Less than a day after Caquiste Joëlle Boutin resigned as a member of Jean-Talon, the Parti Québécois is already in offensive mode, looking to get “the CAQ” out of its Quebec engagement.
• Also read: CAQ MP Joëlle Boutin resigns and returns to private sector
• Also read: Joëlle Boutin’s resignation: doubts and a bit of cynicism
The PQ is already in by-election mode in the race for Jean-Talon. Although Prime Minister François Legault still has six months before taking the initiative, the PQ hopes to use its momentum in the polls to conquer this territory for the first time in its history. Before Joëlle Boutin’s election in 2020, it was a Liberal chateau.
However, according to the latest Léger-Le Journal poll, the Parti Québécois is at the forefront of voting intentions in the Quebec region.
Since Thursday morning, the sovereign formation has been launching an advertising offensive on social networks. The slogan: “Beat the CAQ in Quebec”.
“There will be a Jean-Talon by-election in Quebec. It’s time to mobilize, it’s time to win,” wrote chef Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who is still on maternity leave. In the same tweet, PSPP calls for donations and asks people to become party members.
The formation adds that Joëlle Boutin “only announced her resignation nine months after the last elections” and that “now is the time to send a clear message to the CAQ asking for François Legault’s party to emerge to get Jean-Talon out.”
Joëlle Boutin announced her resignation just nine months after the last elections, which will lead to a partial standoff with Jean-Talon.
Now it’s time to send a clear message to the CAQ. We can no longer allow François Legault to make us thousands… pic.twitter.com/BgC6g7WjIP
— Parti Québécois (@partiquebecois) July 20, 2023
Duhaime in thought
For his part, the leader of the Conservative Party is thoughtful. He must meet with Jean Talon activists next week to take stock, he told our parliamentary office.
On Thursday morning’s RadioX, he hoped the CAQ wouldn’t present anyone against him. “Is Mr. Legault ready for the 530,000 Quebecers who voted for the Quebec Conservative Party? [aux dernières élections] can have a vote of 125 in the National Assembly? Is Mr. Legaul ready to announce today that there will be no CAQ candidacy if I submit my candidacy?” he said.
Despite the increase
Joëlle Boutin announced yesterday that she is leaving her post for family and professional reasons. She accepted an offer from the important company Levio, linked to Quebec’s digital transformation, which she could not refuse.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
Joëlle Boutin is leaving an annual salary of about $160,000 as an MP on the table after MPs voted on a salary increase at the end of the most recent parliamentary session.
Ms Boutin was one of the group members disappointed at not being appointed to the Council of Ministers. A situation that “didn’t play a role at all” in her decision to leave politics, she said. Despite that 30 percent increase, Ms. Boutin decided to resign. She will become a partner at Levio next August.
In her resignation on Wednesday, she pointed out that “politics is an extraordinary opportunity that also requires professional sacrifices” and that “there are certain opportunities that cannot be turned down”.
Prior to her election, Ms Boutin was also Chief of Staff to the Ministerial Delegate for Digital Transformation. This is an area she knows well.
Levio conseil is one of the companies with numerous government contracts and with more than 300 companies in Quebec.
Keep in mind that a by-election costs taxpayers an average of $585,000.
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