‘I want to be the premier of all Quebecers,’ Dominique Anglade says – Montreal Gazette

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Liberal leader says Franois Legault is trying to divide Quebecers and create tensions with Ottawa, while ignoring real problems.

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The CAQs recent recruitment of former sovereignist candidates shows Franois Legault plans to pick fights with Ottawa if elected to a second mandate, Quebec Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade warned.

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Last week, the ruling CAQ party announced that former PQ minister Bernard Drainville will return to politics, to run for the CAQ in Octobers election in the Lvis riding near Quebec City.

Drainville was a PQ MNA and minister from 2007 to 2016. As a cabinet minister in the Marois government, he was responsible for the drafting of Bill 60 in 2013 better knownas the charter of values which proposed a total ban on religious symbols in the public sector.

The CAQ also announced over the weekend that former Bloc Qubcois MP and former Longueuil mayor Caroline St-Hilaire will run in the Sherbrooke riding.

Speaking Monday at the announcement of her own new candidate in the Notre-Dame-de-Grce riding, Anglade was asked about the CAQs new candidates. She said it shows Legaults fights with Ottawa are meant to distract from the governments dismal record on health care, climate change and the economy.

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Were facing many crises, like inflation, climate change, housing, and Franois Legault is trying to pick a fight with Ottawa on false premises; hes trying to create his own crisis, Anglade said at the St. Raymonds Centre alongside new candidate Dsire McGraw and outgoing candidate Kathleen Weil. And by recruiting people that have been fighting for the separation of Quebec, hes sending a clear message. I dont think he wants to work with Ottawa.

She added that in passing Bill 96and Bill 21, the CAQ is trying to drive a wedge through Quebecers, while the Liberals would work on uniting the province. She called Drainvilles charter of values, which influenced the CAQs Bill 21, la charte de la chicane, in French, meaning a charter of squabbles.

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Politics of division have no place in Quebec, Anglade said. Franois Legault wants to be the premier of certain Quebecers. I want to be the premier of all Quebecers.

McGraw also weighed in, saying the coming election will be a crucial one, and she believes Quebecers will reject the CAQs message.

Its a time when instead of focusing on real crises, this government is trying to drive us backward and create false divisions in Quebec and in our community, she said.

However, Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon said last week there is no evidence the government is turning away from federalism.

The CAQ is neither sovereignist nor nationalist, Fitzgibbon said. We are working in the context of a federation we respect. I am federalist. I enjoy working with my counterparts in Ottawa. There is no danger of our caucus becoming sovereignist.

Anglade was also asked about the steady of stream of resignations from her party, as 13 sitting MNAs have announced they wont seek another term, nearly half the caucus. Anglade said its good news, because the party is in a period of renewal.

Yes, there are people leaving, but there are a lot of people coming, and thats the message were sending Quebecers, that we are renewing the party, Anglade said.

jmagder@postmedia.com

twitter.com/jasonmagder

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'I want to be the premier of all Quebecers,' Dominique Anglade says - Montreal Gazette