DOLLARD-DES-ORMEAUX — As a press conference by the four MNA candidates ended, about a half-dozen citizens gathered in the Liberal campaign offices and peppered them with questions about education.
A crowd began to surround candidates Carlos Leitao and Martin Coiteux, who were soon engaged in a heated discussion about test scores and academic performance.
It may have come as a bit of a surprise to a party used to sounding the alarm on the dangers of a referendum, but some voters in Dollard-des-Ormeaux (DDO) are saying that they’re being punished for being loyal federalists.
Many feel that the day-to-day issues affecting the West Island are being ignored under the shadow of the sovereignty debate.
“You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t,” said Marie Gignac, a Roxboro resident.
“The problem with the Liberals is that they really want the French Canadian vote, so they’re really trying to play both sides. It’s a really tricky situation and I don’t like it.”
She spoke to Global News in the same shopping centre where the Liberals held their news conference.
For her, the biggest unfulfilled promise is the long-awaited West Island train.
READ MORE: Off the rails – no late night trains heading West
DDO resident Mario Komel said he feels his vote is taken for granted, largely because the Robert-Baldwin riding where he votes has voted Liberal since 1970.
“You could vote for dog catcher here,” he noted wryly. “If they’re Liberal, they’ll get in.”
Local party candidates are aware of a possible Liberal-fatigue phenomenon.
“There is a bit of a Groundhog Day discourse in all of this,” said Geoffrey Kelley, the longtime MNA from the Jacques-Cartier riding.
But he said that this is not affecting party’s commitment to long-standing supporters.
“We are making the effort, we’re not taking anyone for granted.”
Harold Chorney is a Concordia University politics professor who also happens to live in the West Island.
His list of issues to be addressed includes fixing the healthcare system and doing something about poverty and unemployment. He said the Liberals needed to address these issues if they form the government after the April 7 election.
Chorney also noted that the sovereignty issue is of such concern to him, he would be willing to look past other complaints he might have with the Liberal Party.
“I’m in favour of avoiding a referendum and all the mess that is going to create,” he said.
“I think it’s a sensible thing to think about voting for the Liberal Party even despite some blemishes in its program.”
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