Referring to possible backgrounds of the author of the Amqui drama, François Legault believes that mental health problems are a “collective responsibility”.
• Also read: Drama in Amqui: Three people still in critical condition, at least two children injured
• Also read: Drama in Amqui: “This murderous madness is difficult to prevent,” says Bonnardel
• Also read: Drama in Amqui: Warning signs difficult to see, according to psychiatrist
On Thursday, the prime minister will visit the 6,200-strong community in the Vallée de la Matapédia with the leaders of the opposition parties. Monday’s ramming, which killed two people and injured nine, was “disheartening” and “shocking,” he said.
“It appears that this person has already been identified. So is there anything you can do if you know someone is in danger? To act faster, not to be ashamed to do it for the common good?” he unleashed in a press throng in front of the National Assembly.
The government alone cannot target all people with negative ideas, stresses François Legault.
“I think we have, first and foremost, a collective responsibility to identify vulnerable people and take action to ensure those people get services,” he added. If we want a good society, then everyone has to do their part.
crisis team
The Minister of Public Security visited the scene of the tragedy on Tuesday. A crisis unit has been set up to help victims’ families and people in the community. People in need are encouraged to seek help.
The pandemic may have made some mental illnesses worse, agreed François Bonnardel. But the irreparable is difficult to predict and therefore to prevent.
“We are looking for ways, but this murderous madness is difficult to prevent. We could put everything in place and tomorrow morning someone still decides to get in a car, in a truck and go on strike,” stressed the minister, flanked by PQ MP Pascal Bérubé, Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina, MP of the Confederation Kristina Michaud and the Mayor of Amqui, Sylvie Blanchette.
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No license lock
Earlier in the day, François Bonnardel raised the possibility of having the driver’s license revoked for people with mental health problems. He corrected the shot in the press crowd by claiming he was just “thinking out loud”. His government has no intention of doing so, he corrected.
However, according to the opposition, it is time to think together about how to prevent such tragedies. It is worth remembering that just a few weeks ago, two four-year-old children lost their lives and six others were injured when a bus crashed into a day-care center in Laval.
“Of course we don’t have all the solutions this morning. We think of the families of the victims, the injured and those who have suffered post-traumatic stress, but I sincerely believe that we must have a national conversation about what we could do better to prevent such upheavals,” he said he interim leader of the Liberals, Marc Tanguay.
Parti Québécois Paul St-Pierre Plamondon also believes we need to examine the growing place of hate in our society.
“Are there reasons to change some of our policies, for example in relation to driver’s licenses? I think that at least we need to look at all the solutions because while it’s both incomprehensible, it’s been twice that such unnecessary violence has cost lives,” he pleaded.
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