The only Quebec representative for all of eastern Quebec in the Carney government, Joël Lightbound has experienced great moments of emotions since his appointment. If he could not dream of “better professional timing”, he also fully aware of the great sacrifice that work-family conciliation represents.
At just 37, Joël Lightbound already has a decade roadmap as a federal deputy for Louis-Hébert.
Becoming a minister, he had dreamed of it for a long time, but he patiently waited for his turn. His colleague Jean-Yves Duclos, to whom he launches flowers as soon as he has the opportunity, had to pass the torch with the arrival of Mark Carney. He intends to take up the challenge with honor.
“I am very very happy to be a minister in the current Carney government, with the agenda he puts forward,” he emphasizes. It is certain that from a professional point of view, for me there is not better timing in a certain way. ”
On a personal level, it’s more difficult, he admits. The elected official is also the father of a little boy who just had a year.
“I was still used to leaving for Ottawa without having the twinge in the heart of leaving a family behind,” he confides during his first editorial interview with The newspaper. So there, it also gives me a lot of empathy for all my colleagues who have been doing it for years. There are some whose children were born in the aftermath of the 2015 election, who lacked great milestones. ”
Green light at tram
The elected official is nonetheless very excited by the mandate entrusted to him, as Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Supply. Joël Lightbound intends to defender Quebec files.
Like many others, he thinks we have quite questioned the choice of tram, again considered in 2024 as the best mode for Quebec, by CDPQI experts.
If he cannot guarantee that his government will indeed participate up to 40% for the tram, he does not see any stake, and a false debate.
Rightly, he points out that the federal liberals have been behind the project from the start and continue to support its realization. It is up to the government of Quebec to make it a priority, because federal funds will be available to finance public transport.
Questions about the third link
Regarding the third link, a project of which people do not speak to him, and whose impacts he fears on the North Shore, Mr. Lightbound notes that there are more questions than answers, which is clearly counterproductive.
Note that the federal elected official never defended this project, but that this did not prevent him from being re -elected with large majorities, including more than 20,000 votes in April.
The burden of evidence is therefore in the camp of the Quebec government, which must present a clear project and demonstrate the gains on mobility, estimates the minister.
Mr. Lightbounde is absolutely not concerned about the economic security of the region with current infrastructure. This new argument mentioned for a year by the Caquist government remains to be demonstrated, he said.
He wishes to work in good faith with the Quebec government, highlighting his good relations with Minister Jonatan Julien. We will have to see how these relationships will evolve by the next Quebec elections in 2026.
