Local Liberal MNAS unconcerned by departures but not ready to re-commit
Monday’s announcement that Richmond MNA Karine Vallières will not be seeking re-election this fall follows that of Saint-francois MNA Guy Hardy in January, as well as widespread but unconfirmed speculation that Orford MNA Pierre Reid will be stepping back from politics after this session. Each of those revelations is then added to that the fact that the region’s longest standing Liberal Party representative, Brome-missisquoi MNA Pierre Paradis, was kicked out of the Liberal caucus at the start of 2017.
While the loss or potential loss of these familiar faces on the local political landscape, combined with reports of growing support for the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) across the province, might raise questions about what the political scene in the Townships might look like on the morning of October 2, Vallières, Hardy and Mégantic MNA Ghislain Bolduc all told The Record that they feel the party remains strong in the region.
“This is not a decision we make based on polling,” Vallières said, adding that it is partly because things are going so well and she is so confident of Liberal party success in her riding that she has decided to step back. “I know people will be surprised, and that made the decision even harder for me because (the people of the riding) are like my second family.”
In both speaking with The Record and her initial announcement, the Richmond MNA affirmed her ongoing support for the Liberal Party and platform.
“To me, the liberal party is a solid vehicle, a party of deep values,” Vallières wrote, “It is my party and it will stay that way.”
Hardy, for his part, pointed out that both he and Vallières are leaving for what are clearly personal reasons.
“(Political life) gets to be hard on the nerves,” Hardy said. “If I had been ten or fifteen years younger I might have stayed on.”
Like his Richmond counterpart, however, the Saint-francois MNA had no concerns about support for the party in his region.
“We did good work and I think people will remember that,” Hardy said, reiterating his support for Coaticook Physiotherapist Charles Poulin, who has already announced his intention to run as Hardy’s successor in the Saint-francois riding with the support of that riding association.
Bolduc also said that he has no concerns for the vitality of the Liberal Party in the region or across the province.
“I think the Liberal Party is very healthy,” he said, sharing that although the Liberals used this mandate to focus on getting the provincial economy back on track through often controversial measures like restructuring the healthcare system, he feels that everything the party promised in 2014 is, “either done or on the way.”
Reflecting on the departure of his neighbouring MNAS, Bolduc said that bowing out due to personal reasons is far from being outside the life of a normal political career. Asked about concerns over the rise in popularity of the CAQ, the Mégantic MNA was dismissive.
“In rural counties like ours, someone can’t just walk in and try to get elected,” Bolduc said, stating that someone has to be present and known in the region to have a chance of election in a rural community.
The Mégantic representative said that he is still in the process of reflecting on his political future, but said that when he comes to a clear decision he will announce it publically.
Orford MNA Pierre Reid did not return the Record’s phone call by press time and Luc Fortin, who is Families Minister and Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region in addition to being MNA for Sherbrooke declined to give an interview to The Record regarding the future of the party in the Eastern Townships.
None of the Eastern Townships MNAS are currently listed as confirmed candidates for the October election on the Liberal Party’s website.