Quebec Provincial Elections: candidates answer newsroom questions
Drazen Seslija and Jude Osmond
With just a couple of weeks to go before the provincial election on October 5, the West Quebec Post submitted three questions to the candidates and political teams in the Outaouais region, covering local priorities and concerns, the protection of minority communities, and democracy and the future of local media. These questions will allow residents to compare the candidates’ proposals on issues that directly affect the region.
Please note: In the data provided, the list of candidates was compiled as of September 10, and their responses were collected between September 11 and 16.
Here are their responses:
Gatineau
Bertin Aboussou — Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ)
Question: What are your local priorities and concerns?
Answer: During my meetings with voters and door-to-door canvassing, the concern I hear most often is the cost of living. Families are working hard, but they are finding it increasingly difficult to absorb the rising costs of groceries, housing, transportation and taxes. In a constituency as large as Gatineau, this reality is particularly important because many residents have to travel long distances to work, study or access health care.
I believe the government must start by leaving more money in residents’ pockets. The Conservative Party of Quebec is proposing, among other measures, a significant increase in the basic personal amount to reduce income taxes. Our financial framework also calls for reducing waste and certain government expenditures to fund tax cuts while protecting essential public services.
But the cost of living is not limited to taxes. We also need to make it easier to build housing by reducing delays and unnecessary bureaucracy, improve access to health care, and ensure that every dollar spent by government delivers results for residents.
As an MNA, my priority will be to defend the purchasing power of Gatineau families while ensuring that essential services remain accessible. To me, good government starts with a simple question: does the decision we are making improve people’s lives?
Question: How do you plan to protect minority communities in Quebec? What would this mean in practical terms for institutions such as schools?
Answer: Quebec must protect French as its official and common language, but this should not come at the expense of the fundamental and historic rights of minority communities.
In the Gatineau constituency, this reality is very concrete. We have Francophone and Anglophone communities living, working and raising their families side by side. As an MNA, my role would be to represent all residents, regardless of their language or background.
The Conservative Party of Quebec has committed to protecting the historic rights of the Anglophone community. To me, this means that they should be able to access the services to which they are entitled without language becoming a barrier.
In education, Anglophone community institutions are particularly important. Schools are not simply buildings: they contribute to the vitality, culture and continuity of a community.
I therefore believe we must respect the rights of minority communities and their ability to participate in decisions concerning their institutions, while maintaining French as Quebec’s official language.
We do not have to choose between protecting French and respecting minority communities. We can do both.
Question: In your view, how should the provincial government support journalism and the long-term viability of local media?
Answer: I remain optimistic about the future of democracy in Quebec, but a strong democracy requires informed residents, transparent institutions, and elected officials who are accessible and accountable to the public.
Local media play a particularly important role. In a region like the Outaouais, they are often the ones covering municipal councils, community organizations, regional issues and decisions that directly affect residents’ daily lives. When these media outlets disappear, an important part of local democratic life disappears with them.
The government must therefore create an environment in which local journalism can remain viable while absolutely protecting its independence. Journalists must be able to question and criticize the government without fearing that their funding will depend on how they cover elected officials.
I favour transparent, fair and accessible measures for all eligible media outlets rather than discretionary decisions made by government.
As an MNA, I would also commit to remaining available to local media, answering their questions and facilitating access to public information.
A healthy democracy needs free journalists, but it also needs elected officials who are willing to be held accountable.
Raphaël Déry — Parti Québécois (PQ)
Did not respond.
David Logue — Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ)
Question: What are your local priorities and concerns?
Answer: During my door-to-door visits over the past 18 months, the number one priority identified by citizens has been health care, as well as the cost of living, particularly housing costs.
With regard to health care and staff retention, we will introduce special legislation for the Outaouais, providing a $90-million investment in our local health-care system. This will ensure pay equity with Ontario for all frontline health-care workers in the region, in order to stop the loss of staff to Ontario and attract more professionals, particularly nurses. A central pillar of our plan will be to expand the training of nurses and health-care professionals directly through our regional CEGEPs.
In response to the critical housing crisis, our goal is to have 100,000 homes built per year. Our plan also calls for the creation of 40,000 affordable rental units over five years to directly address the lack of affordability and rising costs.
Question: How do you plan to protect minority communities in Quebec? What would this mean in practical terms for institutions such as schools?
