Environment Minister Benoit Charette believes that the surcharge that QS wants to levy on polluting cars risks turning Quebecers against the government like the yellow vests in France.
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Mr. Charette used his presence at an environmental debate in Montreal to attack Québec Solidaire, which wants to impose a 15% surcharge (a penalty) on the purchase of polluting vehicles such as vans and SUVs.
“The big, big danger is creating a reluctance to mobilize. We must mobilize the population and not turn them against us, said the Caquist. […] I mean, for example, France with the yellow vests. »
The Yellow Vests protest movement in France emerged in autumn 2018 in response to a new fuel tax to reduce greenhouse gases.
“I gave an example that happened not so long ago on the European side. I’m not saying it will happen,” he said a few minutes later during a press scuffle.
No majority
“We are not attacking the majority [des véhicules vendus], replied Alejandra Zaga Mendez, candidate for Quebec Solidaire in Verdun, on the sidelines of the debate. There is no delivery at the pump. It’s a measure that […] is a counter-incentive to cars that are extremely polluting.”
As Solidarity emphasized, there are many exceptions: for large families (more than two children), for work vehicles or, under certain conditions, even for people in the region.
Mr Charette therefore criticized the measure for applying it to a majority of vehicles and in the same breath criticized its symbolic nature.
“It becomes an icon once you eliminate all those categories, there are very few vehicles left,” he believes.
consensual debate
Two other parties also took part in the debate, namely Jeanne Robin, candidate for the PQ in Taschenreau, and Virginie Dufour for the PLQ in Mille-Îles.
Even if there were heated discussions about the penalty issue, the guests remained very disciplined and agreed on virtuoso positions. For example, when it came to residues, everyone agreed that we had to do better.
“My God, what harmony! All that’s missing at the end is the Conservative Party,” responded moderator Josée Boileau at the end of the first exchange block in this debate inspired by TVA’s face-to-face model.
Only the Conservative Party was effectively absent. As the moderator emphasized, the party simply did not respond to the invitation.
“The potential candidates have already made other commitments,” Véronique Gagnon told the Journal of the communications from the PCQ, before adding: Regardless of the topic, our candidates agree to represent the PCQ in various debates. There is therefore no reason to be found other than the above. »
Few attacks on the 3rd shortcut
Although Mr. Charette has been the target of some criticism, the CAQ’s file has not been particularly misused. The 3rd connection between Quebec and Lévis, a controversial project from an environmental point of view, was hardly mentioned.
As PQ candidate Jeanne Robin explained to journalists, the debate focused on the green economy and the candidates were very stuck on the issues, namely: residues, eco-taxes, renewable energies, contaminated soils, labor shortages and adaptation to climate change.
“It was not the environmental debate that made it possible to ask François Legault to justify himself for the decisions his government failed to take during the last term,” explained Ms. Robin. Unfortunately, this debate will not take place because Mr Legault has refused to take part in a debate on the environment.
Recall that Prime Minister François Legault has been criticized in recent weeks for refusing to take part in a debate solely on the climate crisis. The latter defended himself by stating that the issue would be dealt with in the two national debates.
Monday’s debate took place in the UQAM Science Pavilion and was organized by the Environment Network, the Council of Environmental Technology Companies of Quebec and the Quebec Association for the Production of Renewable Energy.