Liberal incumbent believes in civil politicking
‘I pride myself on being ethical and honest’: Kelley
It was yet another unseasonably frigid spring morning and incumbent Liberal candidate in the West Island riding of Jacques-Cartier, Geoffrey Kelley, was shaking hands and chatting with commuters at the Valois train station.
“You’ve already got my vote,” one man said as he paused on his way to catch a Montreal-bound train.
It was the third of seven train stations Kelley will visit before the April 7 provincial election.
“Keep up the good work,” a woman shouted from her van as she drove by.
Kelley was first elected in the Jacques-Cartier riding in 1994. He is the highestranking West Island MNA in the former legislature and, along with Liberal MNA François Ouimet from the Marquette riding, has served for six uninterrupted mandates.
He was minister for Native Affairs from 2005-2007 and was the president of the official opposition caucus in the former legislature.
Kelley has watched the political tone transform over his almost 20 years in office.
“When I first started, I would receive hand-written letters. There was a certain formality,” he said. “Social media has changed the tone. Now, I receive long emails written at 3 a.m. I don’t mind getting the emails, but there is such immediacy to today’s correspondence. So many of the emails have such attitude right off the bat. The tone was more civil back in the day.”
Door-to-door campaigning has been kept to a minimum in the cold weather, but Kelley has been visiting seniors’ residences, attending community functions, spending time at his riding office at 153 Cartier Ave., and talking to young voters every chance he can get. (There is a 5-à-7 at a local restaurant/ pub for young voters Friday. Call 514-695-9898 for details.)
Kelley received 73 per cent of the votes in the 2012 election, with close to 20,000 votes separating him from his nearest opponent. He knows the ropes and is generous with his time, visiting 15 other ridings, so far, to lend support to new candidates and offer a measure of sage advice when asked.
Over a cup of coffee Tuesday, Kelley talked about the Liberal party’s commitment to federalism, to fiercely fighting elements in the proposed Charter of Values that contravene the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, to creating jobs and to strengthening the economy. He described the current political climate as “divisive.”
“We have to get away from one-against-the-other politics,” Kelley said — be it French vs. English, the regions vs. Montreal or de
souche vs. newcomer. “It is irresponsible to play to people’s prejudices.”
Corruption in politics is always a trigger for debate, and Kelley acknowledged the need for close scrutiny and investigation, but what he doesn’t appreciate is being painted as corrupt just because he is a politician.
“Painting everyone with the same broad brush is wrong,” he said. “I’m a politician, and I pride myself on being ethical and honest.”
In his own riding, Kelley spoke of pushing for more resources for the Lakeshore General Hospital, for the implementation of better commuter-train service for West Island and Off-Island residents — Kelley takes public transit to work — and the most efficient use of the Veterans’ Hospital facilities in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue.
West Islanders have been known to grumble about feeling taking for granted, but Kelley said he takes nothing about this upcoming election for granted and stressed the importance of big voter turnout.
Not only does is translate into money for the party — one vote is worth around $7 over a four-year mandate — it also cements strong popular-vote numbers which, in turn, can act as a deterrent to any future talks about a referendum on sovereignty.
“I feel the weight of my constituents,” Kelley said. “They don’t want the PQ to win. There is a great deal of stress.” Even after 20 years. Facing off against Kelley is PQ candidate Laurence Desroches, 23. She openly admits her challenge in Jacques-Cartier is an uphill battle.
A student studying political communication at Université du Québec à Montréal, Desroches grew up in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue and has been actively involved in the PQ youth wing of four years. She says she enjoys explaining the party stance to constituents.
“It’s a gratifying experience to meet the people in my riding. They were happy to see a young woman involved in politics,” Desroches said. “It’s not easy for a PQ candidate (in JacquesCartier riding), but I’m honoured to represent voters who support change.”
Coalition Avenir Québec candidate Denis Deguire did not respond to a request for an interview.