As a member of the First Nations and the son of a Francophone mother, this issue is deeply important to me. Protecting individuals' freedoms while ensuring the French language thrives is not a contradiction: it is at the very heart of the mandate of an MNA representing the Gatineau riding. For the past eight years, the CAQ has prioritized confrontation by pitting Quebec culture against the rights of our English-speaking and First Nations communities. At the Quebec Liberal Party, we reject this false choice. Our position is clear: pride in our language should never come at the expense of fundamental rights or our partnerships with Indigenous peoples.
Concretely, for our educational institutions, this means maintaining local governance by preserving the autonomous management of English-language school boards by their communities; removing the artificial enrolment caps imposed on English-language CEGEPs to restore students’ freedom of choice, while supporting our universities; and, offering accessible and accelerated French courses directly within the school system to ensure everyone’s success.
I believe the future of democracy in Quebec rests on respect for the rule of law, inclusion, and citizens’ trust in our institutions. For the Quebec Liberal Party, democracy thrives through strictly respecting the fundamental rights and minority rights guaranteed by the Charters, governance focused on unity, the integration of communities, and a nation-to-nation partnership with First Nations, and a strong affirmation of Quebec’s identity within Canada.
A strong democracy must bring Quebecers together, decentralize powers toward the regions, and modernize our public institutions.
Question: In your view, how should the provincial government support journalism and the long-term sustainability of local media?
Answer: Our democracy runs on local information. Regional newspapers such as The Bulletin in Aylmer and Gatineau are the true lifeblood of our communities, allowing citizens to stay connected to the realities around them. That is why the government must stop ignoring our local media and completely rethink how it distributes its advertising spending. Giving these independent newsrooms a fair and equitable share means ensuring journalism remains rooted in the community and investing directly in our region.
William Robertson — Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)
See the Coalition Avenir Québec's political team responses given by Pontiac candidate Mariana Mefleh.
Emmanuelle Tremblay — Québec Solidaire (QS)
See Québec Solidaire's political team responses given by Pontiac candidate Bianca Baldo.
Pontiac
Bianca Baldo — Québec solidaire (QS)
(Representing QS political team)
Question: How do you plan to protect minority communities in Quebec? What would this mean in practical terms for institutions such as schools?
Answer: The Pontiac and Gatineau Valley are home to well-established Anglophone communities. The City of Gatineau is the second-largest immigration hub in Quebec. Québec solidaire is proposing several measures to protect linguistic, sexual, religious and racialized minorities.
For the Anglophone community in the Outaouais, QS is committed to respecting its existing institutions, including its schools. The party recognizes and seeks to combat systemic and institutional racism and condemns discriminatory laws 21 and 94. Its immigration policies place a strong emphasis on human rights and dignity.
Québec solidaire is proposing a public school system for everyone: every student would have access to a genuinely free public school, without selection based on grades or abilities. No one would be excluded because of their academic results or abilities.
English-language schools would therefore continue to exist and remain part of the public school system. However, across all public schools, both English- and French-language, socioeconomic diversity would once again become the norm: students from different socioeconomic backgrounds would once again attend the same schools, as was the case in the past.
We would also restore the right to work for women who had to leave or give up jobs in education because of wearing religious symbols.
Question: In your view, how should the provincial government support journalism and the long-term viability of local media?
Answer: The future of democracy in Quebec depends on the health of its media and a strong system of democratic civic education.
In Pontiac, from Aylmer to Fort-Coulonge, in Petite-Nation and the Gatineau Valley, this reality is experienced firsthand: without local radio stations, newspapers and other media outlets telling the stories of what is happening in our communities, people lose an important tool for staying informed and participating in democratic life.
Our communities deserve strong local media capable of covering the issues that truly affect our neighbourhoods and village centres.
Québec solidaire is proposing the creation of a Quebec Media Fund, financed through a $75-million annual tax on digital giants such as Meta and Google and managed by a committee independent of government.
We can see the situation clearly in the region. The Equity, the Pontiac newspaper since 1883, was sold in 2025 and could cease printing. The Bulletin d’Aylmer is struggling to find the funding needed to provide printed copies. Journal Les 2 Vallées, serving the Papineau RCM and eastern Gatineau, had to cease operations. Le Droit, which went digital in 2023, is facing similar difficulties.
The Media Fund would give them the means to continue.
Marcela Cazas — Parti Québécois (PQ)
Did not respond.
