Camille-Laurin | The bet of St-Pierre Plamondon

Throughout the campaign, The Press visits to constituencies where nothing is decided, to meet voters, candidates and the issues that matter to them. Today: Camille-Laurin

Henri Ouellette-Vezina
The Press

A fierce battle is taking shape in Camille-Laurin, this eastern riding of Montreal formerly called Bourget, where infrastructure projects and challenges abound. The incumbent, caquiste Richard Campeau, admits that he faces more competition than in 2018, but does not intend to change his “campaign style” for all that.

“I don’t take anything for granted. I know very well that I won by 500 votes the last time,” breathes Mr. Campeau in an interview with The Press.

Four years ago, Richard Campeau, an engineer by training and a newcomer to politics, narrowly won against former PQ minister Maka Kotto. For four years, he was one of only two elected members of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) in Montreal, along with minister Chantal Rouleau. This time, it is the leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who will face him.

“It’s his right to be there. But am I going to make a stronger campaign for all that? No. We will continue to meet people, to make proposals for the next four years, ”says Mr. Campeau about his main rival.

The caquiste intends to make the portfolio of Quebecers a “priority” of his campaign. “What I hear the most are people complaining about inflation. They have real fears and are afraid of the future, of being unable to pay their rent,” he says, also citing the need to decontaminate the soil as quickly as possible. “We need targeted development. We want an ecological bubble, ”he insists.

Space to “express yourself”

Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon claims to be in the best position to represent the interests of voters. “After four years of the CAQ in Camille-Laurin, we can see it: on several issues such as the housing crisis, the REM, health, we had a deputy who did not have the space to express himself and who chose silence. Me, even if I am not Prime Minister, I will be Leader of the Opposition. And every time I challenge the government, its Prime Minister will have to stand up and answer my questions, ”he says.

“The first priority issue for me is the state of French in Montreal. I chose to present myself in Montreal because it takes a response to the height of this challenge. We are the only ones to say that we must go further, while all the others have lined up behind the CAQ law, ”he also insists.

At Québec solidaire, we are betting this year on lawyer and union advisor Marie-Eve Rancourt, with whom Chief Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois campaigned on Monday. Known for her opposition to the container terminal of Ray-Mont Logistiques, M^me Rancourt is surprised. “People know very little about Richard Campeau because he wasn’t very present, and those who know him were disappointed. Me, the issues, I know them because I live them, ”she says.

His central issue for the campaign: the environment. “It’s not just young people that are concerned. Even among the oldest, it comes up frequently: people want a government with strong measures against the climate crisis. They also want alternatives to the rising cost of living, housing, ”adds the solidarity candidate.

Coming from a community background, the liberal Christina Eyangos also intends to do well by bringing the issue of the labor shortage “back to the center of her campaign”. “It hits businesses and community organizations that provide essential services in neighborhoods. Already, here, the Frigo de l’Est must close its doors for a month. A gentleman confirmed to me that he doesn’t even know how he will hold out for a month. We have to act,” she said.

“Access to subsidized daycare is also crucial. If I hadn’t had my place as a mother, I might have considered the option of abortion, because I wouldn’t have had the means to finish my studies. In Quebec, it should no longer be a matter of luck, to have a place, ”adds M^me Eyangos, who promises to be a deputy “present at assemblies, consultations and in the population”.

Éric Duhaime’s curators present Christos Karteris, a son of restaurateurs established in Tétreaultville for 50 years. “I became aware during the health crisis that we must, all together, make major changes in Quebec. My goal is to respect the individual decisions and the rights of all citizens, ”explains Mr. Karteris on the party website.