PLQ management race | Arrows for Rodriguez in a first consensual debate

Favorite according to polls, former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez was the target of his opponents during the first debate of the race for the chiefdom of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) where the exchanges were otherwise rather consensual.

Posted at 4:58 p.m.

The former president of the employers’ council, Karl Blackburn, served the most severe reproach to the former lieutenant of Justin Trudeau by accusing him of “closed the door to companies […] by politicizing the issue of immigration ”.

For Karl Blackburn, Ottawa flexed in the face of pressure from the Legault government to reduce immigration thresholds “that people see as a threat when it should be seen rather as a source of wealth”.

The cost of living, the Quebec discount and the threat of Donald Trump were one of the many themes addressed during this first debate on the economy.

“One thing we will not do is send checks to everyone like the CAQ,” replied Pablo Rodriguez, over the discussions. The ex-minister took the opportunity to announce that he wanted to offer meals in schools to all children in need.

“I’m glad you don’t want to send a check, because there have been a lot to the federalty,” said Charles billion joke who then criticized the government of Justin Trudeau for having contributed to the outbreak of inflation “.

Advocate-fiscalist Marc Bélanger boiled down to represent “the silent majority” while deploring the “choices that have been poorly made” by politicians in the country for 25 years.

Candidates for extremes

Faced with these criticisms, Pablo Rodriguez did not offer a replica directly on stage. “What they raise is that I have great experience,” he reacted in a press briefing after the debate.

“I have the plan, the team, I have experience. I delivered for Quebec, ”he had hammered in his closing word.

Charles Billion presented himself as the candidate of change capable of adding “doors, windows […] Shake the carpets and bring in a good big breath of fresh air ”to the PLQ.

He pleaded for the addition of ” Tech geeks [accros de la technologie, en français] »To the liberal team for the next elections.

At the other extreme, the former deputy Karl Blackburn recycled the campaign slogan which had brought Jean Charest in power in 2003 by declaring: “We are ready to govern in 2026”.

The former deputy of Roberval said they wish to give back to the PLQ the label of “Party of the Economy” because “unfortunately, we lost this label”. On several occasions, he hammered that the Quebec government “slows down access to experienced workers by reducing immigration thresholds”.

All candidates agreed on the need to balance the public finances of Quebec, to lighten the regulations for SMEs and to assess all energy projects, including the construction of pipelines and oil pipelines.

Farmer Mario Roy made a horseman alone by demanding the abolition, in Quebec, of the carbon market.

Mute on the PQ

If the name of François Legault has been mentioned many times during the exchanges, that of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon barely came out.

The acting chief of the PLQ, Marc Tanguay, said this week that it will be the main opponent of his training in the next elections.

Mario Roy was the only one to talk about the PQ in when he described him as “threat”, in the same way as US President Donald Trump.

“Today, when we look at the polls, it is Paul St-Pierre Plamondon who then leads the PLQ needs a chef who can [le] Beat, ”he explained after the game.

“My target is the current government,” said Charles billion.

The respite will be short-lived for the candidates who will again meet iron on Sunday in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, in the west of Montreal, for a debate in English.

Four other oral jousts are then planned until the Congress is held at the Party chiefdom, in Quebec, where he will have the new leader of the training on June 14.