André Fortin — Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) - Incumbent
Question: What are your local priorities and concerns?
Answer: By far, health care is the number one issue I hear about. From seniors to young parents, newcomers to long-time residents, access to health care is the main concern in the constituency and throughout the region.
Our provincial platform is ambitious when it comes to health care. We want to establish a public telehealth platform so residents can speak easily and quickly with a health-care professional. This platform is not intended to replace consultations with health-care professionals, but rather to improve access when dealing with minor issues that do not require a visit to a doctor—for example, renewing a prescription, adjusting medication or completing documents requiring medical approval. It would also improve timely access to mental health resources.
More importantly, we are addressing a problem that particularly affects the Outaouais: we need more staff. Our region has fewer health-care workers per capita than any other region. This is partly because we do not train enough workers locally and because we lose many of them to Ontario, which offers attractive working conditions.
The shortage of staff explains why we have the longest wait times for emergency care and surgeries. This fall, the Cégep de l’Outaouais turned away 112 nursing applicants because it does not have enough spaces. The CAQ has rejected its infrastructure project over the past five years.
The Quebec Liberal Party would move forward with construction of the Cégep project to train more health-care workers here in the region. In addition—and this is the most important point—the Quebec Liberal Party proposes offering health-care workers in the Outaouais compensation equivalent to what is offered in Ontario. This measure is essential if we want to attract and retain staff in our region.
The Outaouais is a different region and needs solutions adapted to its specific needs.
Question: How will you protect minority communities in Quebec? What would this mean in practical terms for institutions such as schools?
Answer: By protecting Quebecers’ rights. Protecting minority rights is part of the role of an MNA in Pontiac. The Quebec Liberal Party fundamentally believes that it is not necessary to infringe on anyone’s rights to protect the French language. In our view, this is the approach the CAQ has taken over the past eight years.
The latest proposal from the CAQ and the PQ to prevent Francophones from attending English-language adult education and vocational training institutions should be abandoned. No government regulation should prevent someone from accessing education.
This type of policy does not improve the French language situation; it simply weakens Anglophone institutions and prevents adult students from accessing the program of their choice in our community.
In addition, we would remove the enrolment cap at English-language CEGEPs so that Heritage College could expand at the same pace as Cégep de l’Outaouais. Our region is growing. All our institutions must be able to grow with the population.
Quebec has all the tools necessary to have a healthy and open democracy. We have institutions that deserve to be protected, an accountable government and independent media. But we cannot take these things for granted.
Candidates have a role to play in strengthening our democracy, including by participating in local debates and answering questions from local journalists.
Question: In your view, how should the provincial government support journalism and the long-term viability of local media?
Answer: First, by recognizing that residents get their information from independent and local media. These media outlets reach residents directly in many communities throughout Quebec, as they do here in Aylmer with the Bulletin. As such, independent and local media should receive their fair share of government advertising.
Mariana Mefleh — Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)
(Responses for CAQ political team)
Question: What are your local priorities and concerns?
Answer: Health care is clearly the number one priority in Pontiac. In rural areas, the issue is even more pressing: when you live far from major centres, having access to a CLSC, a nurse practitioner or primary care services close to home can make all the difference.
Our government has already taken important steps: bonuses to attract and retain staff, investments in our facilities, and $70 million to create a Health Hub with UQO to train more professionals here and keep them in the region. We have also begun preparatory work for the future hospital at the Asticou site.
But we need to go further, particularly in rural areas. We want to strengthen access to CLSCs and primary care services in remote areas, including by expanding the role of nurse practitioners and other professionals.
We also want to accelerate access to surgeries and diagnostic imaging, including by using the private sector when wait times become too long, at no cost to patients.
Our priority has always been to continue catching up with the rest of the province in health care and ensure that residents, whether they live in Gatineau or Campbell’s Bay, can access the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Question: How do you plan to protect minority communities in Quebec? What would this mean in practical terms for institutions such as schools?
Answer: We are always vigilant in ensuring that minority rights are respected. Our priority is to find the right balance between protecting these rights and respecting our shared values in Quebec.
Our government has taken concrete steps, including creating the position of Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism. For us, every person must be able to fully participate in Quebec society while having their rights and our shared values respected.
In practical terms, we must first ensure that our schools are environments conducive to learning. This means promoting civility and creating environments free from bullying and discrimination.
