Ottawa is contravening the principles of federalism, denounces Frédéric Beauchemin

Photo: Jacques Boissinot Archives The Canadian Press The Trudeau government is encroaching on provincial jurisdictions in a way not seen in years, argues Frédéric Beauchemin.

Thomas Laberge – The Canadian Press in Quebec City

Published at 7:56 a.m.

• Quebec City

The Canadian government is spending lavishly in provincial areas of jurisdiction and is contravening the principle of federalism, says MP and potential aspiring leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Frédéric Beauchemin, who wants the federal government's spending power to be better regulated. This position comes at a time when the appeal of the Liberal leadership race is growing.

Ottawa “makes federal transfers conditional on the acceptance of federal priorities and not those of Quebec. The complete opposite of the winning partnership that should prevail. It is time to address this scourge and repair the federation,” states a press release from the MP, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press.

The Liberal representative cites the health and housing sectors as examples. Recently, the Trudeau government put $5 billion on the table to convince the provinces to adopt some of its housing priorities, including the tenants’ bill of rights.

“It was a pretty direct invasion of an area of ​​jurisdiction that was ours […] The Trudeau government is at a level of interference in provincial areas of jurisdiction that we haven’t seen in previous years,” said Mr. Beauchemin in an interview with The Canadian Press.

With this statement, the potential aspiring leader of the PLQ is stepping on the toes of the Coalition avenir Québec, which has continued to denounce federal interference in provincial areas of jurisdiction.

To address this problem, Frédéric Beauchemin wants to set up a Commission on Fiscal Imbalance. “We want to perpetuate a partnership that we have with the federal government so that it can work for generations to come,” explains the MP.

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A similar exercise was held in the early 2000s with the Séguin Commission. At the time, the commission estimated that Quebec needed an additional $2 billion in the short term to meet the needs of its areas of jurisdiction. Without having calculated it precisely, Frédéric Beauchemin maintains that the province’s shortfall is even greater today.

The Liberal MP wants to avoid duplication of federal programs with those of Quebec and is asking that the province be given the right to withdraw with “full compensation without having to negotiate each time.”

Read also

• Pablo Rodriguez is being courted to join the PLQ leadership race
• The president of the PLQ youth wing resigns and supports Frédéric Beauchemin in the leadership race
• Denis Coderre, leadership candidate for the “squeezed” and “disappointed” Liberals
• Expected candidate for the PLQ leadership, Charles Milliard leaves his post

The race is taking shape

The Marguerite-Bourgeoys MP’s outburst against Ottawa comes two days after several media outlets reported that federal Liberal minister Pablo Rodriguez was also considering running to succeed Dominique Anglade. “I think it’s fantastic. There are more and more participants who want to take part in the debate,” says Frédéric Beauchemin.

The latter is still officially considering the Liberal leadership, but he should make his launch announcement by the end of the summer.

Mr. Beauchemin wants to position himself as the candidate for budgetary rigour and better management of public finances. He also received the support of former Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitão.

Last June, former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre became the first candidate to officially enter the race.

Charles Milliard — another candidate tipped to run for the PLQ leadership — recently announced that he was stepping down as president and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec to take a moment to reflect.

Victoriaville Mayor Antoine Tardif is also in the running. He hasn’t ruled out running.

The race will begin in January 2025. Dominique Anglade’s successor will be chosen in the summer of that year.

The next PLQ leader will have a lot to do to rebuild his party. His support rate among francophones is meager.