"[M]ore importantly, Quebec Liberals must decide what alternative they will offer to Québecers in 2026. This new political offer needs to be rooted in the party’s values, but should also consider the changes in the province’s political circumstances, amongst which:

• There are now five significant political parties vying for Québecers’ votes. What distinguishes the Liberal approach from that of the other parties?"

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-is-there-a-future-for-liberalism-in-quebec

#polqc
#NationalPost

"To a Montreal driver arriving in Québec City, the traffic situation in the provincial capital appears quite benign. However, the region’s seats are crucial to Legault’s government. Moreover, the capital is where most provincial bureaucrats live, which is probably why the city has more highway kilometres per capita than any other Canadian city save Calgary."

#AndréPratte

Tunnelling into the hearts of car-loving Quebecers
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-tunnelling-into-the-hearts-of-car-loving-quebecers

#transportation #tunnel
#polqc
#NationalPost

Obviously the result of government cutting healthcare spending, right?

"Politicians of all political stripes have been elected after promising to solve the problem once and for all, and injected billions of dollars into the system, to no avail. The Government of Quebec’s expenditures on its hospitals have gone from $10.8 billion 10 years ago to $15.2 billion today, a 40 per cent increase."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-unions-and-the-health-lobby-must-not-be-allowed-to-obstruct-quebecs-health-reforms

#polqc
#NationalPost

"The first-past-the-post (FPTP) system is far from perfect, but no electoral regime is. What’s important is that the current arrangement allows voters to change government when they want to; that opposition parties are well represented and have their democratic rights protected; and that new parties have a chance to grow and eventually compete to form the government. The FPTP does all that, and usually does it well."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-quebecs-electoral-system-aint-broke-and-it-doesnt-need-fixing

#polqc #FPTP #ElectoralReform

"There was a time when Premier Legault enjoyed stratospheric support. This was due to the CAQ leader’s exceptional communication skills during the pandemic. It is ironic that that record level of support has dwindled to normal proportions due to Legault’s poor communications performance during the campaign."

#AndréPratte predicts that the #CAQ will be returned with a majority, about the same as they had in the last election.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-francois-legault-limps-disappointedly-to-victory-in-quebec-election

#polqc #CAQ
#NationalPost

Immigration to Québec is an important issue, but it would be worthwhile for #AndréPratte (and #polqc in general) to engage with the even bigger question: why is the #BirthRate in Québec so low? [0] Do Quebeckers want to have more children, but find too many obstacles? With lengthy maternal and paternal leave, and a public daycare system already in place, are there other policy tools that should be applied?

[0] A #FertilityRate of 1.6 children per woman, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-low-birthrate-immigration-1.3573966

"Due to population aging, Quebec’s economic growth will slow down over the medium term, and Quebecers’ quality of life will be negatively impacted. Unless Quebecers start having more babies, which is unlikely, the only fix is a dynamic, ambitious immigration and integration policy. That is what politicians should be talking about in this campaign, instead of competing for the lowest immigration target."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-quebec-political-parties-are-competing-for-the-worst-immigration-policy

#polqc
#NationalPost

"Abacus’ data for the province of Quebec show that the Prime Minister is as unpopular in his home province than he is in other regions, save the Prairies, where anger towards Mr. Trudeau is especially profound and widespread. In Quebec, 30 per cent of respondents have a very negative impression of the Liberal leader, compared to only 11 per cent who hold a very positive view. [...N]ot a good score at all."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-trudeaus-departure-could-cause-problems-for-the-liberals-in-quebec

#JustinTrudeau
#canpol #polqc
#NationalPost

"[ #CharlesTaylor writes] “integration has to be a more complex goal (in Quebec) than in the rest of Canada. … Because of our situation, we have to work to ensure that that integration takes place in French rather than English. … By contrast, in Toronto no-one has to do anything to ensure that immigrants’ children become anglophones.” [...] Interculturalism insists on integration, because in Quebec, integration is threatened … by the English juggernaut."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-how-multiculturalist-became-an-insult-in-quebec

"“We are not condemned to impotence because Quebec does not have jurisdiction over everything. We can act and improve our society, improve the lives of Quebecers with the autonomy that we already have.” Thus, Drainville was contradicting the central argument of the separatist discourse since Lévesque founded the party in 1968."

