Editorial
This fall, this region needs
to elect effective advocates
In less than seven months, Quebecers will be voting in a provincial election. And the movers and shakers in this region are asleep at the switch.
Do you want to dispute that assessment? Go ahead. But answer this question: Who are the candidates who will be vying for your support?
The only declared runners are the incumbents — Marilyne Picard for the Coalition Avenir Québec in Soulanges and Marie-Claude Nicholls for the Liberals in Vaudreuil. There is no race with only one candidate per riding.
Sure, there is an argument to be made that it’s too early to be out campaigning. That is not off base. But before there is a campaign, you still need a candidate. And given the poor pool of prospects who were put forward during the last provincial election, party organizers need to do better this time around.
Vaudreuil-Soulanges is one of the fastest-growing regions of the province. It is also a booming economic regional force. It is strategically located between Montreal and Ontario, a vital trade corridor.
The population increase here, according to the last census, showed a growth rate that outpaced both the provincial and national averages. In fact, Statistics Canada showed the Vaudreuil-Soulanges area even surpassed the growth rate of the Montérégie region, which includes 14 MRC districts that stretch from the Ontario border along the South Shore of Montreal to Brome-Missisquoi, and northeast to the Sorel area.
That was the 2021 census.
Since that time, this expansion has accelerated. So let’s not dwell on the past. Let’s look to the future. Every current indicator — housing demand, development plans, the opening of the new hospital and all the spinoffs it will trigger, job openings — point to a region maintaining a trajectory of growth.
That is the big picture.
Now, let’s drill down on the demographic data. Looking at the subcategories — in terms of age, education, income — Vaudreuil-Soulanges is young, educated, highly employed with strong household incomes and able to fully function in both French and English. Every way you cut it, this region deserve proper representation. It needs effective advocacy, as all this growth needs to be accommodated. Municipal officials are managing thegrowth, but it is the higher levels of government that will fuel the support to build the infrastructure: both the physical infrastructure — the roads and schools — and the structural infrastructure — the services, funding support and policy initiatives that will help towns and community groups manage the growing needs.
With all the polls showing the likelihood that the CAQ will be booted out of government, the Liberal party has an opportunity. But it needs to recognize the region’s full potential and importance and not simply view it as a place to parachute someone into. This region needs a boots-on-the-ground advocate that brings a full-range of understanding, talents and experience to the conversation, someone who also possesses the basic courtesy and ability to at least say a few words in English in public. This takes nothing away from functioning fully in French.
The polls reflect a strong sentiment for change. Parties need to recognize that, including that doing things the same old way won’t cut it. Political arrogance has fallen out of fashion. Respectful, informed competence is in. The times demand it.
And it is time that Vaudreuil-Soulanges be given the opportunity to earn its place at the big table. But it has to have the right advocates to fight for it, to make its case, to frame its vision, to formulate and articulate a plan. And in doing so, reflect its future of possibility. This is not an arena where a well-connected party insider from somewhere else, or an aspiring hopeful who has not accomplished anything should be allowed to pretend. There is too much on the line, too much that needs to accomplished.
And time is running short.
All parties will be running candidates in the next election. They always do. But in this region, they have to do better than what they have shown in the past. Look at the mess this province is in. We can’t afford to waste the chance to be better.
Brenda O’Farrell
Editor-in-chief