It was quite the surprise for some shoppers at the Marché de L’Ouest in the West Island – a chance to meet with the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) leader, François Legault.
“I was very very surprised, I didn’t think he had the guts to come here,” said Pierrefonds resident Denise Blackman. “The West Island is very Liberal – we’re very red around here. It took a lot of courage and I appreciate that.”
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Legault says he hopes West Islanders – and all Quebecers – will focus on his party’s plan of improving health care, education and the province’s economy – instead of issues that may have plagued them and other parties in the past.
“I think we’ll have a historical election on October 1 because it will be the first election in the last 50 years where the ballot question won’t be about the sovereignty of Quebec,” said Legault.
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Laura Azéroual, the new CAQ candidate for Robert-Baldwin, which covers Dollard-des-Ormeaux and part of Pierrefonds, joined Legault greeting West Islanders on Saturday – she insists that it’s time for change.
“Give him a chance to form government, because this 15 years of Liberal government hasn’t lead to anything good,” she said.
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However, that may be an uphill battle. Some say they’re comfortable with what they’ve always known.