Philippe Couillard digs in heels over Quebec's financial future
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said he has no intention of sitting down with student or union protesters if their objective is to push the government to "abandon a balanced budget."
"We're not going to change our direction, that's for sure," Couillard said following a speech in Quebec City this morning marking his government's first year in office.
"Our message goes directly to the young generation – they should be wary of false friends who want to pile up the credit card and give them the problem of paying it back years down the line when they will be in office in Quebec City and they will have to make the decisions."
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Couillard dug in his heels, repeating several times that his government remains committed to making the necessary decisions to keep the books in the black and to reduce the burden of the province's significant debt, which now totals more than $200 billion.
"I'm saying this very calmly, very firmly – I'm not in this for power," he said. "I'm in this for the future of Quebec and I'm not going to abandon my responsibilities."
In March, the government delivered the province's first balanced budget in six years – a campaign promise that came without a tax hike.
But the price of that balance was a tight reining-in on spending in some of the biggest portfolios and a dramatic reorganization of the public service.
The measures have drawn the ire of unions and students, who have taken to the streets in significant numbers to protest what they call the government's unjustified austerity measures.
A demonstration condemning the government's plan last week in Montreal drew 75,000 protesters.
ASSÉ, one of Quebec's largest student associations, adopted a motion during its weekend general assembly committing to putting increased pressure on the provincial government.
Couillard said he has no intention of backtracking on the gains his government has made and repeated that the biggest threat to the quality of the public service is repeated and uncontrolled deficits.
