How François Legault's CAQ went from fresh alternative to unpopularity
That's essentially how François Legault became premier in October 2018. His then 7-year-old Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) was a fresh alternative to the worn-down Liberals and sidelined sovereignists. The pitch was simple: We'll restore clear-headed thinking, make tangible gains and build a stronger Québec, while staying in Canada.
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Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘The same country': Canada often seen as extension of U.S., Indo-Pacific experts say
OTTAWA – Ottawa's Indo-Pacific strategy has yet to give Canada adequate visibility or distinguish it from the U.S. in the region, experts have told researchers commissioned by the federal government. The Liberals launched the strategy in late 2022 to make Canada a partner of choice for some of the fastest-growing economies on the planet. In releasing the strategy, Ottawa acknowledged that it is perceived locally as having engaged only intermittently in the region over the decades. More than two years later, a report commissioned by Global Affairs Canada says regional experts see Canada as 'a strategic but secondary player aligned with U.S. geopolitical priorities' that is 'often perceived as an extension of U.S. foreign policy rather than an independent global actor.' Global Affairs Canada hired Ipsos to write the report after the firm surveyed 45 experts between March and May on how the strategy was being perceived in five countries: Australia, South Korea, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. GAC paid roughly $199,976, including taxes, for the research, which took place in local languages and sought feedback through an invitation letter on GAC letterhead. The exercise is meant to inform the strategy's five-year evaluation in 2027. The report says that Canada lacks a strong brand in the region. 'If we go down the street today (and) we ask people whether Canada and America are the same country, they probably won't be able to tell the difference,' one regional expert in Indonesia told Ipsos. Ipsos went over the strategy's five stated objectives: security, expanding trade and resilient supply chains, sustainability, people-to-people ties, and Canadian engagement. The survey says Canada enjoys 'a predominantly positive image' in the five countries, as a commodity-exporting country with strong democratic principles. Experts in South Korea and India told Ipsos Canada has historically been seen as an attractive place to study or live, 'and this continues to remain somewhat true.' Expensive cities and strict visa requirements have undermined this reputation, the report says. 'While negative impressions were minimal, some experts in India mentioned diplomatic tensions over the Khalistan movement,' the report says, referring to Sikh separatism, adding 'they were of the view that the situation has not significantly marred Canada's overall reputation in the country.' Respondents in Australia cited Canada's continued extraction of climate-warming fossil fuels as a source of concern, while a South Korean expert said Canada's CANDU nuclear reactors produce too much radioactive waste. According to someone researchers quoted as 'a key respondent from South Korea,' Canada is 'slow-moving and resistant to change.' Another Korean expert told Ipsos Canada lacks prominent manufacturers and suggested 'the best-known Canadian product is probably ice wine.' Despite Canadian officials citing the decades-long footprint in the region of Canadian companies such as Manulife — which has offered insurance services in the Philippines since 1901 — the reported noted 'limited awareness of Canadian brands in the Philippines.' An expert in Australia told Ipsos that Canada is 'just not on our radar screen at all … like almost people have forgotten about it.' A Korean expert said 'the Canadian embassy has seemed comparatively passive' compared to Australian and New Zealand counterparts. The report warns Canada's 'limited on-the-ground visibility' makes it less likely to be seen as a partner of choice in the region. 'Several experts pointed to Canada's lack of strategic communication, limited embassy presence, and minimal economic and military footprint in the region as factors hindering its engagement with the region,' the report says. As for the strategy itself, experts quoted in the report recommended a publicity campaign — most of them said they'd never heard of the strategy before. Many suggested the strategy document was 'a starting point for enhanced regional involvement,' while some said it echoed what other countries already outlined in their own strategies. 'Some experts noted that the strategy relied heavily on widely accepted diplomatic principles without clearly articulating Canada's unique impact,' the report notes. 'The (Indo-Pacific strategy) is seen as well-intentioned but somewhat generic, echoing similar frameworks already introduced by others. At worst, the (strategy) risks being seen as 'preachy' or as being of limited relevance.' The researchers did find support for Canada playing a more prominent role, particularly 'as a bridge-builder among competing powers.' The report says most of the region is undertaking a 'delicate balancing' act in response to the growing rivalry between Washington and Beijing. 'Some regional experts saw an opportunity for Canada to evolve its positioning and demonstrate greater strategic independence from the U.S.,' the report says. 