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The two candidates hoping to become Quebec’s next premier in less than a month took part in a first official sparring match Saturday, with Christine Fréchette accusing her opponent of having a big ego and bringing the debate over shale gas back to the forefront.
Espace Saint Grégoire, in Quebec City’s Beauport neighborhood, was packed to the brim with about 300 Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) party faithful Saturday morning, as Fréchette and Bernard Drainville took the stage for the leadership debate.
The economy, infrastructure and the regions were some of the main themes addressed in the nearly 90-minute face-off between the two candidates hoping to replace Quebec Premier François Legault.
Fréchette, the province’s former energy and economy minister, pointed to ongoing geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty as reasons why Quebec should take another look at the possibility of exploiting shale gas in the province.
“I think the current situation makes it an opportune moment to discuss this possibility again,” she told reporters after the debate. “And my conclusion is not established.”
While she says this type of project would only move forward if it gains social acceptability, she believes the context has changed since the issue drew public outcry about a decade ago.
“There won’t be social acceptability to put drinking water at risk,” Drainville responded, referring to the practice of fracking. “I swear to you that there won’t be that.”
Drainville said he isn’t against other forms of exploitation, however, and would be open to the idea of a pipeline to Baie-Comeau, Que., for instance.
The two candidates also exchanged jabs over the long-standing issue of the Third Link project in the province’s capital.
The project, which would link Quebec City to Lévis on its south shore, had been a CAQ campaign promise for years, especially for Drainville who is the MNA for the south shore riding.
The idea was partially shelved and then revived again after the CAQ lost a byelection to the Parti-Québécois in Quebec City’s Jean-Talon riding in 2023.
The province’s transport minister later presented an updated plan for it that included both a bridge and a tunnel.
If Fréchette wins, she is promising to change the project into a toll bridge that would be built further east than the government’s current proposal.
She is also only agreeing to have the bridge built if a partner from the private sector agrees to fund part of it.
“This corridor, we chose for the people who are here, not for you, not for your ego,” Fréchette remarked, saying the version of the project Drainville supports is one that “no one supports.”
Drainville, for his part, called Fréchette’s iteration of the project “pharonic,” as it would be even longer than the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
“The [bridge] to the east, yes I hear a lot of people who are in favour of it, but the issue is the cost. The cost would be astronomical,” he said.
Drainville said the government has already studied its plans for the project thoroughly, and that it can, therefore, be more realistically funded.
He accuses his opponent of wanting to backtrack on the Third Link by putting too many barriers in place.
“As far as my ego, Christine, I do not think it’s a good idea to enter into personal attacks,” Drainville said. “I think we need to remain respectful because everyone will have to work together.”
The former education minister extended an olive branch to Fréchette, saying he would name her deputy premier if he’s chosen as the new leader.
Fréchette did not return that offer, as she is not sure she would even have a deputy premier — Legault eliminated that position from his cabinet in September.
She later clarified that Drainville would be given a position in her cabinet if she becomes leader.
Both candidates agree the size of the province’s cabinet should be reduced, in order to stick with the government’s recent message of wanting to cut down on bureaucracy.
They are also both committing to not leaving any of the regions out of their cabinet, following criticism that Legault left the Abitibi out of his.
The CAQ’s roughly 20,000 members will choose the province’s next premier at a leadership convention April 12.
The party’s next leadership debate is set to be held in Laval on March 28 and will focus on the issues of health and education, as well as immigration and identity.