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CTV News
8 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec Liberal leadership race: Economist Mario Roy shares his ‘big ideas'
The race to lead the Quebec Liberal Party is winding down. Voting is set to take place between June 9 and 14. CJAD 800 Radio spoke back to Mario Roy, an economist and a farmer from Beauce, bringing a fresh perspective to the Quebec Liberal leadership campaign, including plans to nationalize seniors' homes. Some answers have been edited for clarity. Makos: So what's your big bold idea, your number one big bold idea that you think defines your campaign? Roy: I started my campaign with one idea, one proposition that is completely different from the others, and that's going to be the number one that I'm bringing you today. I'm suggesting nationalizing residences for older people. The reason is that over the past decade we've lost a number of residences for older people all over the regions but all over Quebec. We've seen a lot of residences that have been closing over the past years, and I'm suggesting to nationalize them for two reasons. Mario Roy Mario Roy is vying to be leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. (CJAD 800 Radio) One, we need to keep residences all over Quebec to make sure that older people can stay closer to their family all their life, basically. And we want people to stay closer to their family to make sure that they can stay in their region. And that's one of the reasons why I'm suggesting it so we need to keep them open. The second reason is to open more when we see a lack of residences all over Quebec. Listen on CJAD 800 Radio: Quebec Liberal leadership hopeful Mario Roy wants to nationalize seniors' homes Makos: Obviously, the population is aging and I think you're speaking to a lot of people when you talk about some of those issues. But I do have to mention this, because the voting is very interesting for the Quebec Liberal Party leadership race, and there's an outside share going to the youth wing of the party. I'm wondering if that may not be something that would resonate with a younger member of the party, and if there is something that you would say that you're offering for that youth wing and for younger members of the Quebec Liberal Party. Roy: Honestly, I've been clear with the younger people in the party. I'm 31 years old, as Robert Bourassa did in the past. I want to have a clear and big place for young people in the government as [MNA] or minister. But in terms of propositions, we need to have a vision for the future of the party. What I'm suggesting to the members and what will be on the campaign for 2026 is based on a vision for Quebec. It's not based on the percentage of people voting for the party. So it's pretty clear. I understand your reasoning about the fact that, yes, the younger people have a bigger place in the race in terms of voting, but I'm confident that they will see the vision in what I'm suggesting and they will come in. Makos: I think it is interesting that you're looking towards the vision and the platform to win in a general election, which will happen next year. Part of that is the Liberal Party Quebec needs to reconnect with Quebecers in the regions, also needs to reconnect with francophones. What's your vision there? Your idea there to accomplish that? Roy: Another really important thing that is happening right now is having access to health-care services. I'm coming from Beauce, I know the reality of the region and for the party. It's clear that we need to reconnect to the people of the region, to the francophones. To do this, we need to bring solutions to what they really care about. And health-care services is one of the big issues happening right now, especially the farther you get from the cities, the higher the difficulty to get services. I'm suggesting, as the Collège des médecins is suggesting, to bring back people from the private sector to the public health-care sector. Because right now, the public health-care sector is getting destroyed by people leaving the sector, and I can understand this, because they have better working conditions. Makos: How are you going to get them back? Roy: We need to have leadership from the provincial party, as they have done for the people finishing their studies, and they are asking them to stay in the public health-care sector for five years. I'm telling all people, as we've done, we have done by Robert Bourassa when we created that public health-care system, we created it for a simple reason: to make sure that everybody receives their health-care service, no matter where they're from, no matter how much money they have, and that's one of the reasons why I'm in the race is to bring to make sure that we save that public health-care system. To do this, we need to first bring people back to the system because if we want to do surgeries, we need the people. If they leave, there's no way we can solve it. So right now, the CAQ government is trying to basically resolve an issue, but they are not looking at the sources of the problem, which is people leaving. I'm the only one in the race to bring back people in the public health-care system and make sure that everybody has a family doctor. Makos: Seniors care, health care — these are costly things you're going to need revenues to pay for that. You're an economist. You've got this farming background. What is your bold idea on fixing Quebec's economy to make us a prosperous place that can pay for social programs? Roy: We need to reduce paperwork, bureaucracy in general, in the government to make sure that we have public services that are efficient, first. Second, we need to create wealth. In order to do this, we have natural resources that we need. I'm suggesting to take them in the here instead of importing them, to create wealth, but in order to create wealth for the government and to pay for our services, I'm suggesting to nationalize natural gas instead of importing it, because right now, there's some conversation about the fact that we should look at a project — and I'm open to it — because everything that is consumed here should be transformed and produced here. That's my vision. In order to create that wealth for the government, the money needs to stay off the credit cards. And in order to do this, we need to nationalize natural gas. That's one thing that I'm suggesting to make sure that we have money and that that money stays with the Quebecers. I'm also suggesting removing the inter-provincial barriers, and having a real collaboration with the federal government about everything related to natural resources. We have the opportunity right now with the federal government, they are just waiting for us. We need to collaborate to make sure that we have a project that will be beneficial for Quebec, but for all of Canada. And by the way, I'm also suggesting to sign the Quebec constitution, which I'm the only one, again, to do it. The collaboration with the federal government is crucial if we want to have a Quebec that functions within Quebec and with the rest of Canada, because that's basically essential, and there's no reason why we shouldn't have signed this constitution by now.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec Liberal leadership race: Karl Blackburn shares his ‘big ideas'
