Christine Fréchette sworn in as Quebec premier, promises ‘to govern with ambition and determination’
QUEBEC — Christine Fréchette has officially become premier of Quebec, vowing to use all available means to protect the Quebec nation.
And she said she will back down from nothing “to protect our French language, our culture and our Quebec values.”
“I want to tell you I will never forget where I came from,” Fréchette told a crowd of 200 people on hand for her swearing-in as Quebec’s 33rd premier.
“And I will never forget either where we need to go: a more ambitious Quebec. Quebecers are not asking grand abstract promises. They want concrete actions anchored in reality,
“Today I make a promise to govern with ambition and determination.”
There was emotion in the air. Fréchette Wednesday became only the second woman to become premier of Quebec in history.
The first was Parti Québécois Premier Pauline Marois who governed from 2012 to 2014. Marois’ election came 72 years after Quebec women won the right to vote in a provincial election.
She becomes the second Coalition Avenir Québec premier following party founder François Legault, who was on hand to witness the ceremony in the Agora of the National Assembly.
In the front row was her spouse Guy Nadeau, her mother and 26-year-old son Olivier Rebello-Fréchette. Fréchette was sworn into office before Quebec lieutenant-governor Manon Jeannotte.
In a more human touch, two of Fréchette’s childhood school teachers were in the crowd and got a round of applause. She mentioned her personal history, growing up in Trois-Rivières, “a city that has not always had it easy but has reinvented itself.”
She repeated that she is part of generation X, a generation that grew up with inflation and wars hovering overhead. She said it was a generation that felt sacrificed.
“I don’t want any generation to have the feeling it was sacrificed,” Fréchette said.
But her speech, which did not include a word of English or mention of the anglophone community, was mostly focused on the economy and Quebec’s future.
With her defeated leadership rival Bernard Drainville sitting in the hall, Fréchette played the nationalist card and did not hesitate to attack her rivals in the Liberal party and Parti Québécois.
“Some are preparing a referendum and others would like us to disappear,” Fréchette said. “I choose to act.”
She said she will defend Quebec’s secularism values “right to the end,” an repeated plans to extend the requirements of the Charter of the French Language to adult education and vocational training.
“Affirming our identity also means taking the means to protect it,” she said. “I want to be very clear today. I will not back away from anything to protect our French language, our culture and our Quebec values.”
“In short, I will fight with all the means at my disposal to protect the French language,” she said.
Her swearing-in came on the same day as Drainville made his first public appearance since he was defeated by Fréchette Sunday.
Drainville said he is urging his supporters to do like him and rally to Fréchette to preserve party unity despite an acrimonious leadership race.
Fréchette has already said he will have a prominent role in her new government.
Her cabinet choices are expected to be announced next week.
“I’m waiting for the call,” Drainville told reporters arriving for the ceremony. “She’s asked me what my interests are and I told her. It’s her decision to make.”
She said he rallied because the party is more important than one person’s ambitions.
“This is her day so I should not be a distraction,” Drainville said. “You have to go through a transition (after a defeat). The transition is well underway and I’m coming to terms.
“I am going to be working with her to rebound, to give a new start to our party.”
Earlier in the day, Fréchette made the traditional first visit for a new premier to the mayor of Quebec City, Bruno Marchand.
For the occasion, Fréchette donned sneakers. Marchand, an avid runner, is known for his colourful collection of running shoes.
After signing the golden book at city hall, she was sworn in as honorary mayor of the city.
“I have come to meet you,” Fréchette said to Marchand as she arrived in the steps of city hall. “It’s my first outing, to meet you. This reflects how important I consider the national capital where I have lived for several years.”
Fréchette is expected to soon move into the official government residence of a Quebec premier on the top floor of the historic Price building in the old city.
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