Tensions flared Saturday in Quebec Metropolis as Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville confronted off within the first debate to succeed Premier François Legault as chief of the Coalition Avenir Québec.
The proposed “third hyperlink” bridge connecting Quebec Metropolis and Lévis rapidly moved to the centre of the conflict.
Fréchette accused Drainville’s most popular route of serving his “ego,” whereas Drainville countered that she was blocking the undertaking with too many circumstances.
“To sum it up: I’ll do it, and Christine is placing it on maintain as a result of she’s imposing so many circumstances that it received’t occur,” he stated.
The “third hyperlink” refers to a protracted‑proposed transportation undertaking to construct a brand new freeway hyperlink, seemingly a bridge‑tunnel, throughout the St. Lawrence River between Quebec Metropolis and Lévis — a metropolis on the south shore of the river — to enhance mobility and freight entry and scale back stress on the 2 current inter‑river crossings.
Fréchette, who proposes a hall farther east in partnership with the personal sector, stated she had consulted native residents and located little help for Drainville’s route.
“I referred to as individuals to seek the advice of them, and really rapidly I used to be advised that nobody had ever been requested, even in Lévis,” she stated. “The route is chosen for them, for the individuals right here, not for you, not on your ego.”
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Drainville responded: “I don’t suppose it’s a good suggestion to get into private assaults. I believe we have to keep respectful as a result of we’re going to need to work collectively afterward.”
Drainville and Fréchette are the one two candidates vying for the highest function, which opened up when Legault introduced in January he was stepping down as chief.
On shale fuel, Drainville stated he supported pure useful resource improvement however opposes hydraulic fracturing.
“In the event you ask me to decide on between water and fuel, I’ll at all times select water,” he stated.
Fréchette stated she is open to reopening the dialogue however would prioritize social acceptance and environmental requirements.
“The proposal I made is to debate it, to debate it. The context has modified loads in latest months, even in latest days, with the battle in Iran,” she stated.
Each candidates agreed on the necessity to shrink the scale of presidency. Drainville stated he would cut back the cupboard to twenty members, although he declined to say which ministers can be lower. Fréchette didn’t give a quantity however emphasised effectivity and promised that Drainville would have a job on the cupboard desk if she received.
Drainville pledged to make Fréchette deputy premier if he turned CAQ chief.
Each candidates outlined their broader plans. Fréchette stated she aimed to construct a “extra sustainable and environment friendly public sector,” whereas Drainville highlighted his deal with lowering authorities paperwork and supporting regional improvement.
About 300 individuals attended the controversy on the Espace Saint-Grégoire, a former church in Quebec Metropolis transformed into an occasion corridor. The occasion was additionally streamed on-line.
Simply earlier than the controversy, Treasury Board president France-Élaine Duranceau endorsed Fréchette.
“We share the identical imaginative and prescient of a simpler state, targeted on its core missions. A authorities that absolutely leverages its instruments, together with public contracts, to help our (small and medium-sized enterprises) and our economic system,” se stated on social media.
This was the primary of no less than two debates within the CAQ management race, with the following scheduled for Laval subsequent week. The get together has just below 20,600 members eligible to vote in a party-wide membership vote.
The deadline to affix and safe the correct to vote was March 13, and the brand new chief is predicted to be introduced on April 12.
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