Rebuild the economy through business tax cuts and immigration, attract and retain international talent and fix the healthcare system by working collaboratively with healthcare workers. These are some of the 'big ideas' Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leadership hopeful Karl Blackburn says he wants to focus on. The businessman and former head of the Quebec Employers Council (Conseil du patronat du Québec) sat down with CJAD 800 Radio host Elias Makos to make his case about wanting to lead the oldest political party in Quebec. Some answers have been edited for clarity. Elias Makos: It's our pleasure to welcome Karl Blackburn to CJAD. Mr. Blackburn, welcome to the show. We want big, bold ideas. What is that bold idea? Maybe the top-of-mind bold idea that you're bringing to the Quebec Liberal leadership race. Karl Blackburn: Economy—everything is about the economy. We need a strong economy to be able to reconnect with our healthcare system and our education system. For me, without a stronger economy, nothing is possible. That's why I strongly represent a vision based on the economy. And, of course, if the Quebec Liberal Party wants to be in government again, we need to reconnect with Francophones and the regions. I'm from Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. I know the Quebec Liberal Party well. I know the members and the members know me. That's exactly what I'm proposing in this race. Personally, I believe I'm the most complete candidate to reconnect the party with both the economy and the regions. Makos: But how would you do it? Do you have an idea on how to reshape, redraw the Quebec economy and change how it's been run over the last couple of decades? Blackburn: Yes. First of all, I will reduce income taxes. Right now, among about 40 countries around the world, we're ranked near the bottom—we're 38th. We need to change that. I will reduce taxes for individuals and for companies. I'll also reduce regulations. Just to give you an example, entrepreneurs are currently spending 15 to 20 hours a week just to meet bureaucratic demands from the Quebec government. We need to reduce that red tape. And based on my experience and my ability to identify where cuts are needed, I'm confident I can deliver on this. Makos: On the tax front—are you saying cutting personal income taxes or just business taxes? Blackburn: Just business taxes. And in this race, I'm also the only candidate talking about something that's very important for our employers: I will increase the ability to bring more economic immigrants to Quebec. This is essential to help our businesses grow, create services, and address the labour shortage. Right now, we still have more than 120,000 job openings across all regions of Quebec. We need more workers and more support. That's why I will increase opportunities for economic immigration to support our companies and our economy. Makos: How do you reduce corporate taxes when Quebec is looking at a historic dollar sign amount when it comes to the deficit? How do you balance that out? Blackburn: First of all, by reducing business taxes, we'll create growth and prosperity. If we produce more, if we create more prosperity, and if we bring in more workers to Quebec, we'll have a stronger economy. A stronger economy means more jobs and more people paying taxes. That gives us the ability to invest in our infrastructure. Right now, we've lost confidence when it comes to investing in our own economy. And I just want to make sure that I will change the economic climate because right now, we are not going in the right direction. And you're right to raise the question of public finances—because we don't currently have a strong economic vision, and we're in a difficult fiscal situation. We'll have to make choices—decide where to invest and which projects to support. In my vision, that means focusing on building a stronger economy, and it will be about education and our health system. Makos: I want to talk to you about economic immigration. Many people would say that the immigration numbers are already too high. I've heard from some of the people you're running against who would like to see a small drop when it comes to immigration. You are not proposing that. So, do you have an idea here on how to do immigration in the right way? Because I think we're all thinking about integration and our public services at the same time. Blackburn: Mr. Legault always divides Quebecers when it comes to immigration. When I talk about increasing economic immigration, I mean economic immigration only—I'm not talking about refugees or other types of immigration. This is based on our needs. Every day, for every 10 workers retiring, we have only nine new workers entering the workforce. So we need more workers. That's why we must increase economic immigration. I also agree with concerns about refugee immigration. Quebec represents 20 per cent of Canada's population, but we receive nearly 50 per cent of the country's refugees. That's not normal. We should only receive 20 per cent of that type of immigration. That means other provinces need to do their part. Lastly, when it comes to international students, we need to make our universities—like McGill, Concordia, Université de Montréal—more attractive and increase their capacity to bring the best talent from around the world to Quebec. Makos: Are you more open to English-speaking immigrants coming to Quebec than the CAQ has been? Blackburn: Yes, because we need this kind of immigration. And, of course, in Quebec, everyone agrees that business is done in French. But we also need to support our companies. If we want to be a global leader, we must be able to speak to the world—in its own language. Here in Quebec, we need