Sophie Kuijper Dickson, LJI Journalist

The race for the Conservative Party candidate for the Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi riding in the next federal election finally closed its doors to new entries on Nov. 13, with a total of six people having thrown their name in the hat to be considered for the job.

Brian Goodman, Michel Gauthier, Terrence Watters, Mark Buzan, Brian Nolan, and Jean-Nicolas de Bellefeuille each confirmed they’re hoping to receive the party’s nomination, however Watters did not respond to The Equity’s questions by publication deadline, so his answers will be published in next week’s issue.

Below are brief summaries of each candidate, based on responses they submitted by email. THE EQUITY has yet to obtain official confirmation from the Conservative Party of Canada that these candidates have indeed been accepted into the nomination race.
Residents of the riding who wish to vote at the nomination meeting, the date and time of which have yet to be publicly confirmed, must be a registered member of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Michel Gauthier

Michel Gauthier, originally from Maniwaki, currently lives in the town of Bois-Franc, 15 kilometres north of Maniwaki. He ran as the Conservative Party candidate for the Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi riding in the 2021 federal election, and spent 10 years working for the Gatineau Liberal Association, both as president and as head of communications for then MNA Stéphanie Vallée. Prior to this, he spent two decades working as a journalist in Gatineau covering political news at municipal, provincial and federal levels.
He said his choice to run for the Conservative Party is a question of values.

“I am a fiscal conservative and I am member and candidate for the CPC because this party is the only one that takes into account the sound financial management of the country before making decisions whose effects can then extend over decades,” he wrote in an email.

“I also completely agree with Mr. Poilievre’s common sense approach.One of the most striking examples is the proposal to cut the GST when buying a new home.”

He said the top three subjects he’s campaigning on are his belief that the construction of the nuclear waste disposal facility at Chalk River should not continue until studies on alternative sites have been done; a review of the federal government’s teleworking policy with the ambition of making employment with the federal public service accessible to people living in rural communities; and pushing for the construction of a Gatineau tramway, which he said is an important project for the west of the city, but municipal officials will have to understand that it will require urban densification to justify the costs, not moratoria on housing development.

Jean-Nicolas de Bellefeuille

Jean-Nicolas de Bellefeuille grew up in Val-des-Monts, and says his close proximity to nature as a child showed him “how deeply nature embodies freedom.”
“It’s a perspective that guides my approach to policies – aiming for sustainable practices that protect our environment while ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same sense of freedom and connection to the land.”

He is in his second term as a councillor for the municipality of Cantley, and spent four of his seven years in that job as president of the municipal Urban Planning Advisory Committee, both experiences which he says have equipped him with “a deep understanding of the machinery of government and a steadfast commitment to public service and ethical governance.”

In his email response to THE EQUITY, he explained his work with the urban planning committee “taught him the critical importance of balancing growth with environmental stewardship, a principle that is increasingly vital at the federal level as we address national challenges such as housing, infrastructure development and climate change.”

He’s chosen to run for the Conservative Party “because its values align closely with his own vision for Canada’s future – one grounded in fiscal responsibility, individual freedom, and the efficiency of small government.”

The top three policy changes he is campaigning on are reducing taxes, which he believes are too high and therefore putting “undue strain on hard working Canadians”; building homes by cutting red tape and incentivizing development; and preserving natural heritage by expanding parks and protected areas.

“I’m committed to advocating for the purchase of additional forest land for parks, ensuring these green spaces are available for generations to come.”

Mark Buzan

Mark Buzan is originally from southwestern Ontario but currently resides in the Plateau, in Gatineau, and has lived in the Outaouais since 1997. His political career began in the late 90s when he worked as the Legislative Assistant to then-MP Jason Kenney, who went on to become Minister of Immigration under Stephen Harper and more recently, Premier of Alberta. In 1998, Buzan was also a candidate for the Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ), a provincial political party that shut down in 2012. Finally, for over two decades Buzan has worked as a party organizer in the Outaouais for what he calls the conservative movement, most recently as the executive vice-president for the Conservative Party of Quebec.

