The New Democrats seem set on making Gatineau part of its anticipated Quebec breakthrough in the Oct. 14 federal election.
The attention lavished on the riding — from multiple visits by Jack Layton after he launched his campaign there, to yesterday’s appearance by the NDP’s lone Quebec MP Thomas Mulcair — indicates the party thinks it can wrest the riding from the separatist Bloc Quebecois as part of its “recognizable goal” of winning eight to 12 ridings in Quebec.
Mulcair, who shocked political observers when he won Outremont riding from the Liberals in a 2007 by-election, sees similarities between his Montreal-area constituency and Gatineau.
“Your numbers are almost identical to mine,” he told Françoise Boivin, the former Liberal-turned-NDP candidate for Gatineau.
Mulcair said he and Layton have made appearances in Gatineau because they believe Boivin stands a real chance of winning.
Mulcair said Layton had asked him to build a team of strong candidates.
“We went after people like Françoise Boivin because she is going to win seats,” he said. “That’s what this is about.”
Boivin said Gatineau is a “more social democratic riding” with young working families who put issues like healthcare on the top of their priority lists.
“We need doctors in Gatineau, and it’s more urgent than anywhere else in Quebec.”
The NDP’s platform is heavy on promises to improve healthcare, and train more doctors.
“People want change,” said Boivin. “We’re a people-oriented party. With the economy taking a turn, they need a party with people at the centre.”
Support is coming from all walks of life, said Boivin.
“We seem to draw from every sector in the region,” said Boivin. “It used to be easy because you would look at the map and say, ‘this part is Liberal,’ but this time, my team is having great difficulty because we have to go everywhere.
“It’s very, very encouraging,” she said.
