Would a PQ government support oil drilling in the Gulf of St. Lawrence? Would it support or cast off Quebec’s asbestos industry? Is it waffling on university financing? How, exactly, would the PQ “drastically” reduce the province’s dependence on oil, as she promised during a whistle-stop at an ecology centre in Montreal on Thursday?
The answers will come through public consultations after Quebec voters elect the PQ, Marois said as she was grilled by radio host Paul Arcand in the morning and later by reporters about the number of debates, forums and National Assembly hearings she’s been promising to formulate government policy on everything from university financing to energy policy.
“I think we’re responsible,” Marois said, defending herself to Arcand, adding her party’s position on whether to support oil and gas drilling around the Îles de la Madeleine is going to depend on what the people of the Îles de la Madeleine and elsewhere in Quebec have to say.
“I could very well say tomorrow morning we’ll exploit (those resources), and we’ll do this, we’ll do that,” she said. “I said we’ll listen to them. I’m a woman who’s capable of listening. I’m also capable of making decisions. I’ve taken courageous decisions in many situations.”
Still, she also declared: “We won’t deprive ourselves of exploiting our resources if it improves our lot and if it’s done in a safe way and a responsible way.”