“My conservative values drive me to advocate for policies that empower small businesses, reduce unnecessary government interference, and restore integrity, efficiency, and honesty to our governance,” Buzan wrote to THE EQUITY, explaining his decision to run for the Conservative Party.

He said his political priorities include reducing the high cost of living for Canadians, which he believes is caused by excessive government spending and the creation of federal taxes such as the carbon tax and capital gains tax. He also said he would work to cut back regulations preventing small business and resource development in the Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi riding, in an effort to create “a thriving local economy,” and support policies that incentivize municipalities to issue more permits for housing construction, in line with Pierre Poilievre’s commitment for bonuses on municipalities that meet their targets, this in an effort to support younger people wishing to establish roots in the region.

Brian Nolan

Brian Nolan was raised in Quebec City. He moved to Ottawa when he was 20, where he finished his studies in computer science, and has now lived in Chelsea, Que. for over 30 years.

Nolan cites his 25 years in the public service, his 15 years owning an IT consulting company and three years co-owning a Spoon Frozen Yogurt lounge in the ByWard market as experiences that played important parts in the development of his political senses, each in different ways giving him an understanding of the operations of the federal government.

In his email to THE EQUITY, he said his experience working in the public service, for example, “taught [him] the importance of transparent and accountable governance and gave me valuable insights into the complexities of policy making.”

He also said his role as vice-president and president of the Des Collines de l’Outaouais Minor Hockey Association strengthened his ties with the community, allowing him to “promote youth development and support local families.”

Nolan said he’s running to represent the Conservative Party because he believes in “the importance of fiscal responsibility, individual freedom, and the power of local communities to address local issues,” he wrote. “In short, I chose to run as a Conservative because I believe in balanced progress that respects tradition, supports hard-working Canadians, and fosters self-reliance and opportunity.”

Nolan said he would prioritize local economic development and support for small businesses, improving housing accessibility, and improving the quality of life for seniors through policies that “no longer treat them as an afterthought,” but that “ensure they enjoy their golden years with dignity, financial security, and access to world-class health care.”

Brian Goodman

Brian Goodman currently lives in Chelsea, Que., but is originally from the small town of Stonewall, Man.. He moved to the Ottawa-Gatineau area in 2008, after several years in Saskatchewan.

His political experience includes working for the Minister of Justice, Don Morgan, in the Saskatchewan Party government in 2007, as well as for Saskatchewan Conservative MP Ray Boughen on Parliament Hill. He also cites his time working with the federal government in various capacities, most recently with Canada’s export credit agency, Export Development Canada, and the dozen or so political campaigns he’s worked on in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec as critical to his political career.

“I’ve essentially been around politics and government from all angles for 15 years and would argue that very few people have the experience, knowledge, or network that I do in Ottawa,” he wrote.

In his email to THE EQUITY, Goodman said he’s running for this riding’s Conservative seat because “it pains [him] to watch the Liberals/NDP drive our country (and young people especially) ever deeper into debt, while letting housing and cost of living get out of control.”

“Conservatives are the only party that prioritizes the economy and since I work in trade, their focus on productivity and competitiveness is particularly appealing to me,” he wrote. “Closer to home, I know that Conservatives are much more in tune with rural communities.”

He said the top three policy issues he would focus on would be “economic opportunities for people in rural parts of the riding, and on competitiveness [and] productivity issues more broadly; housing and cost of living issues for both urban and rural parts of the riding; and protecting the environment of the riding, including Gatineau Park, the Ottawa River, and beyond.”

Terrence Watters

Terrence Watters did not respond to THE EQUITY’s emailed questions. However, the real estate broker and former casino manager was the candidate for the Conservative Party of Quebec in the 2022 provincial election. More can be learned about his policy priorities by visiting https://theequity.ca/candidates-take-questions-at-forum/ and https://theequity.ca/candidates-clash-at-the-winery-conversation-with-the-candidates-hosted-by-the-equity/.

Update: Nov. 27, 2024  Since this article was first published, THE EQUITY has learned that Terrence Watters has decided not to run, and Mark Buzan’s application is under review.