Quebec premier draws escape plan from economic crisis

Quebec Premier Jean Charest introduced a strategy Tuesday that he says will help the province become one of the world leaders in pulling out of the current economic slowdown.

In his first address to the national assembly since the Liberals were elected with a majority in December, Charest said he will spare no effort to bolster and protect Quebec's economy as it slides deeper into a recession.

Investments in infrastructure and energy development will reach $13.9 billion this year, he said.

"Quebec is not the first economy to be touched by this crisis. But I want us to be among the first to escape it," Charest told legislators Tuesday afternoon at the opening of the new session.

"What will determine our success will be our capacity to work together. More than ever, we Quebecers are responsible for ourselves and others."

Charest said the economic slowdown is hitting all sectors of Quebec life, from the workers losing their jobs to the government's weakening capacity to pay for public services.

He outlined three priorities for his government this year:

• Protect and create public-sector jobs, especially in construction, infrastructure and energy development.
• Improve training and education for unemployed Quebecers and those entering the workforce.
• Develop alliances with France and the European Union.

The first step, said Charest, will be to get people working again.

"Our investments in infrastructure and energy will create work this year for more than 100,000 people. For this next year, a record of $13.9 billion will be invested," said Charest.

Charest pointed to the $5-billion Eastmain 1-A project on the Rupert River in the James Bay region. He said the project is expected to create 3,500 jobs alone this summer.

Aside from the major infrastructure projects, the premier also promised unemployed Quebecers additional measures to help them get by during the economic slowdown.

Charest predicts austere budget

Charest left many of the details of his plan to the provincial budget, which will be released on March 19.

He warned his government will have difficult decisions to make as it delivers the province's first deficit budget in a decade.

However, he promised to protect core services such as health and education.

"The economic crisis places education and training at the heart of our priorities for this mandate," said Charest, noting Quebec's continuing struggle with high school dropout rates.

"To better succeed, the government will propose, with its partners, new measures that will bring a new approach adapted to each region of Quebec."

Opposition asks where savings will be found

Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois said Charest will have to get creative if he wants to reduce the province's operating costs.

She hopes Charest avoids raising taxes or the fees for public services.

"If he doesn't want to reduce the budgets for education and health, he will have only a small part of the budget to use to reduce the expenses of the budget," said Marois.

"He doesn't have a lot of choice."

Opposition politicians have said Charest waited too long to announce the specifics of his economic plan.

It has been three months since voters elected Charest's Liberals to a majority government. In the meantime, said PQ MNA Agnès Maltais, a recession has taken hold.

"Nothing has been done since he was elected," said Maltais.

"There are factories that are closing. There are people losing their jobs. We have a deficit. What will they do, exactly? That's what we're waiting on the premier to hear."