'There was an expectation for Canada to build on its legacy as a principled and constructive partner while balancing humility with ambition that matches the resources and capabilities at its disposal.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The report says there is 'significant room for growth' in security collaboration on things like cybersecurity, and in investments in regional think tanks. Canada should 'consider joining' a security partnership with Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. known as the Quad, the report says. In trade, the report finds a deep desire for 'joint ventures to provide opportunities for innovation,' particularly in areas that will improve the lives of the average citizen, such as 'critical minerals, clean energy, agri-food, and digital technologies.' Ottawa this week named a high commissioner for Fiji, 32 months after promising to open a full diplomatic mission in the Polynesian country. 'While the exact timing of the high commissioner's arrival in Fiji is to be determined, Global Affairs Canada has started to deploy diplomatic staff in preparation for the opening of a full diplomatic mission,' said department spokeswoman Clémence Grevey. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
Montreal Gazette
a day ago
- Montreal Gazette
SAAQclic scandal: Quebec ministers — and maybe Legault — may testify in pivotal month for CAQ
Quebec Politics By After months of bombshell revelations, the public inquiry into the $500-million SAAQclic scandal is entering a critical phase, with several ministers — and possibly Quebec Premier François Legault — among those who may be called to testify. Legault, a trained accountant and former business executive, rose to power vowing to fight corruption and rein in Liberal-era excesses. Now, as he readies a re-election bid in the face of dismal poll numbers, his government is mired in its most damaging scandal — a fiasco the opposition says reeks of corruption. The fallout has already led to the resignation of a key minister. With the inquiry resuming Monday after a summer break, the next four weeks could prove pivotal for Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec. What's SAAQclic, and what's the scandal? SAAQclic is the glitch-plagued digital modernization of Quebec's auto-insurance board. The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) upgraded its computer systems to enable online transactions and appointment bookings for driver's licences and vehicle registrations. Not only was the project delayed and over-budget, but when it launched in February 2023, the system repeatedly crashed, causing long waits and widespread frustration at SAAQ offices. The project is expected to cost $1.1 billion, $500 million more than the original price. Quebec's auditor general was scathing in a report, citing poor planning, conflicts of interest and manipulated reports. The Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC) raided SAAQ headquarters in June as part of its investigation. Who knew what when? We don't know yet. A former head of the SAAQ has testified that he alerted Legault's onetime right-hand man, Yves Ouellet, of major cost overruns in September 2022, amid the last Quebec election campaign. At the time, Ouellet was Quebec's highest-ranking public servant, reporting directly to Legault. Liberal MNA Monsef Derraji has accused the SAAQ's board of withholding information about spiralling costs to shield the CAQ during the election. Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has called the affair 'one of the biggest political scandals in Quebec history.' He said there was 'clearly a corruption issue' in the SAAQclic debacle. Who are the big names expected to testify? Conflicting accounts have emerged about how much the government knew about the problems unfolding behind the scenes. In a recent decree, the government officially lifted the confidentiality obligations of several top CAQ elected officials to allow them to testify and provide documents to the inquiry. The decree covers the premier, ministers of transport, cybersecurity and digital affairs, as well as finance and the president of the Treasury Board. Also covered are former ministers and cabinet staff dating back to 2012. Aside from Legault, other senior elected officials to watch for are Éric Caire, who resigned as cybersecurity minister due to the scandal, as well as Geneviève Guilbault and François Bonnardel (the current and former transport ministers, respectively). On Wednesday, Guilbault confirmed she was asked to testify next week, and Bonnardel is also expected to appear. As president of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel oversees government spending and could be a crucial witness. The Liberals have questioned LeBel's ties to Denis Gallant, the municipal court judge leading the inquiry. LeBel served as chief prosecutor at the Charbonneau corruption inquiry, where Gallant was a prosecutor. The inquiry, which must submit findings by Dec. 15, says it will hold another seven to eight weeks of public hearings. Members of the National Assembly are to be called to testify between Aug. 18 and Sept. 12 — just ahead of the legislature's return on Sept. 16. What has the inquiry heard so far? Witnesses at the inquiry have painted a troubling picture — one of lax oversight, pushback against financial scrutiny, and indifference to soaring costs. The consortium behind the project — LGS (an IBM subsidiary) and SAP — signed nearly 1,900 side contracts