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 venture 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 mentioned.
The “third hyperlink” refers to an extended‑proposed transportation venture to construct a brand new freeway hyperlink, doubtless 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 cut back stress on the 2 current inter‑river crossings.
Fréchette, who proposes a hall farther east in partnership with the non-public sector, mentioned 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 mentioned. “The route is chosen for them, for the individuals right here, not for you, not in your ego.”
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Drainville responded: “I don’t assume it’s a good suggestion to get into private assaults. I feel 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 position, which opened up when Legault introduced in January he was stepping down as chief.
On shale fuel, Drainville mentioned he supported pure useful resource growth however opposes hydraulic fracturing.
“When you ask me to decide on between water and fuel, I’ll all the time select water,” he mentioned.
Fréchette mentioned 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 quite a bit in latest months, even in latest days, with the battle in Iran,” she mentioned.
Each candidates agreed on the necessity to shrink the scale of presidency. Drainville mentioned 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 task 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 mentioned she aimed to construct a “extra sustainable and environment friendly public sector,” whereas Drainville highlighted his concentrate on lowering authorities paperwork and supporting regional growth.
About 300 individuals attended the talk 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 talk, Treasury Board president France-Élaine Duranceau endorsed Fréchette.
“We share the identical imaginative and prescient of a more practical state, centered on its core missions. A authorities that totally leverages its instruments, together with public contracts, to help our (small and medium-sized enterprises) and our economic system,” se mentioned on social media.
This was the primary of not less than two debates within the CAQ management race, with the subsequent scheduled for Laval subsequent week. The occasion has slightly below 20,600 members eligible to vote in a party-wide membership vote.
The deadline to affix and safe the precise to vote was March 13, and the brand new chief is anticipated to be introduced on April 12.
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