If you're a regular Québec news watcher, you probably won't have had much to sink your teeth into this summer. While the Québec government usually takes advantage of the summer period to multiply its announcements and ministerial visits to the regions, this year it was particularly discreet.
Premier François Legault is a case in point. Usually omnipresent in the media during the summer months, he has been unusually low key so far. According to his official agenda, the Prime Minister has taken part in just one press conference since July 1st, when he announced a new investment of several hundred million dollars in the Airbus A220. Although he also took part in the summer meeting of the Council of the Federation, which brings together the premiers of Canada's provinces and territories, and in a number of other events, he was careful to avoid the microphones and cameras. The devastating effects of Hurricane Debby have brought the Premier out of his media reserve in the last week.
Far from being a coincidence, this long absence is part of the strategy of media moderation implemented by the government for several months now. Faced with an increasing number of unfavourable opinion polls, the Prime Minister's inner circle realized that he was too exposed in the media. As a result, his public appearances have been drastically reduced, much to the displeasure of journalists. The CAQ hopes that this retreat from the spotlight, coupled with Quebecers' traditional renewed love for their government during the summer months, will enable them to regain precious points in voting intentions as parliament resumes.
It also has to be said that over the past few years, ministers, MNAs, political staff and government mandarins have been particularly busy, whether with the COVID-19 pandemic, general elections, or managing forest fires on an unprecedented scale. As the government approaches the halfway point of its mandate, the CAQ wants to give its troops a rare moment of respite. This will be decisive for the CAQ team, who must begin to close the voter intention gap with the Parti Québécois, if they wish to be in the running for the next general election.
The CAQ will have to deal with a number of important issues as soon as it returns to the National Assembly, from the imposing energy bill to the government spending review promised in the last budget. If summer has left you wanting more, the coming autumn should keep you on the edge of your seat!
Image Credit: "François Legault" by X-LIEN is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
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