Quebec’s Legault says he’s not a lame duck premier

QUEBEC — Premier François Legault says he fully intends to complete a second mandate in office if voters opt to re-elect the Coalition Avenir Québec in 2022.

Moving to quash speculation touched off by an earlier interview in which Legault appeared to be planning his exit even if he wins the next election, Legault insisted he will do nothing of the sort and does not want to be labelled a lame duck.

In fact, meeting reporters following the final cabinet meeting for 2019, Legault was thinking big and said with enough time he believes the English-speaking community will warm to his government once it sees what it can do.

“I reassured everyone today,”

Legault told reporters, insisting he is also not taking an electoral win in 2022 for granted. “I will complete my mandate.”

The next provincial election is Oct. 3, 2022.

Asked if he anticipates a thaw in the CAQ’s relations with minorities in the new year, Legault said he lives in hope.

“Many minority communities still see me as a sovereignist, as a former member of the Parti

Québécois,” Legault said. “But after four years of seeing that I am working for them, working for well paid jobs, a more efficient system of health care and education, I expect to have some support, better support.”

With the legislature session wrapped up two weeks ago and ministers slowly drifting back to their ridings for the holidays, the government spent its last day wrapping up a few last-minute gifts for Quebecers.

For example, Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity Minister Jean Boulet announced Wednesday that Quebec’s minimum wage will go up by 60 cents starting May 1, 2020. The 4.8 per cent increase will mean the minimum wage will go from $12.50 an hour to $13.10 an hour.

Boulet said 409,100 people will benefit from the increase.