This past September 22nd, the candidates for the provincial riding of Jean-Talon went head to head in a political debate at St. Lawrence in the iA Financial Group auditorium. This event was hosted by the St. Lawrence Political Science and debate club.
The Candidates that Debated
- Gabriel Coulombe from the Parti Québecois
- Julie White from the Parti Libéral
- Olivier Bolduc from Québec Solidaire
- and Stéphane Pouleur from the Équipe Autonomiste
Joëlle Boutin of Coalition Avenir Québec, Sébastien Clavet from the Parti Conservateur, and Alexandre Dallaire of the Parti Vert du Québec were invited but chose to not assist.
From left to right: Olivier Bolduc, Gabriel Coulombe, Julie White, and Stéphane Pouleur
The Debate Format
The debate followed a standard format. Candidates presented platforms and were then asked questions by mediators and the public.
Mediators asked questions about Language (bill 96), Immigration, and the ever-rising cost of living. The public had questions about education, public transport, and the looming question of the 3e Lien.
Party Lines Were Not Always a Perfect Fit for an English Cegep
All candidates presented their platforms and stuck to party lines. PQ and Québec Solidaire leaders had a hard hill to climb where, in front of an English cegep crowd, they talked of their belief in sovereign Québec, where French would be the dominant language. But all candidates delivered arguments clearly and succinctly. Credit must be given to the fact that their intentions were direct.
Julie White of the Parti Libérale had a strong advantage. She was at ease in both languages and a CEGEP St. Lawrence alumna.
Stéphane Pouleur with the Équipe Autonomiste's slogan "Plus à droite mais pas dans le champ" brought some flair to the whole debate with sometimes quirky policies.
Candidates Left a Strong Impression
The St. Lawrence students were very engaged and talked to the candidates at the end of the debate. Without exception, all candidates were open to discussion, staying to answer all questions for a good hour.
Most students had positive comments about the event. Mentioning that even though the candidates were so far apart politically, they still were highly respectful.
