By-election in Arthabaska: CAQ record criticized in debate

Health, economy, housing, immigration: the CAQ's record was criticized on Monday in a debate between the main candidates in the by-election in Arthabaska.

• Also read: By-election: ten candidates selected for the Arthabaska constituency

• Also read: By-election in Arthabaska-L'Érable: PQ candidate Alex Boissonneault is banking on voter dissatisfaction

• Also read: By-election in Arthabaska-L'Érable: Duhaime campaigning with the cowboys

The event, broadcast on Arsenal Media's regional radio stations, was the only opportunity to hear the various parties clash in the election called in the middle of summer by Prime Minister François Legault.

According to a Segma poll commissioned by the PQ, the CAQ could suffer a resounding defeat in this Centre-du-Québec riding, with only 3% of voting intentions, compared to 42% for the Parti Québécois and 41% for the Conservative Party of Quebec.

Conservative leader Éric Duhaime summed up the issue this way in his closing remarks. "On August 11, you have the power to send a message to François Legault," he declared, himself a candidate for his political party.

"It can't go on like this," said the Conservative leader, citing the $13 billion budget deficit, Quebec's downgrade, the SAAQclic fiasco, lost investments in Northvolt and Lion Electric, as well as the lack of health and education services.

"Electing a leader in a constituency comes with privileges. When I stand up in the National Assembly, it will be the Prime Minister who answers me," he argued.

His main opponent, PQ candidate Alex Boissonneault, points out that his party is leading in the polls for next year's general election.

"We are preparing to form a government in 2026. It would be good if Arthabaska were on board," he stressed.

The former radio host also noted that he grew up in this riding in Centre-du-Québec, unlike Mr. Duhaime.

Same issues

In Arthabaska, the issues heard by the candidates are the same as elsewhere in Quebec.

The lack of access to healthcare and the centralization brought about by the new Santé Québec agency were particularly criticized. "We want to bring decision-making closer to the field to rehumanize the network," says Alex Boissonneault.

"The current mix and hiring of top guns is not going to solve the problem," said Éric Duhaime.

CAQ candidate Keven Brasseur defended his party, countering that the Legault government has invested in training more family doctors and nurses, particularly through the Perspectives Québec scholarships. "There's a shortage of staff," he said.

The glaring housing shortage in the riding was also addressed. Québec Solidaire is proposing to build "50,000 non-market housing units, both social and cooperative, over five years," emphasized its candidate, Pascale Fortin.

Immigration

For Alex Boissonneault, immigration is partly responsible for this housing crisis.

In a foretaste of the discussions to come on the provincial scene, the CAQ candidate did not hesitate to attack the new Liberal leader, Pablo Rodriguez, for having "contributed to this problem" when he was part of the Trudeau government.

"No, Pablo has always defended Quebec's interests in Ottawa," assured Liberal candidate Chantale Marchand.