CALEB NICKERSON
PONTIAC Feb. 4, 2021
On Feb.4, the Pontiac pick for the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) made his candidacy official.
Michel Gauthier announced he would be running in the next election via a Zoom call with media, accompanied by the CPC’s Quebec lieutenant Richard Martel.
Speaking to THE EQUITY the day after the announcement, Gauthier said that he has been . . .
a life-long resident of the riding, mainly in the MRC Vallée de la Gatineau, (he currently resides in the Municipality of Bois Franc, in the “middle of the woods”), but also in Hull as well.
He said that his work as a journalist which included a stint as editor in chief Le Droit newspaper has taken him to all corners of the region.
“I’m a child of the Pontiac,” he said. “I have been a reporter for about 30 years and I remember doing features around Pontiac, in Fort Coulonge, in Shawville, in other places in Pontiac, in other places in the Outaouais. That’s why I have a particular knowledge of the region.”
He said that this knowledge is what made it a natural transition into politics.
“I’d say the one main reason, as a journalist I’m used to [talking] with people, to talk about some issues everywhere in the county, everywhere in the Outaouais region,” he said. “I remember covering the election night in Fort Coulonge with Thomas Lefebvre years ago, did the same thing around Mont Laurier, around Val des Monts and Gatineau. I’m used to talking with people about issues, with agricultural producers, with business owners with civil servants, being … a candidate in the next election, for me it’s something … normal.”
He said that he’s been a member of the CPC for quite some time, but emphasized that just because he aligns with their views, doesn’t mean he’s a blind partisan.
“I’m a conservative because I’m more at ease within the conservative party, but if you talk about provincial politics, I’ve been active with the liberal party in Quebec,” he said. “I’ve been the president of the Gatineau [riding] association … What is important is what you have to say, it’s not really the colour you have. That’s a fact, I’m more at ease with the conservative party.”
He said the main priority for the rural portions of the region, and even some more populated areas, is high-speed internet. Living in a rural area himself, he said that it’s critical infrastructure that’s been needed for quite some time.
“It’s been more than five years that we’ve been promised to get [high speed internet], I don’t even have [high speed internet], I have just a 5 Mbps link,” he said. “That’s very far from the kind of high-speed that you will have in Gatineau.”
He also pointed out that the two rural MRCs, Vallée de la Gatineau and Pontiac, have been consistently been amongst the poorest regions in Quebec, which is something he’s aiming to change.
He said that he would further elaborate on his plans during the election period.
During the interview, he also shied away from commenting on the riding’s current leadership.
“I’ll be very clear about that. It’s not up to me to evaluate Mr Amos’ work as MP for Pontiac, that’s the job of the electors of Pontiac, the citizens of Pontiac,” he said. “I’ve [known] Mr. Amos, for maybe six or seven years, I’ve met him many times. I’d even say … that he’s a gentleman, but about his work as an MP, that’s not my job to evaluate, that’s the job of Pontiac’s citizens … I’m not running against Will Amos, I’m not running against any other candidate, I’m running for the citizens of Pontiac.”
He said that he foresees a federal election in 2021, but he will be ready whenever the time comes.
“The best I can say, I anticipate an election this year, but it’s the government you’d … have to ask about that,” he said. “At the end of the day, we have no control. I’ll be ready when the election is called.”
