Premier hopeful Christine Fréchette presented her vision for Quebec on Saturday afternoon, during her first major rally in front of party members.
“Serving Quebec, for me, is more than a political commitment, it’s a matter of the heart,” she declared, surrounded on stage by the ministers who support her.
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Fréchette held her first rally in a hotel in Boucherville, in the Montérégie region, just hours before the deadline for submitting nominations for the party leadership.
After being greeted with applause, the MNA for Sanguinet did not hesitate to attack the “old parties”, which she accused of divisions.
Reflecting on the current context and the dissatisfaction of Quebecers, Fréchette stated that she wanted to be premier because “Quebec is going through a pivotal moment.”
“The answer to these collective challenges cannot and must not be rupture,” she argued.
“I want to be recognized for my results, rather than my outbursts and mood swings,” added the aspiring prime minister.
As her first campaign commitment, Fréchette promised to reimburse the welcome tax for first-time buyers in order to support access to homeownership.
Regarding the economy, the candidate wishes in particular to support SMEs and to implement Quebec criteria in calls for tenders.
Reviving the CAQ
Fréchette currently has the wind in her sails with about 30 supporters, including 13 ministers from the Legault government.
An early supporter of the candidate, the Minister of Public Security, Ian Lafrenière, was among those present at the rally.
According to him, Fréchette is the “right person” to help the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) get back on its feet.
Lafrenière also explained that he was contacted by people who were not members of the CAQ who decided to buy party cards after the candidate’s comments regarding the third link.
Fréchette proposed earlier this week to return to an eastern route with a toll and for the third link to be built in partnership with the private sector.
“(They) were pleased to see a decision that was pragmatic, that had been thought through; that’s exactly the style of leader we want,” Lafrenière emphasized.
For Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge, the former Economy Minister “embodies the renewal we need.”
“A rigorous lady, who is able to face the storm, who demonstrates a lot of listening skills and who is able to bring together people from diverse backgrounds,” he argued.
Benoit Charette, the Minister of the Environment, believes she is best placed to lead the party in the provincial elections.
“It allows the coalition to hope to be competitive again on the political scene,” he said.
“Not only are we bringing back people who may have drifted away in recent years for various reasons, but we are also managing to spark curiosity among people who had never been involved at the coalition level,” added the man who is also one of the founders of the CAQ.
The other leadership candidate, Bernard Drainville, can currently count on the support of 13 CAQ elected officials.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
