The last week of work in the National Assembly gave rise to debates on the advisability of government participation in the return of baseball. I was ashamed. A group of investors who would like to invest hundreds of millions out of their own pockets have been treated with embarrassing contempt.
Let’s settle one thing: I don’t know any of these investors. At best, I have encountered one or two in my life. I don’t give a damn about their fortune, unless they want to invest in the enrichment and influence of Montreal and Quebec. So I rejoice.
I will reproach them: they did not sin by excess of transparency. I know very well that in business, it is not possible to reveal everything in the public square. However, in 2021, if you have a case that will eventually appeal to the public authorities, it is in your interest to keep the population in the loop as much as possible.
What an attitude!
Despite this, how can we understand this attitude of the Liberals, the PQ and Quebec solidaire? Quebec business people want to invest between 500 and 700 million in Montreal. What do they hear in the National Assembly? They are outcasts. Rejections from society. We attribute dark intentions to them. Their project does not hold water.
A circus of living room socialists in the Assembly! Bronfman and his group must be wondering if they would be better received in North Korea!
Friends, how many people on the sidewalks in your ridings are there interested in investing such amounts?
Let it be understood, I do not want to see our elected officials on their knees in front of investors either. Our government is the guardian of our money and any investment in a major economic project must at least meet three criteria:
- Private investors take the brunt of the risk.
- The government will make its investment profitable.
- The government recovers its logs in the event of sale or move.
This week, the opposition did not pressure the government around these principles. The opposition demanded that the government not even study this project. She called on the government to commit to saying NO without the numbers. In the name of the fact that they know it’s a bad project with bad investors.
The role of the opposition
During my years in the National Assembly, I have seen many times the opposition react to economic projects. Saying what?
We are happy to see that investors submit a project. We will analyze it in due course. We will play our role of opposition to ensure that any contribution of public funds is made in the best interests of the people.
Then, if the project is bad, if the sums requested are exaggerated, it will be logical to oppose.
In closing, I will remind the demagogues of one thing. In IT, forestry or professional sports, a society needs strong companies that create wealth. To pay for schools and CHSLDs.
