Provincial elections: why is the riding of Sherbrooke so coveted?


The CAQ would like to win the riding of Sherbrooke, held by the member for Québec solidaire, Christine Labrie; it is the only one that it does not hold in Estrie. A gain would further consolidate its hold on the regions of Quebec. But, is this ambition within the reach of the Caquists? Not impossible, believes political scientist Emmanuel Choquette, who believes that even if the supportive MP is in a good position, she should not take anything for granted.

The member for Sherbrooke, who is completing a first term in the National Assembly, seems visibly up for it. The one who has shown herself to be combative in recent years says she is ready to do battle with the CAQ.

I am a pebble in their shoes. That, I know. That they covet Sherbrooke doesn’t surprise me. I don’t think in their ideal world, I wouldn’t bother them anymore, but I intend to continue what I started. »

A quote from Christine Labrie, MNA for Québec solidaire in Sherbrooke

Emmanuel Choquette believes that the CAQ is susceptible to criticism and that the attacks made by the member for Sherbrooke and her party often hit their mark. There is an impatience that is often expressed on the part of Québec solidaire and Christine Labrie with regard to the Coalition avenir Québec, which is not well received, in particular by François Legault. His temperament, we know it. We know that when he is stung and upset, it shows. This is the kind of maneuver that we are going to provoke in a certain way. The opposition and Mrs. Labrie will not hesitate to do so knowing that it makes the image look a little bad [du premier ministre].

Christine Labrie grants an interview sitting on a bench at the Marché de la gare.

The solidarity member for Sherbrooke, Christine Labrie, is eager to debate the results of the Coalition avenir Québec.

Photo: Radio-Canada / ANDRE VUILLEMIN

Without wanting to make it a personal issue for Christine Labrie, François Bonnardel, the minister responsible for the Estrie region and MP for Granby, confirms that his party would like to win the riding of Sherbrooke. Absolutely. It’s our capital in the Eastern Townships, in Estrie, so we definitely want to win Sherbrooke in the next election. We will put all our efforts into it.

In the last elections in 2018, Christine Labrie won with a comfortable majority of nearly 3,500 votes ahead of Liberal Minister Luc Fortin, closely followed by the candidate of the CAQ at the time, Bruno Vachon. This time, the battle will obviously be between Québec solidaire and the CAQ. And the games are far from over, according to political scientist Emmanuel Choquette.

It is possible, because Sherbrooke is a land that fluctuates. It was Liberal for a long time under Jean Charest, but it was also PQ. There, it’s Québec solidaire, so then, deep partisan roots? It’s not super clear. »

A quote from Emmanuel Choquette, political scientist

To face Christine Labrie in Sherbrooke, the names of a few star candidates are circulating, such as that of the former mayor of Longueuil, Caroline St-Hilaire. A rumor that François Bonnardel refuses to confirm. We will know in the coming weeks our candidate, who will be announced. I can’t wait to do ithe just says.

Transport Minister François Bonnardel seated during a press conference.

The Minister of Transport, François Bonnardel, refuses for the moment to confirm whether the former mayor of Longueuil, Caroline St-Hilaire, will be a candidate in Sherbrooke.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers

Whether it’s Caroline St-Hilaire or someone else, that person will have to defend the record of the CAQ, replies Christine Labrie. I look forward to debating with some candidates from the CAQ of that government’s record. I did not feel that it really responded to the problems experienced by citizens.

However, the popularity of François Legault and his party is undeniable after a first term marked by three years of pandemic. A favorable situation which attracts potential candidates tempted by the political adventure, believes Emmanuel Choquette.

It opens the door to star candidates. People may be interested in running for the Coalition avenir Québec because it has the wind in its sails. She enjoys a positive aura, at least when you look at the opinion polls. It is a great opportunity to be elected and to be in power.

Never mind, Christine Labrie has every intention of confronting the caquists with important files which, she believes, have dragged on. We are well equipped with arguments to show that they made big mistakes by denying major problems for a long time, such as the housing crisis, the crisis in educational childcare services. They took so long to address these issues.

The challenge, for the Minister of the Family, was to have new places on the Quebec territory, retorts François Bonnardel. As for our region, near Sherbrooke, we are talking about 22 CPEs. We are talking about more than 1,000 new places that were announced last fall and we will also need new places in the coming years to be able to meet the needs of families.

