Photo by William Crooks
Brome-Missisquoi MP Pascale St-Onge presided over a press conference in Bromont, detailing with her Quebec federal Liberal colleagues the results of their recent retreat
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Quebec Liberal Caucus held a press conference Thursday, marking the conclusion of its three-day retreat in Bromont, Quebec. The event, attended by several federal MPs, focused on key issues facing Quebec and Canada, with Brome-Missisquoi MP Pascale St-Onge and Quebec Caucus Chair Stéphane Lauzon leading the discussions.
Opening the event, Minister of Canadian Heritage St-Onge, welcomed attendees to her home riding. She highlighted local achievements, such as the renovation of a church into the Centre culturel St-John, which was realized through collaboration between the federal government, Quebec, and the city of Bromont.
“We have invested in this community, in its creativity, and its future,” said St-Onge, emphasizing the importance of local infrastructure projects and innovations like the development of semiconductor industries in the region. Bromont has become a hub for thousands of jobs, particularly in advanced industries, crucial to Canada’s relations with the United States. St-Onge referred to President Joe Biden’s address to the Canadian Parliament, where he underscored the significance of strengthening semiconductor supply chains, a key issue highlighted during the retreat.
During the retreat, MPs also visited Frelighsburg Experimental Farm, a research facility that St-Onge said had been shut down by the Conservative government in 2012. Thanks to efforts by the Trudeau government, it reopened in 2016, supporting agricultural research in the region, particularly in viticulture. St-Onge stressed that these initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to science, research, and supporting local industries.
Discussions and challenges ahead
Quebec Caucus Chair Lauzon elaborated on the retreat’s agenda. MPs engaged in over eight hours of serious discussions, assessing the past year’s progress and setting the course for the coming months. Lauzon noted that the caucus had connected with their constituents throughout the summer, gathering feedback on their priorities, which overwhelmingly emphasized affordability issues, including housing and groceries.
Lauzon reinforced the government’s commitment to supporting families by addressing these challenges. “People want access to affordable housing and to see grocery prices come down,” he said. The Quebec caucus will present these concerns next week at the national Liberal Caucus meeting in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
In response to questions about navigating the fall session without a partner (the NDP) in the House, MPs addressed the realities of governing as a minority. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced Sept. 4 that the supply and confidence deal his party had in place with the Liberals is no longer in effect. When asked how they plan to manage, a St-Onge stressed the importance of continuing to focus on what Canadians need. “This isn’t our first time in a minority government. We’ll continue talking with other parties, and we expect both the Bloc and NDP to work for the benefit of Canadians,” she stated.
Further, St-Onge expressed confidence that Quebecers do not want an election this fall, a sentiment echoed by Lauzon, who noted that no one at his local events had raised the issue. The party plans to keep its focus on delivering policies that help Canadians, including tax cuts and strategies to tackle inflation.
When asked about the recent departure of national campaign director Jeremy Broadhurst, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly expressed her appreciation for his two decades of service but saw it as an opportunity for new ideas and approaches. She assured journalists that the party was well-prepared for any upcoming electoral challenges.
Conversation with MP Marie-Claude Bibeau
In a separate interview after the event, Compton-Stanstead MP Marie-Claude Bibeau responded to various concerns in her riding. Bibeau criticized the NDP for their surprising decision to break the news of their stance to the media before informing the Prime Minister. “At the end of the day, we can’t trust [NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh],” she said. However, she reaffirmed that the Liberals would remain focused on their priorities: supporting Canadians amid rising costs of living and working with opposition parties to pass important legislation.
When asked about potential negative impacts on Bishop’s University due to Quebec’s limits on international students, Bibeau acknowledged that the Quebec government’s recent student-related policies had “caused uncertainty.” However, she emphasized that these changes should not significantly affect the Eastern Townships, explaining that the impact was mainly seen in the Toronto area. She added that she would be speaking with Bishop’s Principal Sébastien Lebel-Grenier soon.
Throughout the conversation, Bibeau stressed the Liberals’ ongoing efforts to alleviate inflation, support middle-class families, and address local concerns. “We need to stay focused on the people, on what truly matters to them, and that’s where we’re putting our energy,” she said.