Youri Chassin quits CAQ to sit as Independent after criticizing Legaults government – Montreal [Video]

Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin announced Thursday he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec to sit as an Independent, becoming the second member of government to quit in a little more than one week.

Chassin’s announcement came hours after he wrote an open letter published in local media criticizing Premier François Legault’s party for abandoning its principles of smaller government.

In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the CAQ of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.

“I was afraid that Quebec would become the republic of the status quo … but the CAQ was going to change that, Chassin told reporters Thursday in Quebec City after announcing his departure.

“And, unfortunately, the energy and audacity needed to shake up the status quo seem to have dissipated.”

Chassin, who was part of the …