On the terrace with Alexis Deschênes | Defend the reality of the regions

(Ottawa) This summer, our journalists spend a moment on a terrace every week with a personality for a friendly discussion. Ariane Krol has subsided with Alexis Deschênes, Blocker MP for Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine-Listuguj, to speak political and challenges of the regions.

“The first day in the House of Commons is impressive. There are 343 elected officials, noise, decorum, a lot of learning to make, “said Alexis Deschênes, met on the Tavern on the Hill terrace, in a Park in Ottawa near the Parliament.

“I work hard to learn and adapt as quickly as possible, to be a better parliamentarian and have the files in my region walk. »»

Having been a parliamentary correspondent for four years in Quebec, he knows that to “take a good end of the game”, it is necessary to “create links with the government ministers”.

It was therefore not long in speaking to the Minister of Fisheries, the Newfoundlander Joanne Thompson, of the importance of devoting sums to the diversification of the export markets. “We will not get on everything, but we can agree on it. »»

A counter-current of the Red Wave of Spring, the voters of his constituency chose an opposition deputy rather than an ex-liberal minister who had been sitting in Ottawa since 2015, Diane Lebouthillier.

Alexis Deschênes won by more than 4,200 votes. A balm for those who had failed to be elected under the PQ banner in 2014 and 2022?

It must be said that the candidate Deschênes was not in his first race. The first was in the sixth year of primary, to be mayor for a day in the village of Maria.

“I embarked right away!” I prepared a speech, I won with 39 votes. The sting of politics is really part of there! »»

There was then the student council, in the secondary, the Quebec Collegiate Student Federation, at CEGEP, and, more recently, the bar from the eastern Quebec, of which he was elected stick last year.

“I realized that it is in me, I will always get involved. So after 2022, I managed to say to myself: “I have that in me, I will continue, I do not take it personal.” »»

Life in the region

A journalist or a lawyer who embarks on politics, it has been seen. A deputy who fights in federal court to shrink the size of his constituency, on the other hand, it is unusual.

It is that the former district of the Gaspésie-the islands-of-the-Madeleine enlarged to the last electoral division, when it absorbed part of Avignon-Mitis-Matane-Matapedia, abolished in the process.

The Gaspé has lost one of its three seats in the communes. And the new district of Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine-Listuguj covers 23,587 km²or more than countries like Belize or Salvador.

Alexis Deschênes challenged this redistribution in July 2023, well before candidate. The Federal Court having rejected his arguments last February, he filed a notice of appeal.

“I will do everything I can to be as present as possible”, but the extent of the constituency “violates the political rights of the people of [la] Region to have access to an elected official easily, ”said the new elected official, who had to open six district offices.

The government could “increase the number of deputies, and ensure that the regions [en] have a minimum number that does not decrease even if their relative weight decreases, ”he suggests.

“The other interesting solution is protected statutes,” he said, giving the example of Prince Edward Island, where four seats are guaranteed to the province, therefore protected.

“Life is different in the region. It takes people who say our regional reality loud and clear and require arrangements. »»

In addition to economic sectors such as peaches, forestry or tourism, transport is a major issue that “touches everyone” in its region. Upon resumption of parliamentary work, he asked for the extension of the track of the Airport of the Ile-de-la-Madeleine, and the return of the service of Via Rail between Matapédia and Port-Daniel-Gascons.

Its region, like several others in Quebec, is the wind in the sails in recent years. The migratory balance sheet of the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine remains one of the most favorable in the province, confirmed the Institut de la Statistics du Québec last January.

“It brings new blood, new ideas. The Gaspé has always been a land of welcome, and I think it improves all the time. It is a different culture, a different rhythm, ”says the one whose village, Carleton-sur-Mer, has 4,218 inhabitants.

“There are two small features that speak a little about us. The horn, it only serves to greet. And when I see an ambulance passing quickly, my heart tightens because I wonder for whom it is ”, he illustrates.

“We are very close, and at the same time, we are very free because we have large playgrounds. We have the sea, in the end of the end, the river, the fishing, the hunting, everyone finds their account. »»

A little secret corner to recommend to Quebecers visiting this summer?

“I’m full, but I don’t know if I’m going to tell you!” “Dodges the deputy laughing.

“I invite tourists to try exploration. When there are small traverse roads, take them, go see. You may meet people who are going to talk to you, because every Gaspé and Gaspés in its secret small places. »»

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