Courtesy
Representatives from Quebec and Vermont gathered on Lake Memphremagog to promote cross-border collaboration. From left to right: Heather Pelham, Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing; Marianne Dandurand, MP for Compton–Stanstead; Bernadette Jordan, Consul General to Boston and the New England States; Tayt Brooks, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development; René Sylvestre, Quebec’s Delegate to New England; Tim Tierney, Vermont Department of Economic Development; and Marie-Elaine Beaudoin, Invest Quebec.
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Compton–Stanstead MP Marianne Dandurand is reinforcing ties with Vermont while advancing a slate of priorities at home, ranging from affordable housing and rural infrastructure to cell phone service and support for local media.
Last week, Dandurand joined a delegation on Lake Memphremagog to promote cross-border cooperation. The group included representatives from Vermont’s Department of Tourism and Marketing, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Quebec’s delegation to New England, Invest Quebec, and Canada’s Consulate General in Boston. The meeting followed a recent session with Vermont legislators.
“We share a border, but we share families, we share business, and we know that the current situation is not easy,” Dandurand said in a Sept. 24 interview. “Leadership, in order to maintain those links, can come from grassroots and can come from the communities.”
The MP said she wants to ensure the groundwork is in place so that “whenever it’s over, we’re going to be there and ready to start building again whatever is broken with the current administration.” She noted that discussions touch on border security, trade, and tourism, with the expectation of many more such meetings in the months ahead.
Housing and infrastructure focus
Dandurand pointed to housing as her top federal priority, particularly under the new “Build Canada Homes” initiative, which earmarks $13 billion for construction projects. She stressed the importance of tailoring programs for smaller communities rather than only major cities.
“We don’t need those hundred-unit buildings and we don’t have the resources to do that,” she explained. “It’s a new framework that we can work with to build more affordable housing.”
On infrastructure, Dandurand highlighted an additional $1 billion in federal funding intended for water and sewage systems in municipalities. She said she hopes agreements with Quebec can be signed quickly to allow construction to move forward.
Cell service bill in the works
Connectivity remains another concern for the riding. Dandurand confirmed she is preparing a private member’s bill to push for better cell phone service in rural areas, working in collaboration with federal ministers responsible for rural development and telecommunications.
“In regions where we don’t have that pressure, there’s no incentive for companies to build infrastructure because they don’t get the money out of it,” she said. With her name drawn early in the order for private members’ bills, she expects to bring forward legislation soon.
Support for local media
Dandurand also underscored the need to back local journalism. “What can we do to make sure that we have strong independent media, including outside major urban centres?” she asked. She said she is in discussions on how best to support community radio, television, and newspapers in the face of financial strain and disinformation pressures.
Though busy in Ottawa as chair of the Liberal Rural Caucus, Dandurand emphasized that she spends weekends in the riding and plans to participate in upcoming reconciliation-related events. “Most of the time I’m here I’m in the riding, on Fridays as well,” she said.