Some day, I may be a candidate in a provincial election to debate fundamental questions like :

fight against poverty,

social measures,

significant increase in the minimum wage,

health-care accessability,

overcrowding in emergency rooms.

Effectively, the politicians often avoid debating ideas because they don't want to address head-on these subjects which are nonetheless so important for the well-being of the population.
 
 

I cannot accept that the government of Québec grants a $0.10 an hour increase in the minimum wage and says that this is satisfactory. This mocks the common sense of the workers. A person who works 40 hours a week for 50 weeks, works 2000 hours a year. At $7 an hour, a worker would earn $14 000 a year while the Canadian Council on Social Development has fixed the poverty line at $18 000 per year. I intend to fight so that the minimum wage is raised by $0.50 per year over the next four years to reach $9 an hour so that each worker earns at least the poverty line, $18 000 per year.

As well, the government of Québec wastes millions on studies by commissions or on committees on the French language, on poverty, on students, on youth in the civil service, etc. The members of these commissions and committees who receive salaries of $1 000 to $1 200 a day largely enrich themselves meanwhile there's nothing being done for the poor, for the students and for youth. It's time to stop making reports and to invest seriously to combat poverty, to aid our students and to integrate young people in the civil service.

As for the health-care domain, it's a scandal. Instead of reducing taxes by $100 to $1 000 for the richest taxpayers, the government of Québec must invest in health services so that care is given rapidly, so that there aren't emergency rooms that are overflowing and that it's no longer necessary to pay a fortune to send the ill to obtain treatment in the US.

The minister of finance of Québec gurgles that the tax cuts which took effect on July 1, 2001 are the most significant that Québec has ever had while at the same time she says that she doesn't have money to pay nurses, to unblock emergency wards, to open new $5 daycare spaces, to aid the disadvantaged, to fight against poverty, etc.
 

I will present myself in a riding in the city of Québec because I have many close ties with that the city of Quebec. I was born in Québec City, I grew up in Québec City, I studied in Québec City, I work in Québec City, I live in Québec City and even if I lived a little while in Montréal, in Winnipeg, in Ottawa, in Paris and in Charlesbourg, I always come back to Québec City because it's my city and the city of my family since 1627. It would be an honour and a privilege for me to serve the residents of city of Quebec as its elected representative and as defender of the rights and needs of its citizens.
 

For years, I've spoken out in various political parties at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to bring changes which would permit citizens to increase their standard of living and profit from a more happy and peaceful life in an agreeable and secure environment.

Unfortunately, over the years, I've established that the politicians are quick to promise the moon to everyone but when the time comes to deliver, it's always beyond reach.

Any excuse will serve to avoid keeping electoral promises: the budget is in deficit, the taxpayers are overtaxed, the province is on the edge of a recession, the unemployment rate is too high, the government has more important priorities, etc.

More often than not, the party in power acts not with the public interest as primary objective but with the idea of talking all necessary measures to obtain re-election.

I may be an idealist, but I've always learned that in democracy, a government must be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. When a government distances itself from this principle, it's time to show it the door and to change and I'm convinced that it's time to show this government the door.

Over the years, many people, including unions and lobby groups, have brought forth the idea of founding a new political party but this idea is unfortunately lost as much before the obstacles raised by the existing parties as by the difficulty of the task.

Therefore, I've decided to become a candidate to give you the chance to hear a person who wants to create a debate after all and to vote for the one who will speak up strongly and loudly for you.
 

There aren't enough moderate-income housing, so why reduce income taxes?

There aren't enough beds in the hospitals, so why regularly close beds?

There aren't enough personnel in the hospitals, so why send thousands of employees away to retire?

There aren't enough $5 spaces in daycares, so why reduce income taxes?

Primary and secondary schools must be free, meanwhile parents have to pay hundreds of dollars for exercise books and other items, so why not invest in the education of our children who are our future?

It's necessary to fight to eliminate poverty; but what has the government done to eliminate it?

It's necessary to fight organised crime, and meanwhile criminal groups have never been as active and the drug trade has never been so prosperous.

I could continue much longer but I know you're as well aware as me of the problems of Québec and that you are going to speak to me about them during the months to come.