The Parti Québécois (PQ) is looking to nominate a family policy expert in the new Bellefeuille riding, in the Laurentians.
Audrey Bujold, 31, is a clinical nurse and mother of four. She holds a PhD in family studies from the Université du Québec en Outaouais.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, the Saint-Jérôme resident said she wants to enter politics to help Quebec families who are struggling.
“I’d definitely like to see more financial support for families, of course, but also more structural support—better community-level services for families,” she said.
“I think there’s also a lot to be done to restore access in the regions to quality perinatal care, for example, and to improve access to spots in subsidized childcare centres (CPEs),” she added.
Bujold also says she shares the concerns of PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon about Quebec’s low birth rate. Like him, she wants to remove barriers to encourage people to have children.
“We know there’s a cost to motherhood, so we need to create the right conditions so women actually want to experience motherhood—pregnancy and childbirth.”
She specifically criticized the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (RQAP), which currently offers only five weeks of paternity leave at 70 per cent of income, or three weeks at 75 per cent.
“Research shows that’s not enough. Those five weeks don’t allow for an equitable sharing of responsibilities within couples over the long term,” said the nomination hopeful.
Change
Bujold says she senses a desire for change among voters. She believes the PQ is best positioned to replace the Coalition Avenir Québec and address key issues affecting families.
According to her, rising living costs and excessive screen use among young people are major concerns for voters.
Could that change be embodied by the new CAQ premier Christine Fréchette? Having a woman in the role is “excellent news for all women,” she said.
However, she maintains that Quebec independence must move forward. “The independence project really resonates with me (…) for future generations (…) especially as a mother of four.”
According to a poll by Léger published Tuesday, if the PQ were to drop its plan to hold an independence referendum over the next four years, it would receive 39 per cent support instead of 31 per cent.
Bujold supports her leader’s position: there’s no question of backing away from the promise to hold a referendum in a first mandate. “It’s a project that needs to be put forward as it is now,” she said.
The PQ is continuing to roll out its slate of candidates ahead of the October general election.
So far, the party has introduced about a dozen candidates, including former journalist Philippe Schnobb (Sainte-Marie–Saint-Jacques), lawyer René Branchaud (Champlain), and artificial intelligence specialist Anne Nguyen (Prévost).
The Bellefeuille riding would be created following a recommendation by the Commission de la représentation électorale, though the matter is to be heard Wednesday before the Supreme Court of Canada.
The commission has proposed eliminating two ridings—one in Montreal and one in Gaspésie—to create two new ones: Bellefeuille in the Laurentians and Marie-Lacoste-Gérin-Lajoie in the Centre-du-Québec.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
