At the edge of the 43e legislature, The duty invited outgoing MEPs to give some advice to recruits to help them avoid getting lost in the maze of the political world. Fifth and last handover between Marguerite Blais and Maïté Blanchette Vézina.
“The title of minister is lent to us temporarily, it’s a privilege, it’s exceptional”, said the former elected first liberal then caquiste Marguerite Blais to Maïté Blanchette Vézina, who was brought to the head of the ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on October 20.
In his political debut under the Liberal banner in 2007, Mme Blais recalls a suggestion by then Prime Minister Jean Charest. “We are at the Council of Ministers and he says: ‘I have advice to give you, my advice is to keep your driving license'”, she says, before bursting out laughing. Translation: the position of minister, which comes with a company vehicle, is “not acquired”, affirms the former minister responsible for seniors, who returned to politics in 2018 with the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ).
During the virtual exchange, the 72-year-old ex-politician immediately admits to being “uncomfortable” to pass on her knowledge to the business law lawyer and former mayor of Sainte-Luce in Bas-Saint -Laurent. “Who am I to give advice to someone else? “But quickly, Marguerite Blais connects anecdotes and recommendations intended for the new elected caquist in Rimouski.
She invites M.me Blanchette Vézina to take care of the “disappointed” elected officials who did not have a chance to be appointed to the Council of Ministers. In caucus, “it is very important to sit down with the MPs and not to be seated around the same table with the ministers together. I don’t know why, people have a tendency to do that, but I don’t think it’s the right way to do it. »
The 37-year-old woman listens carefully to the words of the woman who sat in the National Assembly from 2007 to 2015 and 2018 to 2022. The rookie says she perceives the work in the Parliament’s Blue Room as being “very solemn and precious”.
Not being in your “bubble”
If the work at the National Assembly is very important, we must make sure to stay abreast of the reality on the ground, underlines Marguerite Blais. “Not being in our bubble, that’s important. »
“Thank you for telling me,” replies M.me Blanchette Vezina. The latter has every intention of following this recommendation to the letter so as not to get “carried away” by political life and forget “what is important”.
The pace of work for ministers criss-crossing Quebec is frantic, says Ms.me Blais. “There’s a myth: people think that we’re always in the big ‘fancy’ restaurants. We don’t have time to go to restaurants. Finally, it’s Tim Hortons. »
“Or Subway”, adds Mme Blanchette Vezina. Most of the time, the new congresswoman eats “four or five bites” of a cafeteria meal before being caught up in work. “There is always something. »
“How do you manage Maïté to have so much time to talk to me this morning? ” then jokes Mme Blais to the minister who is also responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions.
The elected official retorts with a laugh that the exchange has been put on her agenda as “time to reflect” after the last “very busy” weeks. Although she normally deals with constituency issues on Monday mornings, her team has agreed to let her attend the meeting. “Talking about other things makes me feel good too. »
“Protect” the family
As a next piece of advice, Marguerite Blais reminds us in a serious tone that the family is “very, very important” and that we must “protect it”. “I know a politician who was a minister for 4 years and he didn’t take care of his wife. After 4 years, when he returned to the fold, his wife said: “It’s valuable, I learned for 4 years to live on my own and then I made this choice”. He lost his wife. »
You don’t need to work until the wee hours of the morning to be a good MP, adds the holder of a post-doctorate in communications. “You have to take the time to sleep, you have to take the time to take care of yourself, to take care of your family,” she said, before putting her dog Rubis, a Yorkshire who weighs heavily, on her knees. 3 and a half pounds.
Maïté Blanchette Vézina mentions having a golden retriever, named Fraser, whom she cannot hold in her arms. When she returns home to Rimouski, usually on Thursday evenings, her hairy companion is waiting for her outside the window, she says.
The more often she can be with her family, the better off she is, she says. When she is in her city, she wants to do her grocery shopping and “stay the mother” of her two children aged 6 and 8.
At the very end of the exchange, Mr.me Blais goes from formal to informal to address the Minister. “My beautiful Maïté, I didn’t have the chance to meet you, but I wish you all the happiness possible,” she said, before miming a heart with her hands. And take advantage of these magical moments of life in politics to do good. »
Because partisan politics “where we argue” is not the cup of tea of the ex-elected. But by being a minister, the recruit will be able to “change the lives of citizens” by tabling bills and action plans, she specifies. “I intend to dwell on it with all my heart,” replies Maïté Blanchette Vézina.