By Parker Kessler – Contributor

Mark your calendars for Oct. 5: Québec’s next provincial election. This election for Bishop’s University’s riding, Saint-François, will determine which candidate will become a Member of the National Assembly (MNA). This will impact our student population, as the chosen MNA will have a say in the current issues which the National Assembly is focusing on, including housing costs, minimum wage and the rules regulating English universities in Québec, such as Bishop’s.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

The previous MNA, Geneviève Hébert, who is running for re-election with the Coalition Avenir Québec, is focused on many issues relevant to students here at Bishop’s, such as housing costs and accessibility for Anglophones.

Geneviève Hébert was an MNA when Québec attempted to limit out- of-province students from attending Bishop’s University by increasing their tuition costs. She supported Bishop’s University, and the government, which was formed by her own party, declared an exemption for Bishop’s.

Professor Jacob Robbins-Kanter, Chair of Bishop’s University’s Politics and International Studies department, highlights that without the university’s leadership fighting for an exemption, the attempt might have succeeded. This change would have caused the demographics and culture here at Bishop’s to look very different.

The other candidates are Sylvie Tanguay, representing the sovereignist Parti québécois, Jacqueline Belleau with the Québec Liberals, Mia Fréchette with the left-wing party Québec solidaire, and Esteban Mendez-Hord, representing the Québec conservatives.

Tanguay is a nurse who wants to bring her experience in healthcare to the government, while Belleau, who has close ties with Bishop’s University, wants to utilize her background in immigration and business. Fréchette has promoted accessibility for English speakers as well as lowering the cost of housing, and Mendez-Hord wants to make homebuying more affordable.

At the time of writing, polling website Qc125 projects that Sylvie Tanguay with the Parti Québecois will gain a majority of votes.

Lots of implications

But what’s so important for a student to know about voting in this election?

When asked this question, Professor Jacob Robbins-Kanter explained that voters are most concerned about picking a candidate who will tackle healthcare, the cost of living, housing costs and accessibility, and international relations with the United States’ current administration, all of which impact the daily lives of the student body.

For example, a recent survey by TD shows that the cost of living is causing significant financial stress for 79 per cent of Quebec students. Additionally, in an article by City News, a student was quoted saying, “I don’t have a family doctor right now” and “If you don’t have the funds to pay and go to private, it is extremely expensive. It’s not something we should be paying for”.

Whether or not students have to pay for healthcare and face a high cost of living is partially determined by the National Assembly. Therefore, by voting in this provincial election, you can pick the right candidate to tackle the plethora of issues impacting students.

Classes are suspended on Oct. 5 for voting. You can vote from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at your local polling station. To find your local polling station, type in your address on the Québec Elections site.