Québec solidaire chooses its three candidates from the region for the next election

Party activists invested the three candidates in the region over the weekend. On Saturday, in Rouyn-Noranda, MP Émilise Lessard-Therrien, then in La Sarre, Alexis Lapierre, were chosen to represent the ridings of Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue and Abitibi-Ouest respectively. Sunday, in Val-d’Or, it was the turn of Benjamin Gingras for Abitibi-Est.

Present at the three nominations, the co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois first recalled on Sunday the importance of the region for his party.

When Émilise Lessard-Therrien entered the National Assembly, with her victory in Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue, it demonstrated to all those who still doubted that Québec solidaire is a party that is established everywhere, that ‘we have solidarity in the region ready to defend the issues that are those of Abitibi-Témiscaminguehe says.

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois from Québec solidaire passing through Val-d’Or.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Martin Guindon

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois affirms that these new candidates will vigorously defend the interests of the region, as MNA Émilise Lessard-Therrien has done since 2018.

I think Émilise has demonstrated that those in solidarity fight with conviction, with passion, and in a refreshing way for their world, for their region. Many people in Abitibi-Témiscamingue turned to Émilise, even outside her riding, to advance their causes, their issues, because the CAQ deputies were more interested in defending François Legault in Abitibi-Témiscamingue than to defend Abitibi-Témiscamingue with François Legaultinsists the co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire.

Ready for a second term

The outgoing MP and candidate for Québec solidaire in Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue, Émilise Lessard-Therrien.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Martin Guindon

Childcare services, housing, the labor shortage and especially health are at the heart of the issues that Émilise Lessard-Therrien intends to defend in Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue if she is re-elected on October 3.

Health will remain one of my priority issues, because the situation since 2018 has only deteriorated. A year and a half ago, we were at least 250 nurses, and now we are at least 330 nurses. That’s services that can’t open in our region, the cancer center is an example in Rouyn-Norandashe believes.

The MP for Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue also argued that there were no advantages to electing MPs from within the party in power. In fact, the party in power flatly denied our stakes in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. They refused to recognize that we are experiencing a crisis in the health network. They refused to recognize that there is a housing crisis in the region. That’s why I’m running for another term, and that’s why I’m very happy today to be surrounded by two excellent candidates to defend the colors of Québec solidaire in Abitibi-Est and Abitibi- Westshe argues.

Homelessness, mental health and reconciliation

Benjamin Gingras, Quebec solidaire candidate in Abitibi-Est.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Martin Guindon

Benjamin Gingras says he is deeply attached to his region and says he finds within Québec solidaire the values ​​of social justice that he has always defended. He also knew Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois during the student demonstrations of 2012. He also met the candidate in Abitibi-Ouest, Alexis Lapierre, during his studies in psychology at UQAM.

I bring my expertise in mental health. I practice as a neuropsychologist, I am involved in the field of homelessness as well. I think that as a member of a united government, I can be part of the solution, make proposals and implement the Québec solidaire social project which is essential for the 21st century in a region like Abitibi. -Temiscaminguehe says.

Both a non-native and a member of the Anishinabe nation, registered with the Timiskaming First Nation, he also wishes to work for the reconciliation of peoples.

I think that the fact that I have one foot in both communities puts me in a unique position to try to build more harmonious ties between the communities here, so that Abitibi-Témiscamingue is the model for living together, of cohabitation and sharing of territory which will be essential for the social project of Québec solidaire to be able to be deployedbelieves Benjamin Gingras.