(Quebec) Minister Jean-François Roberge denounces the absence of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon who took leave on Tuesday, the first day of a week of intensive parliamentary work in the National Assembly. The PQ leader retorts that the CAQ is “desperate”.
Posted at 3:23 p.m.
The leader of the Parti Québécois was absent from Parliament Hill on Tuesday, the day after the “bomb” launched by Donald Trump who threatens to impose customs tariffs on Canadian products if Justin Trudeau does not regain control of the border. A frequent complaint from Paul St-Pierre Plamondon who criticizes Ottawa for being lax on the issue.
An absence noted by the Minister of Immigration who is currently conducting a detailed study of his bill aimed at reducing the number of foreign students in Quebec. “I don’t know where he was, but I can tell you that he was not in the parliamentary committee where we were studying asylum applications, foreign students and immigration,” railed Jean-François Roberge.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Quebec Minister of Immigration, Jean-François Roberge
Mr. Roberge mentioned the Parti Québécois’ immigration plan which provides for drastic reductions. “He throws this stone into the pond and when we come to seriously study the bill: no PQ MP [n’est présent] “, he lamented.
Minister Roberge’s exit comes as QUB Radio revealed Wednesday that Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon would have spent Tuesday at the spa. Information which has not been denied by the Parti Québécois. Employees of the Prime Minister’s office relayed the QUB Radio publication.
“Yesterday I took some time off. And what I did with this leave is not part of the public sphere, but of the private sphere,” wrote the PQ leader in a statement sent to The Press.
I took time off because I worked two weekends in a row, on top of my very full weeks. It is important to note that it is the CAQ which is promoting this inquisition. This is what happens when we are desperate, when we no longer have an argument on the merits. We turn to gossip of this nature.
Excerpt from the statement by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois
Among other things, the Parti Québécois held its National Council in Victoriaville two weeks ago. Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon was also visiting Everyone is talking about itSunday.
The PQ leader was present Wednesday at the National Assembly. However, he did not take part in his political party’s morning press briefing or ask questions to the Prime Minister in the House.
A surprising decision in the context where the Proulx-Rousseau report, which aims to increase Quebec’s autonomy, was tabled on Tuesday. This report was commissioned by François Legault last June when the Parti Québécois confirmed a strong lead in the polls.
“With four deputies, we rotate and sometimes one person takes leave while the teammates take over,” argues the PQ leader. “If there is any criticism of the fact that I was absent for a day after a work sequence of several days where I was clearly visible on many subjects, I find that it is to discredit the value of my teammates who did the job well,” he wrote.
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