An Open Letter to the Right Honourable Prime Minister:

Please Appoint a Cabinet Minister from the Outaouais!       

Dear Justin, 

Granted that a lot of water has passed under the bridge since our interview on August 22nd: Losing your majority Liberal government status with only 33.1% of the popular vote to the Conservatives’ 34.44%, and going from 184 seats in 2015 to only 157. The Conservatives gained 22 seats going from 99 to 121 seats. 

Seriously, Justin, there is a significant national problem: 66.9% (more than two-thirds) of Canadian voters did not vote for your Liberal Party. Even if you formed a progressive government coalition with Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party that garnered 24 seats and 15.9% of the popular vote, you would attain a majority of 181 seats, but still have only 49% of the popular vote. 

You would also need to court Elizabeth May’s Green Party’s three seats and 6.5% of the popular vote to have a progressive government coalition with a majority of 184 seats representing 55.5% of the popular vote. This would give you a coalition of as many seats as you won in the 2015 general election. You have had on your back benches: Greg Fergus in Hull-Aylmer, William Amos in Pontiac, Steven MacKinnon in Gatineau, and Stéphane Lauzon in Argenteuil-La-Petit-Nation. These four gentlemen have provided stalwart support for you and your party for four long years under your leadership. 

I know that you are a very busy man and that your advisors have not always provided you with the best of advice. So let me take this opportunity to reintroduce to you: the four candidates for cabinet minister from the region of the Outaouais. 

Greg Fergus has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government in 2019, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development from 2015 until 2017, and on the Committees of Finance from 2017 until 2019, Government Operations and Estimates in 2019, and Public Accounts in 2019. 

Will Amos has served on the Committees of Indigenous and Northern Affairs from 2017 until 2019, Environment and Sustainable Development from 2016 until 2019, and Library of Parliament from 2016 until 2017. 

Steve MacKinnon has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility from 2018 until 2019, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement from 2017 until 2018, and on the Committees of Public Accounts from 2017 until 2019, General Operations and Estimates from 2017 until 2019, and Finance from 2016 until 2017. 

Stéphane Lauzon, a former City Councillor of la Ville de Gatineau from 2009 until 2015, served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence from 2018 until 2019, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities from 2015 until 2018, on the Committees of Veterans Affairs from 2018 until 2019, National Defence from 2018 until 2019, Human Resources, Skills and Social Development, and the Status of Persons with Disabilities from 2017 until 2018, and Canadian Heritage from 2017 until 2018. 

Mr. Prime Minister, please do NOT disappoint the population of the Outaouais region once again. We need our voice at the meetings of your cabinet. The Outaouais region has needs that are specific to our people. The voters of the Outaouais stuck with you and your four candidates. NOW is the time to return the favour!