Legault targets West Island anglos
Coalition Avenir Québec Leader François Legault shook hands with West Islanders at the Marché de l’Ouest in Dollard-des- Ormeaux Saturday morning in an attempt to win support in an area long considered a Liberal stronghold.
He was accompanied by Laura Azéroual, the CAQ’s candidate for the Robert-Baldwin riding that includes D.D.O. and part of Pierrefonds. The pair walked through the market, past flowers and fresh fruit, speaking to residents and posing for television cameras. Legault, who grew up in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, was quick to announce his West Island roots to shoppers and vendors.
“It’s time for the CAQ to get seats in the West Island,” said Azéroual, who also grew up in the West Island and currently lives with her parents in D.D.O. “I’m starting to realize that people are just tired of the Liberals.”
Legault announced his support for the REM light rail project and a desire for French and English speaking Quebecers to work together to better the economy. The CAQ leader also reinforced his claim that if elected, Quebec independence will not be on the table.
“We want to ask for more power from the federal government,” he said. “But never will a CAQ government hold a referendum on sovereignty.”
Azéroual is running as a firsttime candidate, challenging incumbent Liberal MNA, finance minister Carlos Leitão. She said she’s enjoying the campaigning process and is hopeful that on Oct. 1 West Islanders will see her and the CAQ as a viable option instead of the Liberals.
“I hope that the residents of the West Island will give us a chance to form government and give me a chance to represent them in the National Assembly,” she said. “The health system is horrible. We’ve been under a Liberal government for 15 years and that hasn’t led to anything good. Our schools are also not in good shape.”
Despite the CAQ’s message, some people who saw Legault in D.D.O. Saturday weren’t impressed.
Billy Doucet, who came to the market to buy berries, was surprised to see the politician.
“I turned around and there he was,” he said. Asked about his opinion of Legault, Doucet said “I don’t trust him.”
“I don’t know who (Legault) is,” said West Islander Peter Chirke. “It’s all lies. I don’t have time for that. They (politicians) just lie, lie, lie.”
But the CAQ’s message seemed to resonate with some people. Arnaud Vital, a D.D.O. resident, shook the leader’s hand. His son asked him who Legault was. “That’s the next premier of Quebec,” he responded.