(QUEBEC) While Quebec seeks a billion from the federal government to cover costs related to asylum seekers, interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay is bringing Jean Charest back into the public debate, confirming that Francois Legault has every interest in “encouraging” interest. In its relations with Ottawa.
Mark Tanguay praised the achievements of the former Liberal prime minister, recalling that the Federation Council was created in 2003. Central government.
“This Canadian diplomacy has made it possible to build a common front. To give Quebec and the provinces a stronger position against Ottawa and to get an agreement on health that Quebec got what it wanted in 2004, that is 4.3 billion, an index of 6% in the following years. [pour 10 ans] », explained Mark Tanguay.
“Francois Legault asked for 6 billion for Quebec [pour la santé] He only got one,” the interim Liberal leader said.
Although the CAQ Prime Minister did not attend the last meeting in Halifax last November, he participates in the Federation Council.
“He sees the federal government as a threat.”
Marc Tanguay says he doesn't really believe François Legault's “repeated failures” in the Canadian federation.
He sees the federal government, including its judges, as a threat, and he does not build relationships with other federal partners as Jean Charest did. […] I never miss an opportunity to ask François Legault to draw inspiration from Jean Charest.
Mark Tanguay, interim Liberal leader
Photo by Robert Skinner, Law Press Archives
Jean Charest was the Premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012.
Earlier this week, four ministers from the Quebec government called on Ottawa to reduce the influx of asylum seekers and ensure they are better distributed across the country. The CAQ government says costs associated with hosting asylum seekers now exceed $1 billion and continues to demand reimbursement from the federal government.
On Thursday, Federal Minister Pablo Rodríguez did not close the door on negotiating additional amounts for asylum seekers with Quebec, but he criticized the Legault government for being insensitive on the matter.
“Why always conflict with the central government? Why not try to consider a win-win relationship with the federal government? “It's as if the federal government can't win when Quebec wins,” argued Marc Tanguay.
Next Liberal leader inspired by Charest?
Although he allowed himself to advise his political opponent on who he should draw inspiration from, Marc Tanguay, who will replace him as leader of Quebec's Liberal Party in 2025, is unwilling to do so.
Photo by Edward Plant-Freshette, La Presse Archives
Marc Tanguay is the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec
“It's clear to me that candidates will be inspired by the good moves and successes of previous Liberal prime ministers,” he said simply.
Jean Charest was the Premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012. His reign came to an abrupt end in the wake of the great Maple Spring mobilization that ended in victory for the Parti Québécois. Although no charges were brought against the former prime minister, the Charest government was also marred by allegations of corruption. He sought to lead the Conservative Party of Canada, but was defeated by Pierre Poilievre in 2023.
