If he had “enough good ideas to defend”, Joël Lightbound would run for leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).
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The federal MP from the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC), riding Louis-Hébert, confirmed the veracity of the rumors linking him to the PLQ on the show “Le monde à l’envers” broadcast on TVA last Friday .
“The rumor isn’t false, but I didn’t have a revelation like Saint Paul did on the way to Damascus,” Joël Lightbound said.
“It takes good thinking,” he continued. Going into politics to be somebody is worth nothing. You have to go there to do something.”
Still, the main stakeholder already has some ideas for Quebec policy.
“If I had to propose a platform for the PLQ, it would be a hybrid of the Quebec Conservative Party and Quebec Solidaire,” said Joël Lightbound. That is, a lot of boldness but little dogmatism.
“There are reforms that are needed in our healthcare system and we need to review our approach,” he added. I believe there are good proposals coming out of a much more decentralized system and bringing more competition and innovation with the private sector but having a single insurer.
“My silence became an accomplice”
Last year, the member had drawn backlash when he criticized his Justin Trudeau-led government’s management of the health crisis. The one who will celebrate his 35th birthday on February 8 does not regret his decision to stand up to denounce the hostile climate that prevailed.
“My silence became an accomplice,” he explained in an interview. I had to speak up, not only to Mr. Trudeau, who I think helped create that atmosphere, but also to a few others who I hope recognized.
In his eyes, the demonstrators in Ottawa last year deserved no stigmatization.
“There were people from all walks of life and walks of life,” recalls Joël Lightbound. The problem is, when you call someone racist and they’re not, you’re pushing them into the camp of racists, who will accept them. For me, the labels, I have hives. I can not anymore.”
The MP assured that he was on good terms with Justin Trudeau, but that rising to the ranks of the PLC was not his priority.
“I feel very comfortable with my role as deputy and with the sovereignty that I allow myself,” he said. […] I’m not looking for a promotion. I had one: they took me to the back of the room [des communes] close to Elizabeth May. She’s a great woman, I love her very much.”