Every student must be able to learn and grow in a healthy school environment, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, beliefs or gender.
The secularism law in the education system also strengthens these protections by prohibiting, among other things, bullying, violence, hatred and discrimination based on racism, sexual orientation, sexual identity, homophobia, a disability or a physical characteristic.
Democratic values are deeply rooted in Quebec society. Our parliamentary system allows every citizen to make their voice heard and choose both the government and the person who will represent the interests of their region.
Obviously, as a society, we must continue to protect our democracy and encourage civic participation. We want Quebec to maintain a strong democracy in which everyone can have their voice heard and participate in the decisions that shape our society.
Question: In your view, how should the provincial government support journalism and the long-term viability of local media?
Answer: We are aware of the significant challenges facing local media, particularly because of digital transformation, declining advertising revenues, distribution and dissemination challenges, as well as Meta’s blocking of news and the shift in advertising revenue toward major digital platforms.
Local and regional media play an essential role in our democracy: they understand the realities of our communities, inform the public and contribute to the vitality of our regions.
Our government already supports them, notably through the operating assistance program for community media, which supports the production of local and regional news and digital adaptation.
We want to continue supporting our media while respecting our ability to pay and, above all, their editorial independence.
Hull
Sacha Cannon — Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ)
1. Local priorities and concerns
a. What do citizens identify as their number one priority when you go door-to-door during the election campaign?
Without a doubt, their main priority is health-care services. Everyone is affected—young parents and seniors, newcomers and long-time residents alike. It is the issue that comes up constantly, whether I am canvassing door-to-door or visiting residences for seniors and retirees.
b. In concrete terms, how do you plan to address this priority if elected?
The urgent issue in the Outaouais is the staff shortage. We have fewer health-care workers per capita than any other region because we do not train enough of them here and we lose many to the working conditions in Ontario. This is the reason for our wait times—the longest in Quebec—in both emergency rooms and surgery. This shortfall of over a thousand positions is projected to widen to nearly three thousand by 2032 with the arrival of the CHAU (Outaouais University Hospital Centre).
This fall, the Cégep de l’Outaouais turned away 112 nursing applicants due to a lack of space, and the CAQ has been blocking its expansion project for five years. The Quebec Liberal Party will launch construction on this project to train more health-care staff right here in the region.
More importantly, the PLQ proposes—through legislation passed during its first term—wage parity with Ontario for staff in the Outaouais public health and social services network, with parity maintained over time through indexation. This is essential for attracting and retaining staff. Our region needs solutions tailored to its specific reality. I am making this a solemn commitment.
We also want to roll out a public, walk-in telehealth platform. This is not intended to replace your doctor, but rather to improve access for minor needs (such as prescription renewals or medication adjustments) and to make mental health resources available more quickly.
In the Outaouais, we pay our taxes to Quebec just like everyone else. It is time we received the services we are entitled to.
2. Minority communities and institutions in Quebec
a. How do you intend to protect minority communities in Quebec?
By protecting the rights of all Quebecers. Defending minority rights is part of the job description for an MNA representing the Outaouais. The Quebec Liberal Party fundamentally believes that we do not need to infringe upon anyone’s rights to protect the French language. Yet, that has been the CAQ’s approach for the past eight years. In our region—a bilingual area situated on the border—the English-speaking community has been rooted here for generations and is an integral part of our identity.
b. What would this mean in concrete terms for institutions such as schools?
Our commitment is clear: to maintain the current proportions of the French and English college networks, while preserving the freedom of adults to choose their post-secondary education, subject to available space. In practical terms, an adult should not be denied access to their program of choice. The recent proposal by the CAQ and the PQ—which would prevent Francophones from attending adult education or vocational training programs in English—runs counter to this principle and must be abandoned.
This approach also allows our institutions, such as Heritage College, to continue evolving alongside the region. We must also protect our English-language schools—such as those in the Western Quebec School Board—which serve as true pillars of the community.
3. Democracy and journalism in Quebec
a. In your view, what is the future of democracy in Quebec?
Quebec possesses all the tools for a healthy, open democracy: institutions worth protecting, an accountable government, and independent media. However, we cannot take this for granted. Candidates have a role to play by participating in local debates and answering questions from local journalists. We must also remain vigilant against fake news and foreign interference—very real threats facing all major democracies—and work with the federal government and other provinces to counter them.
b. In your view, how should the provincial government support journalism and the long-term viability of local media?
