Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup MP Bernard Généreux brought together former fellow Conservative MPs for his 2022 Business Meeting. In a discussion moderated by François Gagnon, columnist at 98, 5 FM from La Pocatière, politics and entrepreneurship stood out.

Lawrence Cannon, former Pontiac MP in the House of Commons, Denis Lebel, former Lac-Saint-Jean MP, and Christian Paradis, Mégantic – L’Érable MP from 2006 to 2015, opened the discussion with Bernard Généreux on the importance of the role of the Federal representative in equestrian sports, especially for SMEs. Some advice was then given.

“The MNA has the responsibility to know his environment well, but also the entrepreneurs. It’s a shared responsibility. The frequency of the interactions that follow will help build mutual trust between the parties,” said Mr. Cannon. “Treat the mop to the company president with the same respect. That’s how you recognize great men. The money goes by, the people stay,” continues Denis Lebel.

According to Christian Paradis and Bernard Généreux, the importance of regular rounds when riding is also essential. The two men, in turn, highlighted the immense geography and impressive number of communities they have always had to, or have, associated with in their respective counties. “And with that they want to add Témiscouata to me,” recalled Bernard Généreux, alluding to the electoral card reform project currently being studied.

“It’s important to maintain good relationships with public officials to build bridges to projects in our community. We also have to keep in mind that the speed of the public and private sectors is not the same,” said Christian Paradis. “A representative is a mediator. Especially in the regions you have no choice but to work on being close to your people if you want them to have the reflex to call you in an emergency,” Bernard Généreux continues.

The four men also signaled a lack of knowledge of the existing levers at federal level, both in companies and in municipalities. Christian Paradis attributes this condition to the closeness that Quebecers maintain with the provincial government.

“Funding programs are also more standardized at the federal level, but we need to go beyond that. As MEPs, we have a duty to make them known. When I left politics, my county was the one that overused existing federal programs the most,” he said. Bernard Généreux then added, pointing out that Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup was the champion of applications for the “New Horizons for Seniors” programme.

For his part, Lawrence Cannon recalled the importance of the levers that the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Canadian economic development are for the regions of Quebec, or even the commercial agencies abroad, which are often not part of the reflex of Quebec entrepreneurs. “Quebecians have a different relationship with Ottawa than the rest of Canada, and Quebec likes that we respect its jurisdictions. As federal deputies, we have to respect that and know how to connect with this reality,” emphasized Denis Lebel.