Federal candidates speak out on community issues in the Vaudreuil riding
Vaudreuil-Soulanges, April 14, 2025
In preparation for the federal election on April 28, the Corporation de développement communautaire (CDC) de Vaudreuil-Soulanges has launched “Le communautaire en 5 questions”, a democratic exercise inviting candidates in the Vaudreuil riding to take a stand on five major social issues: employment, housing, immigration, the environment and the fight against poverty.
Three candidates – Jean Boily (People’s Party of Canada), Christopher Massé (Bloc Québécois) and Peter Schiefke (Liberal Party of Canada) – responded positively to the invitation, sharing their responses in videos that will be posted today on the CDC Vaudreuil-Soulanges website, newsletter and Facebook page. The aim of this initiative is to provide citizens with information that is accessible, equitable and centered on the realities of our region.
“Our objective is simple: to give candidates a voice on concrete issues that directly affect the citizens and community organizations of our region,” says Sébastien Legros, General Manager of CDC Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
Each participant was invited to record six short videos (one presentation and one answer per question), unedited and no longer than two minutes each. The themes covered major concerns in our community, including the housing crisis, integration of new arrivals, support for vulnerable families, adaptation to climate change and the role of the social safety net.
The organization encourages the public to view the answers available on its website at cdcvs.ca/news and on its Facebook page page, where they can comment on the answers and share the information with their network to help them make informed decisions at the polls.
In conclusion, a similar exercise carried out with candidates in the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon riding will also be shared this week by the group formed by the CDCs of Haut-Saint-Laurent, Beauharnois-Salaberry and Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
Answers from three candidates:
Candidate presentation
All candidates were first invited to make a short video presentation.
Question 1: Employment
Context:
As the Trump administration imposes a trade war and continues to ramp up threats of tariffs, many workers have to temporarily turn to employment insurance. However, they come up against strict eligibility criteria that don’t always reflect the current reality of the job market. At the same time, community organizations, which play a key role in supporting these workers and their families, are struggling to secure stable funding to meet growing demand.
Question:
Is your party committed to making Employment Insurance criteria more flexible, while strengthening and facilitating access to federal funding for community organizations, to ensure a more effective and accessible social safety net?
Question 2: Housing crisis
Context:
In the Vaudreuil riding, the housing crisis is becoming increasingly worrying. Vacancy rates are extremely low – sometimes below 1%, well below the 3% break-even point recommended by CMHC. Meanwhile, rents continue to rise at a steady pace, with annual increases sometimes exceeding 10%, leaving modest-income households considerably more vulnerable. On a provincial scale, Quebec has its lowest vacancy rate in 20 years, at just 1.3%.
Question:
What concrete measures do you propose to support the construction and perpetuation of affordable, non-profit housing, in order to guarantee fair access to housing in our region?
Question 3: Immigration
Context:
The federal riding of Vaudreuil has experienced significant demographic growth in recent years, thanks in particular to the arrival of new immigrants. However, this rapid growth is putting a strain on local resources, whether in terms of integration services, access to housing, educational infrastructure or employment opportunities.
Question :
What measures do you propose to ensure that new arrivals are properly welcomed and that their needs are effectively met, in order to maintain and improve their quality of life?
Question 4: Environment
Context:
The Vaudreuil district is already experiencing the consequences of climate change, including flooding in 2017 and 2019, torrential rains last August, summer heat waves and water shortages in several municipalities. A number of local initiatives have been launched in response, including organic waste collection, a municipal commitment to climate protection, improved public transport and the promotion of active mobility. However, challenges remain, particularly in terms of adapting to climate impacts and supporting local infrastructures.
Question:
What concrete measures do you propose to strengthen these local initiatives, support adaptation to climate change and ensure our community’s resilience in the face of present and future environmental challenges?
Question 5: Combating poverty and supporting families
Context:
Social inclusion remains a major challenge in the Vaudreuil district, particularly for groups in vulnerable situations, who face additional obstacles to full access to public services and participation in community life. Seniors, young families and people with disabilities often face specific difficulties: social isolation, limited access to adapted infrastructures, or insufficient support in their day-to-day activities. Against a backdrop of aging demographics, the challenges of reconciling work and family life, and the barriers faced by people with disabilities, it is essential that public policies are designed with an inclusive and equitable approach.
Question:
In this context, how does your government intend to concretely strengthen social inclusion, improve accessibility to public services and offer adapted services that meet the specific needs of people in vulnerable situations, notably seniors, young families and people with disabilities?
Thank you to the candidates for their participation in this CDC initiative.
About the CDC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges
The Community Development Corporation of Vaudreuil-Soulanges is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering community involvement in the socio-economic development of the region. The CDC’s mission is also to inform the population about the assistance, support and information resources available in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC.
For further information, please contact :
Sébastien Legros
General Manager
Corporation de développement communautaire de Vaudreuil-Soulanges
direction@cdcvs.ca
450 424-3717