In the runup to the federal election on Sept. 20, THE EQUITY will be putting questions to the candidates vying for a seat in Pontiac. Readers can send in their questions to editor@theequity.ca to be printed in upcoming editions. Questions should apply to all candidates and be suitable in scope to be responded to in 200-300 words.

First Question: According to the 2020 Panorama des régions du Québec report, the riding’s two rural areas, the Pontiac MRC and La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau MRC, are the second and seventh poorest MRCs in Quebec. What will you do to turn the tide of decades of economic stagnation and depression in these regions? Which specific economic sectors would you address?

Gabrielle Desjardins, Bloc Québécois

After several queries, THE EQUITY has not received responses from the BLOC Québécois or their Pontiac representative Gabrielle Desjardin.

Michel Gauthier, Conservative Party

As soon as high speed internet is available everywhere, it will be possible to use that tool for teleworking. And telework means that it will be possible to hold jobs in the federal public service while remaining in the Pontiac and Gatineau Valley RCMs. Significant efforts will be made to educate both the government and workers about this new opportunity. The equivalent of several hundred new jobs could be added to the two MRCs. It is also very important to better support and adapt economic development programs, particularly for tourism projects and primary and secondary processing of our resources.

Shaughn McArthur, Green Party

The fact that school feeding programs are needed in parts of Pontiac that used to be the fresh food baskets of this region, and in one of the richest countries on earth, is shameful and tragic. It is also unnecessary and reversible.

The poverty that exists in parts of this riding reflects decades of neglect by successive federal governments, and a corrosive economic model that has undermined the social, economic and cultural fabric of rural communities.

By giving precedence to industrial players and methods in Pontiac’s traditional economic sectors – agriculture and forestry – these governments have overseen massive declines in rural employment, the exodus of youth, the closure of lumber mills and local agricultural suppliers, the degradation of our soils, and the transformation of the lungs of our region – our forests – into net carbon emitters.

The green and regenerative economies of the future are ones in which the traditional stewards of this land – farmers, foresters and First Nations – are supported and rewarded for practices that build more resilient and regenerative local economies. They are economies in which tourist operators and clean tech entrepreneurs can count on the desirability of their communities and the reliability of basic services like healthcare and public transportation to attract and retain qualified workers. Finally, they are economies that will draw heavily upon the skills of federal scientists, planners, tradespeople, engineers and others to help implement the investments that leading international economists tell us have the highest potential on both economic multiplier and climate impact metrics: clean physical infrastructure, building retrofits, investments in education, training, natural capital, and clean R&D.

Pontiac has all the ingredients to be on the cutting edge of the multi-trillion dollar efficiency economies of the future. All that’s lacking is political will, and a regional vision that leverages our strengths and bridges the gaps.

Sophie Chatel, Liberal Party of Canada

One of the essential issues for the economic vitality of Pontiac’s rural regions is greater access to high-speed internet. When family businesses do not have access to high-speed internet, an all-important opportunity for expansion is missed. Thanks to the Canada–Quebec Operation High Speed, all homes should be connected by September 2022, something I will make sure of.

In rural areas, agriculture presents a significant opportunity for economic development. This is especially salient as we transition to a green economy and are increasingly concerned about food security and buying locally. Technology is already indispensable to farming, but we are at the cusp of a digital revolution that will unavoidably transform agriculture so our farmers must be supported in this process.

Another vital sector is tourism. The Liberal government invested over $1 billion to support the tourism and arts and culture sectors through the pandemic, and we recognize the importance of supporting these industries to stimulate economic activity in all corners of our riding. In Pontiac, agrotourism has a lot of potential to contribute greatly to our local economy.

A major difficulty these regions face is a labour shortage, which is worsening around the world with an ageing population and the mass exodus of young people to urban centres. Without affordable housing, adequate public transportation, healthcare services and accessible childcare for young families our rural economies cannot thrive. The answer to this problem can be found through training our workforce here in Pontiac, utilizing temporary foreign workers for certain industries, public transit, healthcare services and affordable housing. We have announced a significant investment in all of these sectors, including providing increased financing to the provinces to hire a minimum of 7,500 family doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners across Canada, which is much needed in our region.

Denise Giroux, New Democractic Party

We need a government that listens to all of Canada’s regions, and recognizes the incredible contributions that our rural communities make to the prosperity and strength of our entire country.

Unfortunately, for too long Liberal and Conservative governments have tried to pit one region against another – while failing to deliver the help that Canadians living in rural communities need. New Democrats have a plan to make life easier, no matter where you live – and make sure that all communities in our country have a bright future.

The NDP will invest in regional economic development agencies and provide economic support for rural areas to invest in job creation in areas like tourism and community development. Small businesses are one of the engines of job creation in Pontiac, and an important part of our community. While big box stores made record profits in this pandemic, small businesses in Pontiac struggled to keep their doors open.

The NDP fought for emergency small business aid during COVID-19, lower small business taxes, opposed unfair merchant fees, and fought to make it easier to pass on small businesses to the next generation. New Democrats will make sure that small businesses wage and rent subsidies continue until small businesses are able to fully reopen.

To help small businesses get people back to work, we’ll put in place a long-term hiring bonus to pay the employer portion of EI and CPP for new or rehired staff.

We will deliver reliable transit to connect residents to their jobs, health care services, schools, and family members.

A New Democrat government will also deliver high-speed rural broadband to all communities in Canada without delay and ensure that reliable cell phone service is expanded in Pontiac – while keeping rates affordable for families and businesses.

David Bruce Gottfred, People’s Party of Canada

If government policy could eliminate poverty and create prosperity it certainly would have done so by now. We have so much of it!

For decades governments have been meddling in the economy, but there is usually little to show for it except photo ops for politicians and windfalls for insiders. And another layer of bureaucracy.

Real economic growth happens when people are free to exchange with each other with minimal interference. When people are free to offer solutions to others’ problems without having to submit to excessive regulatory approval.

When basic commerce is not taxed, monitored, and subject to arbitrary inspection. And it happens when the rules are not constantly changing.

And it takes time. Anyone offering easy solutions is either lying or hopelessly naive.

The Pontiac riding reaches to Canada’s new frontier, the North, full of resources and opportunities. But our current government opposes this kind of development as it will interfere with meeting international ‘obligations’. All the other parties agree with this policy.

The People’s Party of Canada wants to clear the obstacles to our prosperity. This is actually a much more difficult goal than creating another government ‘Regional Development (slush) Fund.’ Many powerful people’s careers are dependent on them holding on to the pursestrings. Many desperate people are still attracted to impossible promises.

Layers upon layers of government policy are now weighing down Canada. Our Federal Government has run out of institutions willing to lend to it, and is now relying on borrowing from our central bank, the Bank of Canada.

But the other parties will try to convince you that this time — this time! — they know what they are doing.

They don’t.

Register or subscribe to read this content

Thanks for stopping by! This article is available to readers who have created a free account or who subscribe to The Equity.

When you register for free with your email, you get access to a limited number of stories at no cost. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access to everything we publish—and directly support quality local journalism here in the Pontiac.

Register or Subscribe Today!