The Parti Québécois regional candidates in Centre-du-Québec are pushing to establish a distinct health region for the area, according to campaign announcements reported by local media outlets including La Nouvelle. Candidates Natalie Bisaillon, Charles Page, Alex Boissonneault, and Jérôme Gagnon argue that a separate socio-sanitary region will allow the local healthcare network to better address the specific needs of the population.
Health System Decentralization and Regional Focus
The proposed health region is a central pillar of the party’s platform for the area. According to a joint statement cited by regional reports, the candidates emphasize that regional residents require a healthcare administration that reflects local realities. “Nous créerons une région sociosanitaire distincte pour le Centre-du-Québec, parce que notre réseau doit refléter les besoins particuliers de notre région,” Bisaillon and Page stated in their release, as documented by La Nouvelle. Alex Boissonneault, running in Arthabaska-L’Érable, noted that returning power to the regions aligns with historical party principles established under former Premier René Lévesque.
Immigration Policy and Municipal Support
On immigration, the Parti Québécois platform advocates for reduced permanent and temporary immigration thresholds while increasing support for municipalities and regional county municipalities (MRC). According to statements reported by La Nouvelle, the party aims to give local governments a stronger role in planning and regionalizing immigrant integration. The candidates acknowledged critical labor shortages in specific regional sectors—such as agriculture, manufacturing, and direct population services including healthcare—while maintaining that the broader debate must center on government policy rather than blaming immigrants themselves.
Economic Strategy and Corporate Tax Adjustments
In economic development, the candidates have aligned with concerns raised by the Table des MRC du Centre-du-Québec by proposing reductions in the tax burden for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Party leader Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon outlined a plan to lower the corporate tax rate for SMEs progressively over a single mandate, according to coverage by La Nouvelle. The platform also intends to scale back financial subsidies directed at foreign multinationals to prioritize local businesses and municipal partnerships.
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