Philippe Couillard ends legislative session defending budget cuts

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard spent the last day of the National Assembly's 2015 session defending his government's efforts to balance the books, saying he's taken aback by all the criticism.

"What's surprising is what has been read and said in the recent months," Couillard said Friday at an end-of-session news conference.

"Only two provinces in Canada increased their program expenses more than Quebec, by less than oneper cent, and elsewhere, no one talks about austerity. Everyone realizes it has to be done budgets have to be balanced."

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One of the fiercest critics of the government's cost-cutting measures this past session was Parti Qubcois leader Pierre Karl Pladeau.

"It's time for the premier to govern for real people, instead of making Quebecers pay for the government's economic incompetence and doctrinaireapproach," Pleadeau said Friday at the National Assembly.

'Vive le 2016!'says CAQ leader

Coalition Avenir Qubec leader Franois Legault said 2015 has been difficult.

Some of his MNAs quit, and his party's former president, Dominique Anglade, became a Liberal MNA.

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Legault said he is hopeful his party can find its footing once again in the new year.

"Vive le 2016," he said.