CAQ government drifting, backtracking, Quebec Liberals say
Only a month in office and QUEBEC already the new Coalition Avenir Québec government is drifting and backtracking on its electoral promises, Quebec’s Liberals say. Wrapping up a one-day meeting of the Liberal caucus, interim party leader Pierre Arcand said a series of incidents over the last few days have been a clear indicator to him that the government has no idea where it is headed on many fronts. “It is actually very hard to figure out where this government is going,” Arcand told reporters. “What we see is that they don’t have a coherent vision of what needs to be done in Quebec. “It’s going to be even easier to attack because the government doesn’t have a clear set of values.” Arcand’s attacks will start next week when the legislature resumes sitting for a brief pre-Christmas period. The sessions open Tuesday. On Wednesday, Legault will deliver his inaugural address outlining the CAQ government’s vision for Quebec. He had a long list of examples where the government seemed to be wavering or rudderless, including on the environment. Only hours earlier, the Liberals joined with the other opposition parties to call for emergency government action on climate change. Arcand said despite Premier François Legault’s decision to meet with the pact environmental lobby two weeks ago, the government has no concrete plan to fight climate change. Despite Legault’s pitch to create better paying jobs, so far the only thing he has acted on is to invite Ontario workers to Quebec to help build hydro dams, Arcand said. During the election, Legault swore he would rip up the agreement with medical specialists signed by the previous Liberal government, but nothing has happened, Arcand added. There is also no sign of the government’s plan to reduce immigration to Quebec from 50,000 to 40,000 a year. “Right now, we have press aides saying things that can change a week later,” Arcand said. “Ministers say one thing and the premier says the opposite. Arcand, however, said his No. 1 priority in the coming weeks will be what he called the “employment challenge,” a reference to chronic labour shortages across Quebec. “The problem is real, I would say urgent,” Arcand said. “Right now, all kinds of small- and medium-size businesses are feeling the lack of workers . …”