Prime Minister François Legault was saddened to see the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) decline in the polls, attributing this decline in public opinion to a difficult economic environment marked by inflation.
Mr Legault commented on the situation of his political party following the release of a Léger poll on Wednesday showing the CAQ in decline.
“It definitely pains me to see the decline in support from Quebecers for me. I take full responsibility for this,” he said in a press briefing before Question Time.
The Prime Minister made the connection between this measurement of public opinion and the current economic situation.
“I know that Quebecers are suffering a lot from the rise in prices right now,” he said. And then I’ll try to figure out how I can help them better. »
A Léger poll conducted for Quebecor Media shows support for the Parti Québécois has risen to 26%, compared to 22% a month ago. This progress seems to come at the expense of the CAQ, which reached a value of 30%, a decrease of 4 percentage points since September 25th.
The popularity of PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is also increasing. The poll shows 24% of respondents think he would be the best premier of Quebec, an increase of 8%.
Mr. Legault lost six percentage points, slipping to second place with a score of 23% in that category.
These numbers were determined by 1,026 participants in a web survey from October 27th to 30th. Léger estimates his margin of error is 3.06%, 19 out of 20.
This decline is due to a PQ victory in a by-election in Jean-Talon in early October, which confirmed the perception of a PQ recovery. The CAQ responded by bringing its project for a third highway link between Quebec and Lévis back to the forefront, although it was shelved in the spring.
“Good helmsman”
The Minister for Economy and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, also reiterated that the economic context may have influenced public opinion. However, the minister recalled that the government has cut taxes and sent checks to help the population fight inflation.
He also recalled that Finance Minister Eric Girard plans to announce next week measures to support housing, reduce homelessness and combat climate change.
“Sometimes we forget the past, but Mr. Girard will provide an update next week,” he said, without elaborating.
CAQ MP Jean-François Simard said it was normal for political parties to fluctuate in the polls, while renewing his confidence in Mr Legault.
“Dealing with the pandemic was a very difficult thing, but we did it brilliantly,” he said. I think we recognize today that there are major challenges after the pandemic that are just as difficult as dealing with the pandemic itself. We have the right helmsman to overcome this. »
The copy and the original
PQ MP Pascal Bérubé used the release of the new poll on Wednesday to emphasize that respondents prefer the PQ to the CAQ when it comes to nationalism.
“Instead of the copy, they have the original,” he said. As for nationalism, there are the real ones, those who really know it, those who really think about it, those who think that there is no danger in being an independent or a nationalist. »
Mr. Bérubé reiterated that Mr. Legault’s recent reactions to the budget for a sovereign Quebec, the latest version of which was presented by the PQ last week, could reinforce this trend.
“I don’t know if he wants to keep the old Liberals, but that’s his position.” [ça] with the answers it offers, he said. Because there are even separatists in his party who look at him and say: “Okay, that’s what you think about the separatists.” »
Mr. Legault had warned of the job losses that would follow a declaration of sovereignty by Quebec.
Québec Solidaire (QS) also saw a decline in voting intentions found in the survey released on Wednesday. The political party received 15% of voting intentions, a decrease of 2% in a month.
“The surveys go through, there are some that are fun, others that are less fun. For me, this does not affect my enthusiasm for the work,” explained QS MP Alexandre Leduc.
Liberal MP André Fortin would not say whether his party, which rose from 14% to 15% of the vote in a month, was stagnating in the polls. He alluded to the leadership race that will allow the party to have a new leader in 2025.
“We have an interim leader,” he said. We have, let’s say, a party that is still developing. »