Justin Trudeau is playing a dangerous game by promising to hire doctors and eliminate waiting lists, say experts, who, like the majority of parties in the National Assembly, cry interference.
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While in Halifax on Monday, the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC) pledged to hire 7,500 family doctors and nurses across the country, if he is re-elected, by spending $ 3 billion.
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Mr. Trudeau also pledged to eliminate, through a one-time transfer to the provinces of $ 6 billion, waiting lists in the health care system.
For the second time in less than a week, Mr. Trudeau has created discontent in the entourage of Prime Minister François Legault.
“Health is a field of competence which falls solely and exclusively for Quebec”, was quick to recall Mr. Legault’s press secretary, Ewan Sauves.
“The federal government must increase its health transfers. Quebec will then be able to decide where the money should be invested, ”he added, noting that Mr. Legault will present his demands to the federal parties this week.
Encroachment
“Justin Trudeau, like his predecessors at the head of the PLC, suffers from an irrepressible desire to interfere in our exclusive field in health,” reacted, for his part, the member for Quebec solidaire, Vincent Marissal.
“Not only does he refuse to commit to transferring the necessary sums to Quebec, but in addition, he is once again coming back with his“ big clogs ”to interfere in our affairs, lamented the member for Rosemont. Mr. Trudeau must stop instrumentalizing health transfers. ”
PQ member Véronique Hivon denounced the lack of respect for Quebec’s prerogatives.
“To witness this escalation of encroachments, expenses and conditions in a field of exclusive jurisdiction of Quebec, it is unequivocal proof of the failure of the federalism of François Legault,” said the member for Joliette.
A risky bet
For constitutionalist Patrick Taillon, the promise made by Justin Trudeau represents “a direct violation of federalism and the division of powers.”
“It does not constitutionally make sense,” commented the law professor at Laval University. “He is playing with fire with Quebec voters,” believes Mr. Taillon.
“It’s a risky party,” also considers Félix Mathieu, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Winnipeg.
“If François Legault decides to go out in the media, to denounce, it is sure that it will hurt the Liberal Party a lot, in addition to giving additional ammunition not only to the Bloc Québécois, but also to the Conservatives.”
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole took the opportunity, Monday, to denounce the “paternalistic” approach of Justin Trudeau, while the Bloc leader, Yves-François Blanchet, said he saw it as an “anti-Quebec” strategy on the part of liberals.
– With Raphaël Pirro, QMI Agency
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