A tight three-way race is shaping up in a riding wedged between Montreal and Sherbrooke.
The riding of Brome-Missisquoi has changed hands frequently in recent years, with the NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Liberals each representing it at various times in the past two decades.
Liberal Denis Paradis was the MP for the riding for 11 years from 1995 to 2006 and now hopes to represent the people there once again. He said his big priority is water. The riding has two major lakes in Champlain and Memphremagog, both of which have pollution problems and both of which supply drinking water.
“This water is in danger right now so we have to do something for that,” said Paradis.
In 2011, NDP candidate Pierre Jacob won the riding by more than 10,000 votes. While Jacob decided not to run again, his replacement and former executive assistant Catherine Lusson also wants to focus on water. Her other priority is blocking the TPP trade deal.
“We don’t think we can accept a secret trade accord that no one knew about and that no one had any details of and that risks putting our farmers in debt,” she said.
While the Bloc Quebecois’ fortunes across the province have waned in recent years, they can’t be counted out, having won Brome-Missisquoi in 2006 and 2008. Environmentalist and youth worker Patrick Melchior is hoping to once again have the BQ elected here.
“We’re going to take the petrol money and we’re going to put that in green energy and protection of the lakes,” he said.
