Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville : Liberal Ministers Visit

The Grégoire restaurant in Mercier seems to be a must-stop for candidates in the Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding. After the Bloc Québécois, it was the Liberal Party of Canada’s turn to stop by and meet voters.

Liberal candidate Nathalie Provost visited the popular poutine hotspot on April 14, accompanied by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
He is the fourth minister to visit the Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding since the start of the election campaign. Rachel Bendayan, Mélanie Joly, and Dominic LeBlanc have also joined Ms. Provost on the campaign trail.

A $1,500 Fundraising Event

Mr. LeBlanc’s visit made headlines last week due to the $1,500 price tag to attend a fundraising event held by the local riding association in his company.
During an interview with host Patrick Lagacé on 98.5 FM on April 11, Nathalie Provost was asked about the matter.
The host and journalist pointed out that while everything was legal, the Coalition Avenir Québec had previously been heavily criticized for holding similar fundraising events granting access to a minister.

“Our first role is to fund our election campaign. I need money to run my campaign,” said Ms. Provost during the radio interview. “Signs aren’t free.”

The fundraising event was held on April 9 at the Manoir d’Youville in Châteauguay.
Asked by Le Soleil de Châteauguay, Nathalie Provost’s communications team confirmed that the cost of such an event is set “by the candidate in collaboration with the local association.”
According to the guest list provided to the Journal, about fifteen people attended the fundraising event.

"You'll notice from the list that the majority of the 16 guests were personal friends, work colleagues, and entrepreneurs she knows," Ms. Provost’s team clarified. According to the list, only three guests live in the riding.