2018 elections

Election marathon underway in Pontiac

They’re off! Party leaders were on the hustings across the province as the Quebec provincial election campaign was launched on August 23.
   
The Pontiac riding has been held by the Liberals since 1970. All the main parties, except the Parti Québécois, are presenting candidates in this riding for the coming election.
   
Roger Fleury is the candidate for the Green Party. At the age of 76, Mr Fleury grew up in the Pontiac and plans to focus on the environment. Mr Fleury ran previously for Mayor of Gatineau.
   
André Fortin, sitting MNA and Ministre des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l’Électrification des transports, hopes to be re-elected for the Liberal Party. Born in Quyon, this family man was appointed Minister in October 2017; he garnered 75% of the votes in the 2014 elections.
   
The new Nouveau Parti Démocratique du Québec is putting forth Samuel Gendron, a young man from the area who studies economy and politics at the Université de Montréal.

The Coalition Avenir Québec, leading the polls across the province, hopes to make electoral gains in Western Quebec, and has chosen Olive Kamanyana as the Pontiac candidate. She is completing a PhD at the Université du Québec en Outaouais and is a member of the City of Gatineau’s Urban Planning Committee.

The party of Manon Massé and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, the social-democratic Québec Solidaire, is presenting Julia Wilkie in the Pontiac riding.

Early poll favours LibErals in the Pontiac

A survey released by the polling firm Léger/Le Journal/LCN, dated August 18, showed that the right-of-centre Coalition Avenir Québec was on an upswing and could possibly be the next government, although a great number of surveyed were undecided. The firm also surveyed all electoral ridings, showing, in mid-August that Western Quebec is red. The survey was led by analyst Bryan Breguet, founder of the website Too Close To Call, a site that offers projections based on survey data. Mr Breguet predicted a convincing Liberal victory in the Pontiac – in mid-August.

There are still many announcements and promises, plus twists and turns,  to be expected. Noteworthy, Quebec independence seems not to be an issue in this election. The provincial elections will be held October 1, 2018.
(Transl. CB)