Achi news desk-
Bromont, co. –
History will recognize the merits of the Philippe Couillard government, according to the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), which is committed to returning to a balanced budget if it takes power.
Gathering in general council at a posh Bromont hotel, the Liberals will pay tribute on Saturday to their former leaders, including the last who served as prime minister, Couillard, from 2014 to 2018, before being defeated by the CAQ.
These liberal years were characterized by cuts in health and education, among other things, which many called “austerity”, to return to zero deficit.
“History will recognize in due time – and we already know – the merits of Philippe Couillard’s government,” interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay told the media on Saturday morning, arguing that the Legault government is now sinking with an $11 billion deficit without delivering better. Services for the population.
Activists will discuss a decision for a liberal government to commit to offering a plan to return to balanced budgets in the first year of its mandate in 2026.
To return to a balanced budget, a future Liberal government will be willing to make sacrifices.
“Difficult decisions inevitably involve sacrifice,” said Liberal MNA Andre Fortin at a press conference.
“Not every prime minister would have dared to make the difficult decisions Philippe Couillard made, so my hat is off to him,” said Couillard’s former cabinet minister.
There is no eternal plan
“We will be able to absorb the deficit,” said Frédéric Beauchamp, the potential candidate for the party’s leadership.
Will there be cuts? “No,” he replied.
“I don’t think there is any state plan that should last forever, that’s for sure. So, as we’ve already said, we need to repeat certain plans.”
Is the PLQ warning the voters that they will live in the same movie as between 2014 and 2018, cuts and freezing of budgets to restore the public finances?
“No, it’s not the same movie,” promised the leader of the liberal house, Monsef Draghi. “The Quivers want us to manage the public finances in a good way.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 25, 2024.
