Jean Charest took aim at the mayhem caused by the student protests in his first stump speech for the September 4 election.
After a short preamble he jumped right into tuition disturbance issue.
“Acts of intimidation and violence were committed, laws were disrespected and Quebecers do not see our values reflected in those acts. That’s not the Quebec we want or love, we’re a land of liberty, democracy and respect for institution, we have the right to live in a society where we respect each other,” he said. “Quebecers want to live in a society of peace and respect.”
He described Quebec’s tuition as the cheapest in Canada and its student loan program the most generous.
“The last weeks have allowed Quebecers to notice that there’s a hidden agenda behind that opposition that takes aim at our democratic institutions, including the courts and the national assembly,” he said.
He said that the PQ has “abdicated their responsibilities to that of the street by supporting the protest movement, wearing its symbols and even recruiting its candidates,” he said, referring to the announcement that former student protest leader Leo Bureau-Blouin will run for the PQ in Laval.
Charest made only a passing reference to Francois Legault’s CAQ, choosing instead to focus on the Marois-led PQ.
“We had better results managing Quebec’s economy in a time of world economic crisis than the PQ did in a period of full economic growth,” he said.
Charest also made references to the Northern plan and the jobs it will bring.
He then responded to questions, where he once again focused some answers on Marois and what he described as her lack of focus on the economy.
