(Quebec) The former mayor of Senneterre in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Jean-Maurice Matte, is thinking of defending the colors of the Liberal Party of Quebec in 2022. He sided with the Liberals this fall to denounce the lack of listening of the Legault government in the case of the closure of the Senneterre emergency.
“I am in reflection,” he confided on the sidelines of the members’ congress in Quebec where he traveled at the invitation of liberal members.
“When you are 19 years old mayor of a city, involved in the regional conference of elected officials, [l’Union des municipalités du Québec], it is certain that we are seen by the political parties. I had discussions with the Liberal Party, but nothing serious to say that yes I confirm a candidacy or not, ”he explained. Mr. Matte has indicated that he will make his decision after the holidays.
If he makes the leap with the Liberals, it will be to “better serve local communities at the level of public services”. He believes that the discourse of the Coalition Avenir Québec on the subject of decentralization “is not consistent” with their actions.
“The CAQ’s speech was to decentralize the state. The 5,000 jobs [de la fonction publique que le gouvernement Legault promet de ramener en région], we do not see them and what we are experiencing today is centralization, among other things of health care, ”he explained to Press. “As a former mayor, for a person who has been very involved in the regional environment, that rings a bell for me,” he added.
In October, he went to the National Assembly to denounce the reduction in emergency services in Senneterre in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where the labor shortage is glaring. He regretted that decisions were taken by the CISSS de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue without taking local solutions into account.
In the company of the chef Dominique Anglade, he had publicly transmitted his cell phone number to the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, since he could not get a meeting with him. Mr. Dubé subsequently moved to his region.
Senneterre is located in the constituency of Abitibi-Est, currently held by the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Pierre Dufour.