The CAQ takes another “leg” at the mayor of Quebec

In a letter sent to the mayor of Quebec City, the Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel, offers the city immediate assistance from the Sûreté du Québec in the matter of organized crime and armed violence that is rife in the territory. Several media outlets obtained a copy of this letter, at the same time as Bruno Marchand.

The mayor of Quebec City has scheduled a press briefing for Friday at noon at city hall. At 11:45, he checks his emails. Nothing. During the journalists’ question period, they immediately question him on the government’s position on funding police resources.

Visibly surprised, the mayor replied: What letter? What time was it sent to me?

For several months, Mayor Bruno Marchand has been asking the government for an increase in funding for his police department in order to deploy more personnel on the ground and combat armed violence. Still without success.

The Legault government has invested $200 million in Montreal and $20 million in Laval to combat gun violence in recent years. According to Bruno Marchand, Quebec also deserves its share of the pie.

The only communication we had from the minister was to ask us what time our press briefing was. So if it’s to send a letter to the media just before our press briefing, if that’s it, it’s difficult for me to react.said the mayor.

In this letter, the minister says: deeply concerned by the recent demonstrations of armed violence in the National Capital and its surroundings. However, he once again brushes aside the mayor’s requests, referring them to the SQ.

The latter has shown itself willing to provide the necessary assistance to your police force by mobilizing additional resources, for example by lending personnel specialized in organized crime or firearms control, intelligence specialists or investigators. These would be made available to your police service as soon as you deem it necessary.writes the minister.

The mayor claims not to presume that François Bonnardel is in bad faith, but says he is surprised. I am asked what time my press briefing is, I am sent something, which I do not know at what time I received, but certainly after 11:45. Is this how we work in partnership?asks the mayor.

Advantage of working together

According to him, it is the same kind of political maneuver that the CAQ served him when he announced a new tax on registration to his population.

At the same time, the government made a leg by disclosing that the Communauté métropolitaine de Québec (CMQ) was wondering whether it should also add a tax on gasoline to improve overall transportation beyond Quebec City.

Bruno Marchand says his repeated requests to the government have nothing to do with a personal conflict. He has a desire to tackle the problem before the situation escalates. Is the situation as bad as in Montreal? Probably not. It doesn’t matter, we don’t want the actions that were taken and we’re going to take the measureshe explains.

According to him, men would benefit from working better together and not getting involved in this type of political strategy.

On the merits, Mayor Marchand describes the aid proposed by Quebec as irrelevant. We are already working in collaboration with the SQ. What we need are additional resources for Quebec police officers to do sustainable work that is part of the long term.

He still hopes that the government will respond to his demands.

As for the letter, the mayor finally received it at 11:50 a.m., four minutes before Radio-Canada obtained a copy.