The two frontrunners in the upcoming federal election in the Châteauguay–Les Jardins-de-Naperville met face-to-face on April 14 during an event organized by the CDC Roussillon.
Liberal candidate Nathalie Provost and Bloc Québécois candidate Patrick O’Hara responded to a series of ten questions on pressing social issues affecting the riding. Around 45 individuals attended the event which took place at the Hotel Manoir d’Youville in Chateauguay, including representatives from different community organizations who presented the questions.
After introducing themselves, the candidates responded in turn to questions touching on important subjects such as employment insurance, the rights of trans and non-binary individuals, housing, the status of women, agriculture and food security, seniors, climate change, relations with Indigenous communities, migration and immigration, and issues facing young people in the riding.
O’Hara opened many of his responses by lamenting that in 2025 we are still having to talk about such issues. He spoke often about his role in the community and his experience in relation to different subjects. Provost likewise spoke about her experience and her place within the Liberal party while aligning many of the party’s priorities within the local context. Both candidates agreed that this is an exceptional and important election.
BSSH candidates respond to questions virtually
The three community development corporations active in the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon riding have collaborated to produce video capsules of the major party candidates responding to questions on issues directly affecting local community organizations and riding residents.
The questions prepared by the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, the CDC de Beauharnois-Salaberry, and the CDC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges focus on five themes, including housing, immigration, employment and the economy, climate change, and the fight against poverty. Each candidate was asked to record a brief, unedited response to each of the questions.
The video capsules feature responses by Bloc Québécois candidate Claude DeBellefeuille, Liberal candidate Miguel Perras, New Democratic Party candidate Tyler Jones, and Conservative candidate Priska St-Pierre.
According to the partner CDCs, the goal of this initiative is to offer the candidates a platform to express themselves on contemporary issues affecting the riding in a format that is “accessible, equitable, and rooted in regional realities.”
The candidates’ virtual responses can be viewed online on the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent’s website at cdchsl.org/elections-federales-2025. The videos can also be viewed on the social media platforms of the partner CDC organizations.
Local debates sponsored by area media
Two debates featuring the candidates running in the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon and the Vaudreuil ridings will take place on April 23.
The debates, which are being organized by a consortium of local media including the Journal Saint-François/Gravité Média, Csur la télé, NÉOMÉDIA Vaudreuil-Soulanges/Valleyfield, and the Voix Régionale/VIVA MÉDIA, will be streamed live on the consortium member platforms and websites, including The Gleaner’s website.
The Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Vaudreuil-Soulanges and the Chambre de Commerces et d’Industrie Beauharnois Valleyfield Haut-Saint-Laurent have partnered with the consortium to ensure the challenges facing local businesses are included in the themes to be debated.
The first debate between candidates in the Vaudreuil riding will take place at 5 p.m. while the candidates representing the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon riding will face off at 7:30 p.m.
The debates will then be rebroadcast on the different media platforms.