Legault defends coming out in support of Conservatives, says majority of Quebec voted 'blue'

Quebec Premier Franois Legaulton Tuesday defended comments he made leading up to the election encouraging voters to support Erin O'Toole's Conservatives, saying that while they didn't win, the majority of Quebecers did vote "blue."

In his calculation, Legault lumped together victories for both the BlocQubcois and the Conservatives.

On Sept. 9, Legault met with reporters and said the federal Liberal, NDP and Green parties were "dangerous" for the interests of Quebec nationalists.

Legault said Quebec wanted more not less autonomyand he accused the three parties of trying to meddlein health-care matters, which fall withinprovincial jurisdiction.

"Iintervened, and Idon't regret it, to defend the autonomy of Quebec and the majority of people voted blue," said Legault during a scrum Tuesday afternoon.

Despite Legault'stacit endorsement of the Conservatives, thatparty failed to increase its footprint in Quebec andsettled for the same number of seats it won in2019.

In fact, the distribution of Quebec's 78 seats was barely altered.

After winning 35 Quebec ridings in the previous federal election, the Liberals have lost someground in the province and are on track to grab 33 seats this time.

As the dust settled following the election, many commentators criticized Legault, saying his effort to steer Quebecers failed.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Qubcois, said Legault's support for a Conservative minority government was a "double-or-nothing" bet that backfired and will hurt Quebec's quest for more autonomy.

For his part, Legaultsaid he understands that many voters felt they had more issues to consider when making their choice than just that of Quebec autonomy, however he said he still believes that most people in the province feel Quebec should have more power over its own affairs, not less.

WATCH | Justin Trudeau visits Montreal'sJarry Metro station this morning to thank voters:

Trudeau makes morning-after Metro visit

3 years ago

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Justin Trudeau visits a Metro station in his Montreal riding of Papineau the morning after his party retained a minority government in the 2021 Canadian federal election.

Legault told reporters that he spoke with Justin Trudeau on Tuesday and said the two were willing to work together on behalf of Quebecers.

He also said he has asked his ministers to reach out to their federal counterparts as soon as Trudeau names his cabinet.

While some opposition politicians argue that Legault has weakened his relationship with Ottawa by his comments, Legault said that ultimately little had changed.

"There's nothing new. [Trudeau]knows that Ihate the conditions that he wants to put, for example, in our CHSLDs. He knows very well that Iwant him to respect Quebecjurisdiction. So there is nothing new and nothing that was not said before."

Legault emphasized, however, that Trudeau's Liberals failed to make significant inroads in Quebec and suggested this was a stumbling block that kept them from winning a majority.

"In order to get a majoritygovernment,you need more support from Quebec.And what we saw last night was the blue vote represented the majority."

WATCH| Franois Legault says he stands by his criticism of the federal Liberals:

With Liberal victory, Quebec premier says not much has changed

3 years ago

Duration 0:47

Quebec Premier Franois Legault says the federal election results mean nothing changes on the points of conflict between him and the federal Liberal government, including conditions placed on federal funding for long-term care homes.

Speaking from Liberal headquarters lateMonday night,Pablo Rodriguez, a Liberal MP for the Honor-Mercier riding in Montreal's east end, told Radio-Canada he was"surprised" and "disappointed" with Legault's commentsduring the campaign.

"We've delivered [for Quebec] morethan any other government," Rodriguez said, citing the recent $6-billion pledge for the province's daycare systemas an example, as well asan agreement to create more affordable housing.

WATCH| Pollster Christian Bourque says Legault and Trudeau have to move forward:

What do the election results mean for Quebec?

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Christian Bourque is executive vice-president at Lger

'A reality check' for Legault

On a night where the federal electoral map barely changed,leaders of the province's opposition parties all saidthe night's biggest loser was Legault.

Dominique Anglade, the leader of the Official Opposition Liberals, said the relationship between Quebec and Ottawa has changed because Legault decided "to tell people how to vote."

"We will have to rebuild bridges with the federal [government]," Anglade said.

According to Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, a co-spokesperson for Qubec Solidaire, Monday's election results represented a "areality check" for the premier.

"He chose the Conservative Party of Canada. A good proportion of Quebecers yesterday chose something else,"Nadeau-Dubois said during a meeting with reporters at Quebec's National Assembly.