As she launches her campaign, Quebec’s Fréchette hopes the Carney formula will work twice

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The first major announcement came in June when Quebec and Ottawa signed five infrastructure agreements worth nearly $10 billion which would pave the way for major investments in public transit, health care, housing and education over the next decade.

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Earlier in August, the federal government also helped Quebec broker a new energy framework with Newfoundland and Labrador that the PQ promised it would review once in power and ask for compensation for Quebec’s loss of Labrador nearly a century ago.

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And only three days before the start of the campaign, Carney was by Fréchette’s side in Lévis, Quebec, to announce that the federal government will invest $11 billion for Davie Shipyard to build six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard.

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The multiple announcements between both leaders so close to the election did not go unnoticed by reporters, who asked Fréchette if Carney is becoming her “best friend” for the upcoming campaign and Carney if he would like Fréchette to win the election.

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Carney took the podium first to say it is his job to work with premiers, unions, business leaders and all Canadians in a spirit of collaboration.

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“That’s my choice,” he said in French. “It’s the only choice and I am happy that Madame Fréchette has the same attitude in terms of working in collaboration to create good jobs and bright futures for people.”

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“When Madame Fréchette became premier, she said, ‘Let’s get to work.’ These are good words for me,” he added.

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In a similar fashion, Fréchette said it is her job to work with anyone who wants to advance Quebec’s interests.

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After the announcement, Carney crossed the St. Lawrence River to meet with the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) Charles Milliard, for a brief lunch.

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It was the first meeting between the two men and sources said they spoke about their vision of how to respond to the trade war. After lunch, Carney took the initiative to go around the patio, with Milliard, to shake hands with customers.

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A provincial source said the Liberal Party of Canada has more natural links with the QLP than the CAQ. For instance, two of Carney’s top advisors — chief of staff Marc-André Blanchard and deputy chief of staff Andrée-Lynne Hallé — were involved with the provincial Liberals years back.

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Kalles said he didn’t see Carney’s meeting with Milliard as an endorsement.

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“I don’t think we know who’s going to win this election, so I think it’s trying to build a relationship — especially in the current circumstances of an economic crisis and the tariff crisis — and at least break the ice with any of the potential winners.”

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No such meetings were in the works for PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon or other provincial leaders before the start of the campaign, Carney’s office said.

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And Carney will not be making partisan announcements with any of the contenders during the Quebec election either.

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If the PQ were to form government in October, a senior government source said the prime minister would treat it no differently than other provinces.

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For now, Fréchette is the one who seems to be benefitting from the current trade war with the U.S. while St-Pierre Plamondon and Milliard are losing ground.

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A Synopsis-La Presse poll released Friday showed that the CAQ has soared to 27 per cent of voting intentions in Quebec among decided voters, a statistical tie with the PQ which now stands at 28 per cent. The QLP is in third place at 20 per cent.