The CAQ can also count on strong candidates / ministers like François Bonnardel and Isabelle Charest, which can have an effect on the choice of voters in Sherbrooke believes Emmanuel Choquette. It’s not won, because we are surrounded in Sherbrooke by caquistes and we know that the CAQ could still make gains in regions of Quebec.

François Bonnardel, Minister responsible for Estrie, and Gilles Bélanger, Caquiste MP for Orford

Estrie is caquiste everywhere, except in Sherbrooke. François Bonnardel, Minister responsible for Estrie, and Gilles Bélanger, Caquiste MP for Orford

Photo: Radio-Canada

A progressive wind is still blowing in Sherbrooke, says the political scientist, thanks in part to the presence of many post-secondary institutions, including two universities. A context favoring Christine Labrie, who believes for her part that even in the opposition, she and her party have succeeded in moving the government of François Legault on certain questions more to the left. We are still talking about a government that came before the voters with absolutely no environmental plan. They weren’t interested. There have been historical manifestations. There have been regular political pressures in the National Assembly, then they have just legislated to prohibit the exploitation of hydrocarbons in Quebec. It was not panty in their game planinsists the deputy.

At the same time, in a period of uncertainty marked by inflation, the war in Ukraine, a pandemic that is easing but still present, voters like a certain stability, notes Emmanuel Choquette. In this regard, the CAQ has a favorable record, according to him. Elements that often lead us to turn to something comfortinghe explains.

There was a media eclipse. François Legault and his team were put forward [lors de la gestion de la pandémie]. It is an element, which even [s’il y a eu des critiques]can be favorable to [la CAQ]. »

A quote from Emmanuel Choquette, political scientist

However, there is a portion of the population that has bullied the government because of the health measures. Emmanuel Choquette believes that these citizens – who have loudly trumpeted their dissatisfaction – risk turning to Éric Duhaime’s Conservative Party of Quebec. This party is growing exponentially, according to its leader. From 500 members, the party would have grown to 50,000. Eric Duhaime was also invited to the three leaders’ debates, both in French and in English. However, it is difficult to measure how this impact will materialize at the time of the election. . Now how far could the party shine in Quebec and win one or two seats in the National Assembly? The political future is always difficult to predict, but it would be amazingbelieves Emmanuel Choquette.

From left to right, Michel Kadri, Éric Duhaime and Marc Carrière during a press conference.

Éric Duhaime, the leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, believes that his political party could surprise in the next provincial election.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Nathalie Tremblay

Me, I think we’re going to get a lot more than that, says chef Éric Duhaime. The one who plans to have representatives in all the ridings of Quebec believes that his party could cause surprise, as Quebec solidaire did in 2018, by achieving unexpected breakthroughs. I think that during the last election, very few people predicted that Québec solidaire would be able to win the riding of Sherbrooke. Yet they succeededpoints out Éric Duhaime, who intends to present his candidate in Sherbrooke in the next few weeks.

[Une élection à] five parties, we’ve never experienced that in our lifetime. What that means is that the slightest bit that the vote is split, a candidate can sneak in and be elected MP. »

A quote from Éric Duhaime, leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec

For the Parti Québécois (PQ) and the Liberal Party (PLQ) of Quebec, the task promises to be difficult, since, as Emmanuel Choquette points out, they are the only political parties that do not record any growth in voting intentions. for the moment. The president of the Liberal Association in Sherbrooke, Jacqueline Fortier, is still optimistic, despite the difficulties of her political training. I know we have work to do, but by doing it well, then by working hard, we will win back the county. Why work if there is no hope of returning to the constituency? explains the Liberal, who cannot confirm for the moment the name of the candidate who will represent the QLP in Sherbrooke. It is also unknown for the moment who will represent the QP in this constituency, the party not having returned our appeal.

Convinced that the message of Québec solidaire carries more and more, Christine Labrie believes for her part in the chances of her party not only to keep Sherbrooke, but even to go and grab other ridings in Estrie. All the candidates are chosen; the remaining nomination meetings, including his own, will take place in the coming weeks. We are going to carry out a very intense campaign. Our teams are already at work. Recruitment of volunteers is going well. For us, it has already begunshe concludes.



Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca

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