“It seems obvious to me and it’s the position that our party has taken, that in the various regions and MRCs where the pandemic is under control, where the number of cases [are] very low or almost non-existent, and as vaccination is progressing with our most vulnerable citizens and our health care workers, it’s time for the government to consider easing some of the restrictions, mainly for our businesses,” he said. “If this is something that public health approves, it has to be done in a safe fashion with a watchful eye on the number of cases because we’ve seen in other MRCs that had few cases, how quickly things can progress. So it’s important to do it with a very watchful eye on the number of cases, but as we approach Feb. 8, the government’s end date for the end of the current restrictions, it is necessary to take a look at different regions in different ways. Many regions like Pontiac MRC are much less affected than others currently.”

Fortin said that he expected some of the lockdown measures would last beyond the Feb. 8 deadline that the CAQ had originally set.

“I think many restrictions will stay in place at that point in time,” he said. “The number of hospitalizations across the province is still very high, which is still quite worrisome, and every day we see dozens of Quebecers who continue to pass away from COVID, so we’re very much still in the eye of the storm. However there are places across the province, Gaspésie being one, the Pontiac being one, where government should be looking and I hope they are, at easing some but not all of the restrictions. As you know, every restriction that is imposed causes a great deal of hardship for our local businesses and if we can do it in a safe way, if we can do it in a safe fashion, then that’s what government should be looking at.”

He said that as a member of the opposition, he is as in the dark about the CAQ’s plans as most of the public. He noted that the Parti Québécois have a similar stance on the matter.

“They are government decisions, and so far, opposition parties are neither informed nor consulted and certainly don’t take part in government decisions,” he said. “That’s why we’re publically stating our position, much like other parties have done.”

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