(Sherbrooke) In his first public appearance in a month, Prime Minister François Legault says he wants to avoid “distractions” and refocus on his government's priorities, such as improving health and education services.
Posted at 9:52 am.
On Wednesday, in a brief speech at the opening of his two-day caucus meeting in Sherbrooke, he urged his deputies to put last year's controversies behind them and return to the basic CAQ game.
“We wish each other a happy political New Year with, how shall I put it, fewer distractions than in 2023 and return to our five priorities: […] Education, health, economy, environment and protection of our identity,” he said during this meeting aimed at preparing the resumption of work of the National Assembly on January 30.
The Prime Minister stressed: “In 2024, especially in the session that is starting, we really want to refocus to be able to focus on these five priorities.”
Most lawmakers refused to stop and respond to reporters. One of them summarized their leader's slogan.
“The word discipline means trying to stay in the group to express our impressions rather than giving in to all kinds of opinions,” as was done “a little too often” last year, said Mario Asselin (Vanier-Les Rivières). “Teamwork is about talking to each other’s faces,” but when this happens in public, “it damages team spirit.”
A “distraction,” to use François Legault’s phrase, occurred one morning when Rousseau MP Louis-Charles Thouin asked mayors to contribute to the CAQ election fund in return for a meeting with the transport minister . Genevieve Guilbault. The main person concerned did not comment on La Presse Canadienne's report.
Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel advocated that “no one is forced to contribute, to accept. “There are rules and we follow them.”
It leaves it to the relevant authorities to assess Mr Thouin's case. “There are several organizations responsible for monitoring. The supervision is very strict […] “I will not comment on a situation that I do not have personal knowledge of,” she said. “If there are things to improve, we will do that. »
Sonia LeBel says she doesn't ask mayors to make donations to parties in exchange for a meeting. “Talking about my personal situation, I can assure you that this is not the case. They have access to me when they need it,” argued the former Charbonneau Commission prosecutor.
For his part, Education Minister Bernard Drainville reiterated Mr Legault's written request to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to slow the arrival of asylum seekers. This influx puts pressure on the school network, he argued.
“We have a lot of new immigrant children who need an education. We have achieved 1,237 francization classes in Quebec, equivalent to 51 primary schools. Please, Mr. Trudeau, we have reached the limit, we are indeed at the breaking point. So, the open bar in the immigration office, stop it. Because there is a shortage of teachers in the education system and a lack of space. » According to him, a “large part” of French classes consists of asylum seekers.
At Montreal's school service center, he added, “the equivalent of three elementary schools” have been open since September and “there are more than 400 registrations waiting, students who need to be placed in our schools.”
With Fanny Lévesque, La Presse