In the final days before the election, Conservative Maxime Bernier is taking nothing for granted.
Elected by large majorities in the Beauce region in 2006 and 2008, Bernier is hoping for the three-peat on May 2.
Bernier spent Thursday, April 28 in St-Ludger, Que., near the U.S. border, hoping to garner up votes.
“There’s a good chance I’ll vote Conservative this time,” said St-Ludger resident Tiffany Lachance.
“Maxime is a boy from the Beauce,” Donald Lapierre said in French. “I know him and his father, the whole family is close to the community.
It’s not just Bernier’s family history in the region that gives him confidence.
Bernier says he knows what’s on the minds of voters.
“Taxes, taxes, taxes. Quebecers pay the highest in North America,” Bernier said.
Dubbed Quebec’s paradise of small business by its inhabitants, the Beauce has a strong manufacturing sector.
Here, the recovering economy is the recurring theme.
“I would love it if they lowered the taxes, we’re so overtaxed,” said Richard Latulipe, also in French.
At the salon in Beauceville where Latulipe gets his hair cut, the owner has been hearing other conversations.
“With my clients, four were NDP, they were leaning toward that party,” said hairdresser Gisele Gagne.
Bloc-Quebecois candidate Sylvio Morin doesn’t think the NDP is a factor.
Morin says Bernier’s comments about Bill 101 and Conservative promises to cut corporate taxes will turn voters towards the Bloc on election day.
“If industry doesn’t pay its fair share- who’s going to pay for social programs? It’s going to be you and I,” said Sylvio Morin.
He’s not worried about the orange wave that seems to be affecting other riders across the province.
He’s more concerned that voters might mix him up with the Liberal candidate who shares his last name.
“Don’t mix me up with the other Morin. I’m not Claude, I’m Sylvio from the Bloc,” he said, referring to his Liberal opponent.
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