LETTER

An assault on democracy

 

As the National Assembly closes for its summer break, I ask the Liberal government to use this summer break to reflect upon the effects of their Law 122 and to return this fall with a concrete proposal to assure the survival of local media, as our information sources.

I deplore Municipal Affairs Minister Coiteux’s decision to abolish the requirement that public notices be published in Quebec’s community media, which threatens the survival of these media. Our party, the CAQ, voted against Bill 122, and is willing to study any scenario designed to strengthen the interests of all citizens and to protect municipal democracy.

Our party is not against a gradual transition of local information towards digital formats. But not by imposing an absolute change from one day to the next; it must be at the same rhythm across all Quebec in a way that allows our community media to adapt and survive.

Information is a pillar of democracy. Quebec’s Liberal government is putting the principles of municipal democracy at risk, as well as the citizens’ access to information. (Translation BA)

Claire Samson, MNA d’Iberville
Spokesperson of the CAQ for cultural and communciations
Quebec City