Politicians in Quebec are accusing Toronto of waging a “concern marketing campaign” by invoking the specter of a Quebec referendum to undermine Montreal’s bid to host a brand new multinational defence financial institution.
Canada has been chosen to host the headquarters of the establishment, with Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver competing for the challenge, which is predicted to create greater than 3,000 jobs.
The competition is intensifying as cities make their case, with Quebec’s Premier, Christine Fréchette, highlighting Montreal’s strengths.
“Now we have experience in aeronautics, aerospace and synthetic intelligence,” she stated, including the town has what it must welcome the financial institution.
However a report revealed in Quebec’s French language newspaper La Presse suggests promoters in Toronto are, behind the scenes, pointing to the opportunity of one other referendum to painting Montreal as a much less secure alternative.
“It’s a part of a concern marketing campaign,” stated Parti Québécois (PQ) MNA Pascal Paradis.
The PQ is main within the polls with 5 months to go earlier than the following provincial election and has pledged to carry a referendum in its first mandate if elected.
Get each day Nationwide information
Get each day Canada information delivered to your inbox so you will by no means miss the day’s prime tales.
Paradis rejected the concept that such a transfer would harm the economic system. “We should put apart this concern marketing campaign, these concern ways,” he stated.
Québec solidaire, one other sovereigntist occasion, echoed that place.
“What I’m afraid of is the actual instability attributable to Quebec being in Canada,” stated spokesperson Sol Zanetti.
Fréchette declined to weigh in on whether or not sovereignty issues may weaken Montreal’s bid.
“I’m not stepping into that,” she stated, including she has not contacted Ontario Premier Doug Ford over the problem.
The Quebec Liberal Celebration criticized using referendum fears within the competitors.
“We’re asking the remainder of Canada — these on this competitors — don’t go there. You don’t must go there,” stated Liberal MNA Marc Tanguay.
Tanguay, nonetheless, stated the prospect of a PQ authorities and a referendum is “creating financial instability.”
Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa are anticipated to proceed lobbying within the coming weeks, with the federal authorities set to resolve the profitable metropolis.
