Press release
Workers are not a priority for the government

The Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL) takes note of the opening speech delivered this afternoon by Premier Christine Fréchette, but remains disappointed regarding the absence of a genuine societal project for Quebec.

At present, the top priority for Quebecers is the rising cost of living. Grocery and housing costs are soaring. However, the only measure announced to support the population targets a very small minority, namely first-time homebuyers. The priorities of workers are barely reflected in this inaugural speech.

“We deplore the fact that there are no truly structural measures to address the cost of living, particularly for groceries, renters, and seniors living in poverty. This is an opening speech that offers them very little hope that their situation will improve,” said QFL Secretary General Olivier Carrière.

Furthermore, the QFL welcomes the government’s commitment to amending public procurement regulations in order to maximize contracts awarded to Quebec-based companies. It is unacceptable that municipal or government contracts escape local businesses in favour of American companies due to procurement criteria that are not adapted to the current economic situation.

“As for the bill on the constitution, it would have been wise to set it aside and begin a broad consultative process commensurate with the importance of such a project, in order to give Quebec a constitution that achieves consensus, rather than a minister’s project driven by a determination to be right at all costs. Let’s call a spade a spade there is no support for this project. A constitution is not written on the back of a napkin,” concluded Olivier Carrière.

The QFL recalls that building Quebec’s future must be done with workers and with civil society as a whole. This requires a return to genuine social dialogue and the implementation of an ambitious industrial policy capable of responding to current economic and social challenges. The Premier sent no signal on either of these fronts.

Translated into English by SEU800 from the original French-language press release.