outside the main agreement. A former financial controller testified that the consortium failed to apply the required 10 per cent holdback on fees, a safeguard meant to protect the SAAQ in case of future problems with the work. The consortium 'was hungry and wanted to be very well-fed from SAAQ funds,' he testified, with suppliers effectively allowed to bill the SAAQ a second time to fix their own mistakes. An internal auditor told the inquiry that the hourly rate charged by external employees working on the project jumped from $82 to $350 per hour, apparently without justification. A project manager admitted to manipulating a call for tenders to avoid scrutiny by the Autorité des marchés financiers, which is responsible for ensuring transparency and integrity in public contracting. The inquiry heard that three SAAQ auditors quit in 2024 due to the lack of interest in their work by then-CEO Éric Ducharme. One auditor testified that Ducharme wanted the auditors to stop making waves. In the wake of that testimony, the CAQ government removed Ducharme as CEO. He was the second CEO to have been appointed and then dismissed by the Legault government. Some senior officials at the SAAQ have downplayed the runaway costs in their testimony. 'Quebecers won't be penalized that much' by the fiasco, a former SAAQ board member testified, suggesting a small increase in fees for driver's licenses could compensate for the escalating price. Later, a former SAAQ president said the SAAQ is so large it can absorb extra costs 'without stopping the Earth from spinning.' He said cost overruns are 'inevitable — you have to live with it.' Announced in March, the inquiry has heard from 45 witnesses. It has also met with more than 100 others and gathered more than 100,000 documents from the SAAQ and five ministries. The ministries are: Finance; Treasury Board; Cybersecurity and Digital Technology; Transport; the Executive Council. The latter is the ministry that supports the premier and his cabinet. Is the scandal hurting the CAQ politically? A May Léger poll found that most Quebecers want ministers responsible for SAAQclic held more accountable and say the fiasco has shaken their confidence in the government's ability to manage projects. With the next election scheduled for October 2026, surveys place the CAQ in third, behind the Parti Québécois and the Liberals. A recent projection by poll aggregator suggests the CAQ would not win a single seat if the vote were held today. The political fallout remains evident as new controversies emerge. Critics were quick to draw comparisons after the Legault government announced $570 million in school funding cuts in June — an amount comparable to SAAQclic budget excesses. The CAQ government has stressed that the project began under former Liberal premier Philippe Couillard. The SAAQ announced its plan in 2015 and signed the contract in March 2017, under the Liberals. However, most of the work — and the resulting excess spending — occurred after the CAQ took office in October 2018.
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
Letters to the Editor, Aug. 15, 2025
Friday letters Photo by Illustration / Toronto Sun MADE IN CANADA Instead of giving billions of dollars to the softwood lumber industry and steel industry, would it not be better served if the government purchased these items to keep the industry going and use these items to reduce the cost of building houses and apartment buildings? This would lower the cost of building and stimulate the housing market, and subsequently the retail market as people purchase items to fill these houses and units. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Sidney Chelsky Thornhill (Except the government doesn't acutually build things. They issue contracts for that to be done) CONTROLLING OUR LIVES Re 'Carney's Liberals hiding immigration data as questions mount' (Brian Lilley, Aug. 11): Why is this a surprise? Mark Carney, a total stranger to most Canadians, was chosen in a secret sinister Liberal coup that in partnership with our liberal mainstream media gerrymandered this ruinous green global oligarch into our PMO! As we now see, he is, of course, just a slicker version of Justin Trudeau and has continued that plot to destroy our country with the same old, same old radical left ruinous policies. I fervently hope the gullible fools whose votes enabled this steal are the first to suffer the deprivations of their decision to put another deceitful Liberal in control of our lives! This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Carol Joseph Burlington (Many Canadians are going to suffer further with continued Liberal rule and ruin of our country) PATH TO RUIN Why do I have a very strong feeling that the Liberal governments from 2015 to present are eroding the Canadian culture and fabric as we knew it, with their lack of decisions that disconnect our economy by not approving major projects and continuously rising the amount of debt each year. This has been and will prove a recipe for disaster. Wayne Smith Scarborough (And there is no change in direction on the horizon) BRIEF UPGRADE Many seem surprised by the polls at the level of public support our current prime minister enjoys. I would submit he enjoys the benefit of a low bar and the mess left by Justin Trudeau which, at least for the moment, makes him look like an upgrade. We'll see! Dennis Tschirhart Simcoe (Eventually Carney won't enjoy this level of support. Eventually) Toronto & GTA World Columnists Columnists Columnists
