Incumbent MNAs helping “orphans”

BY ALBERT KRAMBERGER

editor@transcontinental.ca

Incumbent Liberal MNAs, and some of their volunteers from their stronghold in the West Island, will be offering support to so-called ‘orphan’ ridings that were won by the opposition last election.

The Parti Québécois, prior to last Wednesday’s election call by Premier Jean Charest, held all of the four West Island MNAs’ orphan ridings. Robert Baldwin MNA Pierre Marsan and his supporters are backing Liberal challenger Paule Fortier in Deux Montagnes.

“We lost by 333 votes last time (2003 election),” he said. “I am working there with some volunteers also. We’re making sure the Liberals win everywhere (not just here in the West Island).”

Marsan volunteer Joyce Fennell will be heading to Deux Montagnes Thursday to help reach out to anglophone voters. “They need help out there,” said the Dollard des Ormeaux resident. “I’m going down to Deux Montagnes to talk to the anglophone community there and make some phone calls.”

Nelligan MNA Yolande James’s orphan riding is Laurier-Dorion. It was once held by the Liberals but won by the PQ’s Elsie Lefebvre in a 2004 byelection by 483 votes.

James said she is focusing on her riding for now. “I will probably go help (Liberal candidate Gerry Sklavounos), but I have no details yet.”

Jacques Cartier MNA and Indian Affairs Minister Geoff Kelly’s orphan riding is Ungava, which covers all of northern Quebec — a remote riding that encompasses about 57 per cent of the province’s land mass.

“I will go help up there as I have some ministerial business to take care of,” Kelley said.

While the PQ won Ungava with just over 50 per cent of votes in the 2003 election, Kelley points out the No side won in this area in the 1995 sovereignty referendum, due mainly to the Inuit and Cree vote. “I’m going there to encourage more First Nations people to vote. A message to get involved — hopefully, with us.”

Kelley said since getting to Ungava requires a plane trip — and quite possibly a snowmobile ride — he will not be accompanied by any of his volunteers from the West Island.

Marquette MNA François Ouimet’s orphan riding is Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in east end Montreal, a PQ stronghold represented by Louise Harel.

“It’s a PQ riding, it will require a lot of hard work (for the Liberals to take it),” Ouimet said. “They (Liberal candidate Vahid Vidah-Fortin’s team) might call us to do some door to door and attend some public events.” However, Ouimet said his local organizers/supporters want him to focus on his own riding.