Cogeco CEO Audet says Quebec’s proposed charter of values threat to economy

MONTREAL – The head of cable and media company Cogeco Inc (TSX:CGO) has come out against the Quebec government’s proposed charter of values.

Cogeco chief executive Louis Audet says the proposed charter, which would restrict the wearing of religious symbols by government employees, would end up harming the province’s economy.

Audet told a luncheon speech in Montreal that he sees the charterreducing immigration to the province and, by extension, the wealth that newcomers help create.

He also slammed what he sees is a growing anti-business bias in the province.

Audet cited a recent CROP poll for Cogeco which found that half of Quebecers believed that private business does not benefit society.

However, Audet says private enterprise is needed to create the jobs and wealth that support social programs.