Local shadow cabinet appointments ‘show respect for Quebec,’ Deltell says
Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
editor@qctonline.com
Nearly a month after the federal election which painted much of the greater Quebec City region Tory blue, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has named two Quebec City-area MPs and three members of the South Shore caucus to the 48-member shadow cabinet led by House Leader Andrew Scheer.
On April 28, Conservatives were elected in four of the seven ridings in the Quebec City area (the exceptions being the central Liberal strongholds of Québec-Centre and Louis-Hébert, and Beauport-Limoilou, where the Liberals defeated a Bloc Québécois incumbent), in Beauce and in all three ridings on the South Shore. The Conservatives picked up one seat (Montmorency–Charlevoix) from the Bloc Québécois and kept their hold on the other area seats.
The shadow cabinet announced on May 22 included Luc Berthold (Mégantic– L’Érable–Lotbinière) as deputy house leader, Pierre Paul- Hus (Charlesbourg–La Haute-Saint-Charles) as Quebec lieutenant, Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent–Akiawenhrahk) as shadow minister for national revenue, former Quebec Liberal MNA Dominique Vien (Bellechasse–Les Etchemins– Lévis) as shadow minister for women, gender equality and youth, and Jacques Gourde (Lévis-Lotbinière) as shadow minister for agriculture. All are veteran MPs.
Deltell, a former CAQ MNA who made the jump to federal politics in 2015, told the QCT in a brief English-language interview that he and his colleagues were “blessed to be part of this team.”
“I was pleased [to be named to the national revenue portfolio]. I got into politics – both provincial and federal politics – for fiscal issues, and I am motivated by spending people’s tax money correctly,” said Del- tell. “My opposite number [in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet] is François-Philippe Champagne. I know him very well. We have a frank and honest relationship, and I’m looking forward to working both with and against him on specific issues. I spoke with him yesterday and we are excited to work together.”
The Conservatives won 144 seats to the Liberals’ 169 in last month’s election, leaving the balance of power in the hands of the Bloc Québécois (22 seats) or the NDP (seven). Deltell seems unruffled by the uphill battle ahead with regards to pushing the Conservative agenda. “Anyone can have influence as long as they have good arguments – the important thing is not your position; it’s the depth of your argument.”
Deltell said he believed the Carney government “did not get off to a good start” when Carney announced plans to wait until fall to table a detailed budget.
“Autumn is too late,” Deltell said. “We need to do a budget right now. We are ready to sit in the House in the summer to achieve some of our agenda; we’re opening the door to sit in the House as long as we can to get a serious budget. This is what Canadians are asking for … and it’s what Canadians deserve.”
“Affordability and housing is our biggest priority – we talked about that during the campaign and we’ll keep talking about it,” he added. “We will welcome it if the government incorporates our priorities – they took inspiration from our platform [during the campaign] and they can do it again.”
Deltell said the appointment of five MPs from the region to the shadow cabinet represented “a show of respect for Quebec” from the party leadership.
“As local MPs and as francophones, we have a job to do, and we have a lot of people with a lot of experience. Most of us were elected 10 years ago, and the leader appreciates our contribution,” he said.
Parliament is expected to resume sitting this week.