(Ottawa) The fight against climate change must be at the heart of parliamentary debates in Ottawa, believes the independent MP and former political lieutenant of the Conservative Party in Quebec, Alain Rayes.
This is why he supports Deputy Green Party Leader Jonathan Pedneault, who is trying to enter the House of Commons in the by-election to be held on Monday, June 19 in the riding of Notre- Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount.
Rayes, who quit the Conservative Party last September following Pierre Poilievre’s leadership victory, said Parliament needs another strong voice on the environment file. And he says the House of Commons would benefit from hearing the voice of Jonathan Pedneault, who has been co-leader of the Green Party since last November with Elizabeth May.
A victory for Mr. Pedneault in this riding recognized as a Liberal bastion would send a powerful signal to the whole country and would force all political parties to redo their homework on the issue of climate change, he argued in a interview given to The Press.
The climate change crisis, which is confirmed by the proliferation of extreme events such as floods, unprecedented forest fires or periods of heat that affect several regions of the country, requires that we tackle this file with force, according to him.
“I have been in politics for 15 years. […] and I am being called upon urgently by citizens who are increasingly concerned about the environment, climate change, energy transition or sustainable development,” explained the Independent MNA for Richmond-Arthabaska.
“Unfortunately, that voice is not necessarily heard with all the vigor it needs in the Canadian Parliament. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and fellow Green MP Mike Morrice are hard at work. They are a bit like the green conscience of Parliament. The voters of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount have an opportunity to send a strong voice to Parliament that would urge all political parties, as the next election approaches, to work on their platform to deliver something that meets the concerns of all Canadians,” he said.
“A whole personal baggage”
Mr. Rayes said he had met Jonathan Pedneault a few times in the past and said he was impressed by the ideas of the young co-leader and his track record. Aged 32 and originally from Longueuil, Mr. Pedneault is a human rights expert who has worked as a journalist and as an investigator for Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. He has traveled to conflict zones, including Afghanistan and more recently Ukraine.
“He is young, dynamic and he has a whole personal background. He is pragmatic, and that is very much in line with my vision of the environment. […] Quebec, which calls itself progressive, which calls itself green, which has always been avant-garde in its social policies, could send a strong signal by electing him,” argued Mr. Rayes.
The main interested party said he was happy with the formal support of Alain Rayes.
“Alain Rayes showed extraordinary courage in leaving the Conservative caucus following the election of Pierre Poilievre. He did it by following his conscience and by demonstrating a moral force that is often sorely lacking in Parliament. I am moved and proud to receive his support today. Whether you are left, center or right, sovereigntist or federalist, we can no longer ignore the climate emergency and the need to go beyond partisan considerations to protect the population and the planet,” said Ms. .Pedneault to The Press.
Mr. Rayes is not ruling out campaigning with Mr. Pedneault by June 19. As for his future, he says his only priority at the moment is to complete his term.
The riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount has been vacant since the resignation of former Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau on March 8. The latter was removed from the cabinet by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the 2021 federal election.
Anna Gainey, former president of the Liberal Party of Canada and daughter of former Montreal Canadiens hockey player Bob Gainey, is running for the Liberal Party in this riding.
In all, by-elections are taking place in four ridings across the country on June 19. The other by-elections are held in the ridings of Oxford, Ontario, Portage-Lisgar and Winnipeg South Center, Manitoba.