July 15th, 2010 Edition

Dear adéquiste friends,

A few days ago, summer finally arrived. The deputies have ended their parliamentary session about a month ago. The following weeks will provide the ideal opportunity to meet and greet Quebecers from all regions.

As for me, I am relieved that this parliamentary session is over. I must confide in you that I was disappointed on a daily basis by the sad spectacle that Jean Charest and Pauline Marois put up during question and answer period.  It was all about who can throw the most mud at his adversary. What a sad way to engage in politics! How can we restore the image of the political class if the main actors are putting on such a farce? For my part, I refused to take part in it.

I can assure you that your adéquiste deputies have behaved themselves with the utmost professionalism. I have too much respect for the duty that the constituents of Chauveau have entrusted me as their deputy, as well as for the party that chose me to be its leader, to lower myself to this level.

At the same time, we knew that there was going to be a by-election on July 5th in the district of Vachon. Thanks to the work and dedication of our volunteers and our candidate, Alain Dépatie, we were able to transmit the ideas of the ADQ. Certainly, we would have wished for a win, but we can say that this campaign allowed us to meet our targets. It is also reasonable to be saddened by the very low turnout rate, where less than 30 % of the voters went to the ballot box. At this point, one can only blame the Liberal Party Leader, for choosing to hold this election in the middle of the summer.

Allow me to conclude by wishing you a pleasant summer. Let us meet in September!

Gérard Deltell

Leader of Action démocratique du Québec

Greetings, Dear Members!

It will soon be six months since I became President and General Director of the ADQ. Let me tell you that it has been the beginning of a very challenging term. After a turbulent time in 2009, we should note that the party was in a precarious situation. At the end of the party leadership run we were left with a 6 % approval rating in opinion polls and with questions to be raised about in the future.

Today, we can say that the situation has been managed constructively and with reason.  The Management Committee and the National Executive Committee are flexible teams which actively participate in steering our party’s destiny. Since March, we have also undertaken the training of ten regional tables, which are attentive to serving different regional activists. This year on April 24th in Acton Vale we also held an organizational day, where 175 adéquistes had the opportunity to make themselves heard and to share what must become the ADQ's distinct vision. It was a genuine success and some of the ideas raised were noted for follow-up. Certain proposals are already in the works; others will be implemented in coming months. Since April, several regions have organized member activities. They feel rejuvenated with a renewed sense of pride.(More)

We are already in the process of organising our next adéquiste meeting. On November 13-14 in Granby, adéquistes for all of Quebec will gather for the ADQ’s historical 9th convention.

You can now register on our website with online payment security.(Here)

For this event, we invite you to register early in order to profit from a considerable reduction rate that can save you up to $100.00.

Thus, members who register before October 1, 2010 will pay only $100.00, whereas the members, who register after will pay a $150.00. For the members who choose to register online after 01 November, 2010 or on convention site will pay a $200.00 registration fee.

As tradition holds, our youth members will profit from 50% rate reduction.

In August we will be sending additional details concerning the consultation that will take place with each regional table just as the elections will also be taking place at this gathering.

For the pleasure of seeing you there and may we be numerous!

Event: 8th Edition of Golf tournament Janvier Grondin

Guest of Honour: Christian Lévesque

When: Friday, August 13, 2010 at 9:00 a.m

Where: Club de golf Dorchester de Frampton, 29 Route 275 N, Frampton, QC G0R 1M0

Fee: The cost is $180 per person, including the right to play, the golf cart and brunch. It is also possible to be present only for the lunch for $80.00 per person.

Organized by: This event is organized by the adéquiste association of Beauce-Sud. To reserve a seat, please communicate with the association at (418) 390-2433.

Event: Family day for adéquistist activists of the central Québec region

Guest of Honour: Christian Lévesque

When: Sunday, August 29, from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m

Where: Parc régional de la Rivière Gentilly, 1000 route des Flamands, Ste-Marie-de-Blandford

ACTIVITY: Barbecue (hot dogs, hamburgers, pop-corn, drinks included). Possible volley-ball on the beach walks along a path, and other activities. Bring your preferred outdoor games. We will also offer you a horse back ride for an hour at the Joual Vair Fair.

Fee:  $50.00 with the horse back riding, $25.00 without horse back riding, free for all those who are 15 years of age and under.

Organized by: This event is organized by the regional table of Centre-du-Québec. To confirm your place or to get additional information, please communicate with Lyne Niquette.

E-mail: lniquette@adq.qc.ca

Telephone Number: 819 359-2290.

On June 22, 2010, Quebec celebrated the 50th anniversary since the election of the Lesage government and its dynamic team. Today, we remember this exciting period with nostalgia as a time when everything was ours to build, to win, and to assert. Compared with the present day dullness of our politics, this page of our history seems very distant, due to the inability to recreate such public engagement.

Still, the period that immediately preceded the Quiet Revolution resembles, in many ways, what we are currently experiencing: a stagnant political world, a feeling that the rest of the world is surpassing us, and most of all, a strong desire for a collective breakthrough.

Today, our society is broken in spirit. Financially downtrodden and lacking the ingenuity to resolve our societal woes: A loss of citizens’ trust in their political establishment, the lack of vision, and most importantly, loss of our pride and hope. Simply put, Quebec is in general decline.

We should see this stagnation as an opportunity to grasp. The entrepreneurial spirit must be found to make our society rebound and launch it towards a new future. It is necessary for us to rebuild Quebec. Rebuild to find our own place and to win again. Rebuild to be the best, to be the envy of others. Rebuild to draw new pride, and a will to get involved to make new things happen.

We should rebuild our education system on the simple principles of the acquisition of knowledge and a sense of fraternity. To put an end to this missing of opportunities, to this oppressive statism and to this culture of failure that brought us down to the bottom rank. (More)

On July 5, 2010 a by-election in riding of Vachon was held. This election was caused by Camil Bouchard’s resignation in December, 2009. Despite, the best efforts put forth by all candidates, this summer’s by-election led to an anaemic turnout rate of 29.26 %; the lowest in Quebec’s political history.

I am of course disappointed by both the low turnout rate and our results in Vachon.I am however delighted with the job that my team and that the volunteers put in during the campaign. Of course, it is without mention, all those who contributed financially to the Vachon campaign. It was because of your efforts, that we where able to meet voters of Vachon on a daily basis, from door-to-door, on the internet, and in different public places throughout the riding.

I of course, cannot be silent regarding the active participation of our parliamentary wing that supported me throughout the campaign. Therefore, thank you to François Bonnardel, Janvier Grondin, and Sylvie Roy. I would like to also thank our leader Gérard Deltell. He came to our riding four times to accompany me to meet the media, the constituents, as well as different leaders of economic and education circles  of the riding.

I invite you to visit or re-visit the work accomplished throughout the campaign on my Facebook profile here.

Looking towards the future

The results in Vachon show the importance of investing the time and the means to develop a continuous presence between elections. Activities must be organized, job postings must be announced, and we must participate in community public debates. Throughout the campaign, people whom we met always stated that they wanted to see a true change. It is for us to offer them a different and stimulating plan for Quebec.

Thereupon, I would like for you to use the summer season to rest and to catch your breath to continue working with ADQ.

Alain Dépatie