Quebec Liberal leadership race: Marc Bélanger shares his ‘big ideas’

Quebec Liberal leadership candidate Marc Belanger shares his vision for the province's future in a sit-down interview with CJAD 800 Radio.

Nationalization of water resources, Quebec’s economic self-sufficiency, and creating a sovereign wealth fund from resource exploitation are some of the “big ideas” Liberal Party (PLQ) leadership hopeful Marc Bélanger says he wants to focus on.

The international trade lawyer from Matane sat down with CJAD 800 Radio host Elias Makos to make his case about wanting to lead the oldest political party in Quebec.

Some answers have been edited for clarity.

Elias Makos: Today, we welcome Marc Bélanger, an international trade lawyer who says the future of the party lies in strong economic leadership. Give me the boldest idea that you’ve got in your campaign.

Marc Bélanger: I’m focused on the economy, for sure, but I have to say that the most important one is the nationalization of water because water is the most important natural resource that we have. They already have fights in the U.S. and between cities because of water, and I think that at some point, that will become something very important.

I want to control the access to water. This is the main thing. I don’t want a foreign company, such as a U.S. company, to have access and then put pressure on Quebec to bring more water to the U.S. If we nationalize water, it would be more difficult for them to ask for better access at that point. And if we don’t nationalize right now, it would be difficult in the future to say to American companies no.

Makos: Do you have an idea or a topic, something that you want to focus on, that you think has a broader appeal?

Bélanger: I’m focusing on income. This is the thing that I have focused on since the beginning. I’m saying, ‘Well, then we will need, for example, to explore the exploitation of our natural resources.’ And I want to create a sovereign fund, like in Norway, to put the money from the exploration.

Makos: But I guess you also want to have a government and a province that is open to foreign investment and is open to other people investing in Quebec, or maybe not. So I wonder how you do that?

Bélanger: I’m okay with foreign corporations coming here and investing in areas that are completely different, new areas. But I don’t want to invest in a corporation, for example, like Northvolt. I think that we were subcontractors in that case. We were not creating any technology or intellectual property. I don’t want to have that kind of investment.

I think that this is one of the things—if we want to win Quebec back, like the Liberals—we need to demonstrate a certain nationalism, economic nationalism. The other thing is—and maybe you’re talking about ideas—we’re discussing the obligation to enter different markets, to open not only to the U.S. Since 2002, I’ve been saying we need to diversify. One of the things we have in Montreal is a large number of Quebecers from immigration, and what I want to focus on is connecting Quebec companies with all those communities in Montreal.

Makos: Mr. Bélanger you’re probably not as well known as some of the other candidates in the race. What should people know about you?

Bélanger: I’m someone who’s like a visionary. I think that is what is missing in politics. People are not seeing the big picture. And I think that this is the way to govern. I am from Matane. I’m from the region. I specialize in international tax and international commerce. I think that I’m able to speak to people from the region, and I’m capable of speaking with people from around the world. I have travelled to seventy countries so far. So, I’m open to the world. And I think that this is exactly the kind of leader that we want.