The Journal interviews Nicholas Lepage – Bloc

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Arnaud de la Salle
(tr. AB)

Twenty-five year old Nicolas Lepage, running for the Bloc Quebecois, is originally from the Pontiac and is participating in his second election after running for the Option Nationale party in 2012.

Arnaud de la Salle
(tr. AB)

Twenty-five year old Nicolas Lepage, running for the Bloc Quebecois, is originally from the Pontiac and is participating in his second election after running for the Option Nationale party in 2012.
The Bloc’s platform, as presented by Lepage, is to encourage social and economic development with the long-term goal of creating Québec as a sovereign and independent nation. The role of the Bloc is to strongly defend Quebec’s interests at a federal level. The Bloc advocates for an economic policy focused on sustainable action and respect for the environment by, for example, establishing a carbon exchange. This
initiative would be used to control the emission levels of economic actors by investing in new
technologies to reduce their environmental foot print.
On a social level, the Bloc will defend pensioners by returning the legal age of retirement to 65 and will help families by re-instating the tax credit for child care. They also would an independent Employment Insurance fund which would protect it and ensure the funds are not used to cover deficits. 
The Bloc wants to develop support programs for local tourism promoters so the sector can create more jobs and diversify the Pontiac’s economy. Lepage said his party will also help small and medium forestry
and agricultural businesses by offering tax cuts to help them further develop their production. Lepage believes research assistance could also contribute to the creation of good jobs in the region.
Lepage suggested abolishing the Senate, which he deems to be archaic, and he indicated support for proportional representation as well as a coalition government; however, he would not be willing to participate. According to Lepage, if the Bloc were to be
elected, Bill C-51 would be repealed and all of
the “Conservative’s anti-democratic changes” will be studied and reversed; he gave the example of “muzzling scientists”.