First, by recognizing that citizens rely on local, independent media for information. These outlets reach people directly in communities across Quebec—such as here thanks to The West Quebec Post. Consequently, local and independent media should receive their fair share of government advertising. A strong local press means a healthy democracy.
Anne-Marie Couturier — Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ)
Did not respond.
Paul Fauteux — Parti Québécois (PQ)
Did not respond.
Mariève Forest — Québec solidaire (QS)
See Québec Solidaire's political team responses given by Pontiac candidate Bianca Baldo.
Suzanne Tremblay — Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), Incumbent
See the Coalition Avenir Québec's political team responses given by Pontiac candidate Mariana Mefleh.
Chapleau
Denis Charron — Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ)
Did not respond.
Michel Langevin — Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ)
According to residents, what is their number one priority when you
go door to door during the election campaign?
The issue that clearly appears to be the top priority in my conversations with
residents is health care. After visiting several thousand homes, people have
shared stories about their experiences and disappointments when loved ones
have needed health-care services.
Many of these stories describe the inability of health-care professionals to
take care of patients quickly and effectively. People talk about endless waits
in emergency rooms. Several have told us that they now seek treatment in
Ontario, while others turn to private health care.
How do you plan to address this priority concretely if you are
elected?
The PLQ is proposing several regional measures to improve access to primary
care, including pay parity for all health-care workers across the Outaouais
region with workers in Ontario. Staff retention is the major issue at the heart
of the region’s health-care challenges. What we are missing are nurses.
We will also commit to constructing a fourth floor at the Félix-Leclerc campus
of Cégep de l’Outaouais during our first term. This year, the Cégep turned
away 112 candidates who wanted to enroll in nursing.
The CAQ’s promise to reduce emergency-room wait times has been a
resounding failure. We therefore believe that the telemedicine proposed by
the PLQ would be an appropriate measure to reduce wait times in the region’s
emergency rooms. In some minor cases, this approach would make it easier
to consult a health-care specialist. Statistics show that far too many patients
go to emergency rooms because they have no other options.
How do you plan to protect minority communities in Quebec?
I believe we need to stop treating minority communities in our society as
competitors. In Chapleau, people talk to me a lot about French and protecting
the language. That is important, but protecting French should not come at the
expense of minorities.
There can be coexistence and a balance to achieve. There is no need to
infringe on minority rights, as the CAQ has done in recent years.
What would this mean concretely for institutions such as schools?
We believe the CAQ’s proposal to prevent Francophone students from
attending English-language CEGEPs restricts students’ access to education.
As adults, the role of the state should be to promote education and allow our
young people to broaden their horizons.
The PLQ would allow CEGEP students to choose the language in which they
wish to pursue their education.
In your view, what is the future of democracy in Quebec?
As a trained journalist, I believe we are fortunate in Quebec. We have a
genuine democracy, as well as independent traditional media. I believe
journalism and the media should be encouraged in every part of the province,
while maintaining a transparent democratic process.
During an election campaign, for example, it is important for local media to
provide journalistic space to candidates from all parties so that the public can
make a more informed choice ahead of the election.
In your view, how should the provincial government support
journalism and the long-term sustainability of local media?
I see the difficulties facing several local media outlets as they struggle to
survive in a constantly changing environment. Local media need to receive
their fair share of government advertising investments, as well as financial
support through government programs.
Media outlets have a responsibility to put forward innovative tools and
platforms to improve the quality of both their products and their journalism.
In this context, governments should support them to preserve journalistic
neutrality as well as our democracy.
Mathieu Lévesque — Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), Incumbent
See the Coalition Avenir Québec's political team responses given by Pontiac candidate Mariana Mefleh.
Meixia Maltais — Parti Québécois (PQ)
Did not respond.
Doryan Pansanel — Québec solidaire (QS)
See Québec Solidaire's political team responses given by Pontiac candidate Bianca Baldo.
Papineau
Linda Gauthier — Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)
See the Coalition Avenir Québec's political team responses given by Pontiac candidate Mariana Mefleh.
Michel Kadri — Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ)
Did not respond.
Isabelle Millette — Parti Québécois (PQ)
Did not respond.
Benoît Renaud — Québec solidaire (QS)
See Québec Solidaire's political team responses given by Pontiac candidate Bianca Baldo.
Isabelle Sabourin — Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ)
Did not respond.
