Party leaders have always spent a lot of time campaigning in Montreal.
Normally the metropolis is half of Quebec.
But since a few elections, some “mandatory” activities have been added. So many appointments that have become unavoidable.
It was my esteemed colleague Martin Beaulieu, an experienced cinematographer, who made the relevant remark to me recently.
This forces the chefs to stay in Montreal for several days; while campaign durations are generally shorter than in the past.
- Listen to the meeting of Rémi Nadeau and Antoine Robitaille live every day at 5:30 p.m. above QUB radio :
debates
What fixed dates? First, there are now two formal debates: TVA’s Face-to-Face and Radio-Canada’s Leaders’ Debate.
In the past, the broadcasters formed a consortium and agreed on a specific formula.
In 2007 and 2008 the exercise was held in the capital, at the National Assembly, which was a very good idea. (Also, it would be desirable for one of the 2026 debates to take place there, it’s still the seat of the National Assembly. Oh, and another one could take place in the region, right?)
Since 2012, TVA has chosen to operate its own face-to-face formula. And Radio-Canada, for its part, added another appointment: Five leaders, one election.
Everyone’s talking about what serves as a less involved brief debate…but still compels the chefs to stay in Montreal.
Precious
To be clear, I don’t question these precious TV moments.
However, we have to ask ourselves: Should an election campaign take place mainly on television and in the same city? I will be told that these are effective ways of reaching out to citizens and getting them interested in the upcoming elections.
Agreed, but there is also direct contact, meetings, etc. Meeting people everywhere every four years doesn’t seem like a luxury to me.
- We can advise you on an intensified analysis of the individual election campaign days Antoine Robitailledaily at 5:30 p.m., live or via podcast QUB radio :
Other “fixes”
Aside from TV, new dates will be added in Montreal.
The organization Force Jeunesse, which works for equality between generations, managed to recruit four out of five chefs for HEC this year. At this type of meeting, the absent leaders are always suspected of neglecting such a thing, such an area of activity. What will be added in the next elections?
Other traditions invariably keep or bring the chefs back to Montreal.
They all move in turn in front of the Association of Agricultural Producers in Longueuil, for example. Do a few conventional squats, including the supply management creed.
Same type of parade in front of the Association of Municipalities of Quebec, Club of Large Cities. And then before the Quebec Federation of Municipalities, a group of MRCs and smaller cities. Two conventions in… Montreal.
Before mayors and prefects, leaders invariably pledge to put an end to the “wall-to-wall shift to bespoke”; Valuing “local government” through radical decentralization of Quebec.
And the campaigns, couldn’t you demonstrate them a bit?
