Starting this weekend, the New Democratic Party (NDP) will carry out explicit and direct attacks against the Minister of the Environment and Member of Parliament for the Montreal riding of Laurier–Sainte-Marie, Steven Guilbeault, whom they make “the priority to win the seat in the next election.
The former environmental activist has changed a lot from his days climbing the CN Tower in Toronto, NDP Quebec Lieutenant Alexandre Boulerice slammed, portraying an “incoherent” politician who “talks about both sides of the mouth” to the point of inviting “the wolves in the sheepfold”, in reference to the lobbyists of the oil industry who were to participate this week in activities at the Canadian pavilion during the COP27, in Egypt.
Mr. Boulerice, who is the only New Democrat MP in Quebec, will have his riding neighbor in mind on Saturday and his leader, Jagmeet Singh, will do the same the next day when they will both speak at the convention of the Quebec section of the NDP.
The event is being held in Montreal, precisely in the riding concerned, which will mark the beginning of this rebellion. And Alexandre Boulerice’s knives were already well sharpened during an interview with The Canadian Press.
“The federal government is still not reaching its greenhouse gas reduction targets,” he said. The oil and gas companies are still being subsidized. It adds new subsidies with tax credits on new carbon capture technologies. It continues Trans Mountain. He signs Bay du Nord, which is a new extraction off the coast of Newfoundland.”
Mr. Singh was also happy to draw in an interview “several examples of the contrast between what he has done in the past and what he is doing now in power”.
New Democrats believe that the seat of Laurier–Sainte-Marie is within reach. In previous federal elections, Mr. Guilbeault won 38.0% of the vote, against 32.9% for his opponent Nimâ Machouf who wore the colors of the NPD.
This riding is just the first of a long list of places where the Progressive Party intends to focus its efforts. The focus will be on areas where a base of support exists, Singh said.
“I have done a lot of tours in Montreal and I continue to receive a great positive reception, he evoked. My goal is to become prime minister. And to become the next prime minister, I have to win in Quebec.”
The New Democrat leader believes that his party has “delivered the goods” by obtaining “great victories” thanks to the agreement reached with the Liberals. He bragged about ‘forcing’ Justin Trudeau’s government to implement a program to provide free dental care to children under 12 and include a one-time $500 supplement to the Canada Allowance housing assistance.
“I want to show Quebecers that we are here for you,” he said. We can do more and we’re really the only option if you want to replace Justin Trudeau and you don’t like the comments [du chef conservateur] Pierre Poilievre.
Where are the young people?
The targets are “clear” and “realistic”, specified Alexandre Boulerice, who knows well that the minority government could fall if the agreement which allows the Liberals to stay in power is torn up and that the government then fails the test of a vote of confidence.
The NDP wants to make gains in the metropolis, particularly in Outremont and Hochelaga, in Sherbrooke where MNA Elisabeth Brière is seen as a weak link, as well as in the ridings in the center of Quebec City.
He notes that his message speaks to 18 to 34 year olds and thus sees fertile ground in areas where universities are located. “Young people are thirsty for climate justice, for social justice,” said Mr. Boulerice. And on these issues, the NDP is really at the front, we are credible, then we have proposals that are interesting, that resonate.”
MM. Boulerice and Singh both refused to come forward on a quantified objective of seats in Quebec. In the last election, the Liberals won 35, the Bloc 32 and the Conservatives 10. Although the NDP only won one, it still won 9.8% of the vote.
In 2011, the party had achieved the best performance in its history under the leadership of Jack Layton to the point of conquering the official opposition in the House of Commons with its 103 seats, more than half of which were from Quebec.
New Democrats want to be ready for the next election as soon as possible. The machine is already in motion, we are assured. The party is recruiting volunteers, organizing funding, updating its database.
There is “no one” who would want a federal election to be called when the government has only been in power for a year, noted Mr. Boulerice. He believes his party has time ahead of it, but doesn’t know if it will make it to 2025.
“I don’t have a crystal ball, but it really depends on whether the Liberals fulfill the commitments of the agreement, yes or no. If they don’t, we pull the ‘plug’,” he said.