to be more attractive and more competitive. I'm convinced we can do more than what Mr. Legault has done over the last eight years. He has only divided Quebecers. For me, it's the opposite—I want to bring all Quebecers together around a strong vision, one that believes Quebec can and should be a strong nation, an influential nation in the world. I believe that deeply. Makos: Give our listeners your bold idea to make healthcare better in Quebec. Blackburn: I will work with doctors. I will work with nurses. I'm not going to confront them—they have the solutions. They know how to manage the healthcare system to deliver the right services to our population. My first priority in healthcare will be to create more than 60 new Groupes de médecine familiale (GMFs) because we're currently missing around 100 GMFs across Quebec. I will also invest in expanding our university medical faculties because we're short between 1,500 and 2,000 doctors in the system. I will make this happen—because it's a question of delivery and it's a question of priorities. I will protect our services, and I will reconnect with Quebecers.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Liberal leadership debate: Pablo Rodriguez faces attacks by opponents
Quebec Liberal Party leadership candidates, from left, Marc Belanger, Mario Roy, Charles Milliard, Pablo Rodriguez and Karl Blackburn pose for a photograph following the Quebec Liberal Party French-language leadership debate in Laval, Que., Saturday, May 3, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)
Montreal Gazette
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Pablo Rodriguez targeted as Quebec Liberal leadership debate gets heated
Quebec Politics By QUEBEC — After three relatively tame debates, the candidates vying for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party upped their game on Thursday and candidate Pablo Rodriguez was the target of most of their hits. Even though Rodriguez is selling himself as the only candidate with enough experience to beat Premier François Legault, candidates Charles Milliard and Karl Blackburn honed in on him as not being nationalist enough to woo back francophone voters. Everyone shook hands at the end, but it was Rodriguez's past as a federal Liberal cabinet minister that came back to haunt him. 'Pablo, you more often defended Ottawa's policies in Quebec than Quebec's policies in Ottawa,' Blackburn fired across the stage at Rodriguez in the fourth leadership debate held in a theatre at Université Laval before 400 Liberals. 'That is to not know me,' Rodriguez responded. 'I have always stood up for Quebec. I will always stand up. I don't need any lectures.' Officially, the theme of the debate was government services, with all five candidates saying the Coalition Avenir Québec government has broken a social contract with Quebecers by providing such poor services in health and education despite high taxes. Using the theme, Milliard tossed questions at Rodriguez about his vision. 'According to you, what is the role of the federal government in health and education?' Milliard, the former president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, asked Rodriguez. 'To support the work of the provinces,' Rodriguez responded before Milliard jumped in to correct him. 'The right answer is none,' Milliard said. Beauce farmer and economist Mario Roy also waded in, accusing Rodriguez of being part of a 'Trudeau-Rodriguez' government that destroyed the Quebec economy and closed off markets. Later, meeting reporters, both Blackburn, a former Liberal MNA from Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean who says he is the candidate to woo nationalist voters back, and Milliard said they wanted Liberal voters to have a better idea of who Rodriguez is before they vote for a new leader to replace Dominique Anglade. Milliard said he thinks the Liberals have to return to the 'essence of Canada,' which in his mind are sovereign provinces with their own jurisdictional powers, with Ottawa offering common services in the country. 'In the last 10 years, the government Mr. Rodriguez was part of has wavered on this,' Milliard said. 'I like Ottawa, but Ottawa has nothing to do with health and education. Period. 'If I am asking questions, it is because I am worried.' Blackburn was blunter, saying Rodriguez seems to 'talk a lot about the federal government' and the government he was part of. 'It's as if he misses the Liberal Party of Canada,' Blackburn said. 'I have only ever had one political family, it is the Liberal Party of Quebec.' Rodriguez brushed off the criticism, saying he has what it takes to negotiate with Ottawa because he knows how the place works and still has contacts there, which can be an advantage for a Quebec premier. 'I know most of the members of the (Carney) cabinet and they know me, too,' Rodriguez said. He added: 'It is the priority of a premier of Quebec to defend its jurisdictions, to go defend loud and clear what we are as a nation; this is what I did as the Quebec lieutenant (of former prime minister Justin Trudeau). He said he delivered the goods for Quebec on housing, internet connections and health care financing. 'A politician who goes to Ottawa goes as a Quebecer above all and he fights for Quebec,' Rodriguez said. The crowd seemed to relish in the more heated debate, a message picked up by candidate Marc Bélanger, an international trade lawyer who, by the luck of the draw, found himself at the middle podium on the stage. 'It took us four debates to thaw out,' Bélanger quipped at one point. 'I look forward to the next one.' The next debate, the second-last one that is being organized by the Liberal Party youth wing, is Sunday in Trois-Rivières. Liberals will start voting for their new leader on June 9, a process that leads up to the June 14 convention where the new leader is elected. The next election in Quebec is in October 2026.
CBC
20-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Marc Bélanger says he would focus on boosting economy as leader of Quebec Liberal Party
The race to lead the Quebec Liberal Party is entering its final stretch, with less than a month to go before members cast their votes. Five candidates are vying for the leadership, and over the past few months, we've spoken with four of them. The fifth and final contender is Marc Bélanger. An international trade lawyer by profession, Bélanger says his focus as leader would be on boosting economic growth, supporting local businesses and increasing Quebec's economic self-sufficiency.