#AndréPratte

Quebec separatists face reality, flee to Legault's CAQ
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-the-tectonic-plates-of-quebec-politics-are-shifting

#polqc
#NationalPost

"In other words, since the agreement was signed 31 years ago, the composition of immigration to Quebec has changed. The agreement is in need of an update to reflect the new reality, while continuing to affirm the federal government’s jurisdiction over the parts of the immigration system that are crucial for the protection of Canada’s interests and security."

#AndréPratte

How to prevent Quebec's immigration sabre rattling from turning into a full-blown separatist crisis
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-how-to-prevent-quebecs-immigration-sabre-rattling-from-turning-into-a-full-blown-separatist-crisis

"But is French currently set to disappear, as many assert, quoting anecdotal evidence and sloppy media reporting? [...] For instance, census data show that the percentage of Quebecers whose main language spoken at home is French has not budged since 1971, remaining at 81 per cent. Meanwhile, the share of Quebecers who principally speak English at home has fallen, from 14.7 per cent to 10.7 per cent."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-quebecs-bill-96-is-the-result-of-making-anglos-a-scapegoat

#polqc #Bill96
#NationalPost

"Several weeks later than most provinces, Québec announced Wednesday that the mask mandate for public spaces will be lifted on May 14. Let me risk a prediction: most Quebecers will continue to wear a mask for some time."

#AndréPratte

I think M. Pratte is wrong; masks will disappear quickly from #Québec . I'll let you know who's right.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-disciplined-quebecers-prepare-to-doff-their-masks

#covid19 #polqc
#NationalPost

"Arcand could not believe what he had heard. André Fortin, the Liberals’ parliamentary leader, was fast on his feet, demanding an apology, which the premier immediately gave, calling it “a bad joke” on Twitter. It appears that this umpteenth sign of arrogance will have no effect whatsoever on the government’s popularity, which, if maintained at current levels, all but guarantees an overwhelming majority for the [CAQ] in the next election."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-legault-has-grown-arrogant-because-his-government-seems-almost-immune-from-criticism

#polqc

"As a journalist, I had the privilege of meeting all three of the greatest players in the Montreal Canadiens’ dynasty. When I met Maurice Richard, a man of few words, with a piercing gaze, I felt idolization and fear; when I met Jean Béliveau, an authentic class act, I felt respect. When I met Guy Lafleur, I felt idolization, respect, and love all at once."

#AndréPratte

With Guy Lafleur’s death, Quebecers have lost one of the family
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-with-guy-lafleurs-death-quebecers-have-lost-one-of-the-family

#GuyLafleur #GoHabsGo
#NationalPost

#AndréPratte is probably exaggerating the threat to the #PQ and the #Liberals . While the salience of separatism is declining, it still has broad support in #Québec , and thus the PQ will only disappear if another party takes its role as the champion of Québec independence. As to the Liberals, they cannot become government without francophone support, but there are no real signs of a challenger to them for anglophone and allophone votes.

"[W]hen Fraser says that Quebec’s English-speaking population is angry like never before, one must take the situation seriously. “We feel abandoned,” she told me this week. “For 50 years, we have been told that we have to adapt to the changes in Quebec society. But we get the feeling that it’s never enough, that each time we adapt, the goal posts are moved.” This perception is correct."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-in-quebec-anglo-anger-boils-as-even-the-liberals-take-a-nationalist-turn

#polqc #anglophones
#NationalPost

"This year’s deficit is projected to reach $6.5 billion, after a $3.4-billion deposit to the Generations Fund (to reduce the debt) and setting aside a $2.5-billion provision for “economic risks.” In other words, the budget is balanced “with absolutely no austerity,” Girard highlighted in his budget speech."

#AndréPratte
#polqc

"Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Québec’s economy finds itself in spectacular shape. After dropping 5.5 per cent during the pandemic, the province’s GDP rebounded 6.3 per cent in 2021. Quebec’s unemployment rate, for many years a source of shame, is now the lowest in the country at only 4.5 per cent."

#AndréPratte

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-quebec-budget-will-likely-add-up-to-another-election-win-for-the-caq

#polqc #CAQ
#NationalPost

"In the end, the REM may indeed become a tremendous asset — both financially for the Caisse and by providing better public transit to Montrealers. At the present time, however, things are not looking good."

#AndréPratte is wrong, mostly. The #REM d'est may never be built, but the original projet is going well.b It's been built remarkably fast, the price is reasonable, it will improve transport dramatically.

He is correct that the catenary system is "downright ugly".

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-montreals-troubled-lrt-project-still-stuck-on-the-siding