning caucus meeting, Liberal caucus chairperson Filomena Rotiroti announced Mont-Royal—Outremont MNA Pierre Arcand has been selected. He was elected by a secret vote of the caucus.
A veteran politician and former cabinet minister, Arcand immediately told reporters the Liberals plan to act as serious opposition to the newly elected Coalition Avenir Québec.
He objected to Québec solidaire’s statement this week that it will constitute the real opposition in the house because, in their mind, the Liberals and CAQ are interchangeable.
“We were attacked a little this week when they told us they are the official opposition,” Arcand said at a news conference. “I don’t accept this. We are the official opposition.
“There is a big difference between us and the CAQ and day in, day out, we will demonstrate that … and we will work for the greater interests of Quebecers.
“We will tell (the CAQ), ‘You made many promises, now you are going to have to deliver the goods to Quebecers.’”
And the Liberal caucus also moved to settle one touchy issue haunting it: the future of Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette.
Last week, news reports said emails from two different addresses belonging to Ouellette were used to send information embarrassing to the Liberals to the then-opposition CAQ.
Ouellette, who fancies himself an ethical whistleblower, told reporters at the time that he didn’t remember sending the emails, and speculated that Quebec’s anticorruption squad — which at one pointed arrested him on suspicion of leaking information to the media — may have sent them by hacking into his computer.
But premier-elect François Legault told reporters during the election campaign that Ouellette was the source of the leaks in 2016, suggesting that he was upset about partisan appointments.
Ouellette was not present for the Liberal caucus meeting on Friday, Rotiroti explained. He instead sent a letter which was read aloud behind the closed doors of the caucus.
The caucus then voted to ex- clude him. Arcand, who refused to make the letter public, said the caucus decided Ouellette was guilty of a “serious breach of trust” and it is their right to kick him out.
Ouellette, who was not talking to reporters Friday, will now sit as an independent.
The loss of Ouellette means the Liberal caucus will fall from 32 members to 30 because Liberal Leader and Premier Philippe Couillard resigned Thursday.
And at about the same time as the Liberal caucus was planning for the future, across the street Couillard and Legault held the customary postelection meeting to discuss the transition.
Couillard warmly met Legault in the hall on his arrival, his hand outstretched.
“Welcome Mr. Premier,” Couillard said. “Welcome to your office.”
Chatting informally before reporters while sitting at a table, Legault told Couillard the electoral squabbling is over and it’s time to get on with the business of running Quebec.
“Before these people, I want to thank you for these years,” Legault said. “Politics is tough. You need a thick skin.”
“You noticed,” Couillard responded with a chuckle.
Legault then said he’s glad to find the province in good shape.
“As Philippe said, he’s leaving the house in order, with the public finances in order,” Legault said. “There won’t be any surprises.”
“You’re lucky. I didn’t arrive under the same conditions,” Couillard said, a reference to the $7-billion deficit left behind by the previous Parti Québécois government.
Couillard said he plans to stay a long way from the political arena in the future and will not be an outside critic of the new regime.
Later, Couillard told Legault about the origins of the large oak desk used by the premier. It was once used by former premier Maurice Duplessis.
Couillard has not said what his plans are for the future. His government will hold its last cabinet meeting before leaving office next week.
There have been reports Legault and the new cabinet will be sworn inOct.16.
We will tell (the CAQ), ‘You made many promises, now you are going to have to deliver the goods to Quebecers.’