Tensions flared Saturday in Quebec City as Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville faced off in the first debate to succeed Prime Minister François Legault as leader of the Avenir Québec Coalition.
The proposed “third link” bridge connecting Quebec City and Lévis quickly moved into the center of the fray.
Fréchette accused Drainville’s preferred path of serving his “ego,” while Drainville countered that she was blocking the project with too many conditions.
“To sum it up: I’m going to do it, and Christine is putting it on hold because she’s imposing so many conditions that it’s not going to happen,” he said.
The “Third Link” refers to a long-proposed transportation project to build a new highway link, likely a bridge-tunnel, across the St. Louis River. Lawrence between Quebec City and Lévis – a city on the south bank of the river – to improve freight mobility and access and reduce pressure on the two existing cross-river crossings.
Fréchette, which is proposing a corridor further east in partnership with the private sector, said it had consulted local residents and found little support for the Drainville route.
“I called people to consult them and very quickly they told me that no one had ever been asked, even in Lévis,” she said. “The path was chosen for them, for the people here, not for you, not for your ego.”
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Drainville replied, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to get into personal attacks. I think we should stay respectful because we’ll have to work together later.”
Drainville and Fréchette are the only two candidates vying for the top role, which opened when Legault announced in January that he would step down as leader.
Regarding shale gas, Drainville said he supports natural resource development but opposes hydraulic fracturing.
“If you ask me to choose between water and gas, I will always choose water,” he said.
Fréchette said she is open to reopening the discussion, but would prioritize social acceptance and environmental standards.
“The proposal I made is to discuss it, debate it. The context has changed a lot in the last few months, even the last few days, with the conflict in Iran,” she said.
Both candidates agreed on the need to shrink the size of government. Drainville said he would reduce the cabinet to 20 members, although he declined to say which ministers would be cut. Fréchette did not give a number, but emphasized efficiency and promised that Drainville would have a role at the cabinet table if he won.
Drainville pledged to make Fréchette deputy prime minister if he became leader of the CAQ.
Both candidates unveiled their broader plans. Fréchette said she aimed to build a “more sustainable and efficient public sector”, while Drainville emphasized his focus on reducing government bureaucracy and supporting regional development.
About 300 people attended the debate at the Espace Saint-Grégoire, a former Quebec City church turned event hall. The event was also broadcast on the Internet.
Shortly before the debate, Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau endorsed Fréchette.
“We share the same vision for a more effective state, focused on its core missions. A government that makes full use of its tools, including public contracts, to support (small and medium enterprises) and our economy,” Se said on social media.
This was the first of at least two debates in the CAQ leadership race, with the next debate scheduled for Laval next week. The party has just under 20,600 members eligible to vote in a party-wide membership vote.
The deadline to join and secure the right to vote was March 13, and the new leader is expected to be announced on April 12.
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