Stéphane Billette seeks a new mandate

The Liberal candidate for Huntingdon, Stéphane Billette, fully expects to be re-elected October 1st in order to continue what he has undertaken in the last decade. "We've taken on good projects and we're going to continue to work on them together. This work is done with pleasure and out of respect for everyone. We have made enormous investments in the region, the hospital, schools, parks, vineyards, arenas, roads, sewer systems. The list is long, but that's what it means to work together with municipalities and school boards," declared the MNA during his campaign launch in front of some 500 supporters who crowded into the Club de Golf Hemmingford a few days after the provincial election was called. The reappointed candidate was flanked by his wife, his children and his mother for the occasion. "I would like to thank my wife of 25 years for sharing her husband with the community for the past 10. But my family is a team that works with me. Politics is the same thing, it's not the work of a single person, it's team work," said Stéphane Billette who was also able to count on the presence of many mayors from the area, numerous fellow MNAs from the Montérégie, other candidates from the Quebec Liberal Party, and above all, Premier Philippe Couillard. Unite Quebecers The Premier was thrilled to see so much support for his minister. "You can't draw 500 people here on a Tuesday evening to talk about politics and not realize that your MNA is well loved," he stated to thunderous applause. He then talked about the election campaign which will be a long one. "If we did what we said the first time, we're going to do it again a second time. We now have the means to go further. We have worked for all Quebecers in every region," pointed out Philippe Couillard acknowledging the many farmers, winegrowers and market gardeners in the overly warm room. "Farmers are the people who feed us, which is one of the reasons we're going to continue to fight for supply management. We don't want industrial agriculture. We want families working for generations. We're going to safeguard their interests," announced the Premier who is proud to be a candidate in a rural area. Proud candidate While boasting about having a successful record, Stéphane Billette is looking to the future when he talks about his riding. "Since 2014, we have got our fiscal house in order. We have invested in health, education, the economy and if we want to have resources for the future that's the way to go. It's our vision and it's what we've done," claimed Billette, who is proud to be one of 125 strong candidates. "Always remember that I've been appointed government whip, even a minister but that first and foremost, I'm Stéphane, MNA for Huntingdon," he concluded. Translated by Cathleen Johnston