Francoise David harshly criticizes the CAQ at Quebec Solidaire general assembly
Quebec Solidaire (QS) co-founder Francoise David said the next election campaign will be "crucial" for Quebec.
She said voters will essentially have to choose between "two great projects": that of QS and that of François Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).
David harshly criticized the CAQ during her speech to about 400 delegates gathered at the party's general assembly at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal on Saturday morning.
She criticized Legault's party for its "incredible softness" on the environment, and said it was "sad and scandalous" to have abandoned voting reform.
On immigration, David said she rejects the CAQ's "conservative nationalism" and "petty rhetoric" that only wants to "scare the world."
She called Legault's "untimely outburst" recently calling for the closure of Roxham Road an "electoral and conservative move" knowing that "it doesn't solve anything."
"He takes advantage of this to repeat to the Quebec population that uncontrolled immigration is a threat to the survival of our nation, and I can't stand this petty rhetoric anymore," she said.
INDIGNATION OVER BILL 96
The applause quickly turned to grumbling when it came to Bill 96 tightening measures to protect the French language in Quebec.
Some party members expressed their displeasure with the position of QS members, who last Tuesday voted for the adoption of Bill 96 in the National Assembly.
"I find it very disappointing that there was no one (...) who thought to consult the members," complained Sam Boskey.
QS parliamentary leader Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois presented an emergency motion explaining the position of the caucus. He said that once in power, QS would change some parts of the law.
"We're not going to hide this morning: the adoption of Bill 96 has caused a lot of reaction," he conceded before the delegates. "We hear the fears, the discontent, (...) the indignation."
His motion promises to extend the period during which newcomers can obtain public services in a language other than French, and to officially recognize a special status for ancestral Indigenous languages and the language rights that go with it.
The motion was finally adopted by a majority.
HOPING TO PROVE POLLS WRONG
Saturday's general assembly is intended to motivate the troops for the election campaign, which will probably be launched in late August.
The most recent Léger poll suggests that the CAQ will win a landslide victory; the party has 46 per cent of voting intentions, compared to 13 per cent for QS.
No pollster in 2018 predicted that QS would win 10 seats, countered Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who says he wants to prove "the prognosis wrong."
He and party president Alejandra Zaga Mendez said gains are possible "everywhere" in Quebec, specifically in Montreal, the Eastern Townships, the Lower St. Lawrence and Gaspé.
New candidates for QS include Dr. Mélissa Généreux, immigration lawyer Guillaume Cliche-Rivard and Haroun Bouazzi, who is vice-president of the Business Development Bank of Canada.
Sixty-six candidates have been nominated, and the party promises to have 107 by the end of June. Zaga Mendez confirmed that QS has raised $400,000 since the beginning of the year.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 28, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It looks quite real': Two Ontarians lose money to fake phone scam
About 85 per cent of Canadians have a smartphone and once you have one they’re hard to live without. The latest smartphones can cost as much as $2,000, so if you’re trying to save money, make sure you don’t get caught in a fake smartphone scam.
America reaches Election Day and a stark choice between Trump and Harris
A presidential campaign marked by upheaval and rancor approached its finale on Election Day as Americans decided whether to send Donald Trump back to the White House or elevate Kamala Harris to the Oval Office.
New homeowners find skeleton in attic 15 years after previous occupant disappeared
Homeowners in France have discovered a skeleton in the attic of an outbuilding while undertaking renovation work.
Inflation is down, wages are up. Why are Canadians still frustrated with the economy?
The federal finance minister has been taking every opportunity to remind frustrated Canadians that after a bumpy pandemic recovery, the nation's economy is actually doing a lot better.
Elon Musk's US$1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes can proceed, a Pennsylvania judge says
The US$1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes that Elon Musk's political action committee is hosting in swing states can continue through Tuesday's presidential election, a Pennsylvania judge ruled Monday.
Tim Hortons parent Restaurant Brands misses sales estimates on muted demand
Restaurant Brands missed estimates for quarterly revenue on Tuesday due to weak demand across key businesses such as Tim Hortons, Burger King and international markets including China and the Middle East.
U.S. election officials say voting should be smooth and urge people not to be misled by conspiracy theories
Election officials across the U.S. – particularly in swing states – have pledged to uphold the integrity of the vote and urged voters not to be misled by conspiracy theories.
Harris and Trump tie in Dixville Notch midnight vote to kick off Election Day
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former U.S. president Donald Trump have tied with three votes each in the tiny New Hampshire township of Dixville Notch, kicking off Election Day in one of the first places in the country to report its presidential preference.
Months after VRBO booking, Taylor Swift fan told home 'not available' during Vancouver concert
A frustrated Taylor Swift fan is speaking out after being pushed from a short-term rental she booked for the upcoming Vancouver leg of the superstar’s Eras Tour.