Carlos Leitao and “the art of looking crazy”

News 15 March, 2018
  • Photo Simon Clark
    The ministers Leitao and Heurtel

    Marie-Renée Grondin

    Thursday, march 15, 2018 13:19

    UPDATE
    Thursday, march 15, 2018 13:50

    Look at this article

    Refusing to apologize for stating that the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) adheres to the “ethnic nationalism”, the minister of Finance, Carlos Leitao, has avoided the issues that were addressed in the room on Thursday, leaving his colleague, the minister of Immigration, David Heurtel, answer in its place.

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    “That, Mr. President, it is the art of looking crazy”, launched the parliamentary leader of the CAQ, François Bonnardel.

    “The Finance minister is a reasonable man. Generally, it’s been four years since I worked with you, you don’t do that kind of policy, not at all. It’s not like you. You should exercise, Mr. minister, of more height. Have the courage to lift you up, to repeat in French what you said in English. It repeats itself, or that it retracts”, he subsequently urged.

    Mr. Bonnardel has even requested the intervention of the president of the national Assembly, Jacques Chagnon.

    “Article 79. It’s been two questions that I put directly to the minister of Finance. I request you to minimally enforce the regulations, request him to stand up”, he pleaded.

    The government house leader Jean-Marc Fournier, spoke recalling article 81.

    “I tells him he can read it. And, on the other hand, our colleague was in the process of responding. I know that you don’t want to hear the answer, but you ask a question, let the government meet, it seems to me that it would be just and reasonable,” he said.

    Despite all that, the minister Heurtel continued and took the opportunity to attack the CAQ recalling in particular its desire to reduce the number of immigrants and impose “a test of expulsion”.

    Here’s the full exchange :

    The day before, François Bonnardel had also denounced these remarks as “unworthy” of Mr. Leitao, adding that the minister should “be ashamed”.

    These remarks are unworthy of you, Mr. minister. You should be ashamed .@CarlosJLeitao #shame https://t.co/hHX3Y97yOU

    — François Bonnardel (@fbonnardelCAQ) march 14, 2018

    Thursday, after question period, Mr. Bonnardel has tabled a motion “that the national Assembly recognize that no political formation represented in the national Assembly of Québec are not advocates for ethnic nationalism”. Only the liberal Party has not consented to the adoption.

    The #QLP and @CarlosJLeitao refuse my motion on the ethnic nationalism #ugly #shameonyou #assnat #polqc pic.twitter.com/SV56IEF1pe

    — François Bonnardel (@fbonnardelCAQ) march 15, 2018