Liberal Candidate : A

The Liberal Party of Canada candidate in Châteauguay-Les-Jardins-de-Napierville, Nathalie Provost, finds it interesting to campaign in a riding where she will have to "debate, exchange ideas with citizens so that they understand [her] vision, [her] values."

"If there were no campaign, I would arrive in Ottawa without having gotten to know my fellow citizens. I feel honored," says Nathalie Provost. She believes that the Châteauguay-Les-Jardins-de-Napierville riding is similar to the one where she was born, Berthier-Maskinongé. Both areas have an economy that is "essentially agricultural."

Her previous job at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change in Montérégie, before making the leap into federal politics, as well as family ties in the region, have helped her familiarize herself with the territory. "I know the Mercier lagoons," she says.

Agriculture

Agriculture is her "primary concern." Ms. Provost refers to the tariffs imposed by China a few days ago on Canadian pork, canola, and seafood products. "This is a central issue; it is the economy of my region," she states. The candidate calls for "a strong agricultural policy" and says she supports supply management protection, just like the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet. "The Liberal Party did a lot on this issue between 2015 and 2019," she recalls.

The housing crisis and challenges in developing infrastructure that supports "global and international trade," along with strengthening "security measures for illegal drugs and firearms," are also among her priorities. The influx of weapons into the country is a particular concern for the candidate, who is a survivor of the 1989 Polytechnique massacre in Montreal. Ms. Provost says she is "sensitive" to the region's exporting businesses that are facing U.S. tariffs.

Nathalie Provost spoke with the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Prime Minister Mark Carney following a slip of the tongue regarding her last name and the location of the 1989 massacre during a partisan meeting last week. The phone exchange took place a few hours after the incident. "He was very sorry for the mistake," she explains. The candidate met with her leader on Thursday at a Liberal rally.