Conservative candidate Steve Corriveau says he wants to be proactive

Nunatsiaq News is profiling candidates in the April 28 federal election. In Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou, incumbent Bloc Québécois MP Sylvie Bérubé is running against the NDP’s Thai Dillon Higashihara, Conservative Steve Corriveau and Liberal Mandy Gull-Masty.

Conservative candidate Steve Corriveau says his leadership skills make him the best choice to represent the Abitibi-James-Bay-Nunavik-Eeyou riding in Ottawa.

Corriveau spent around 20 years of his life working in tourism, travelling across Africa, Asia and Europe. Through these travels, he said he’s learned that it is important to be open with people.

He said when he started his political career in the region, he picked up CDs for Inuktitut and Cree learning, adding he believes the most important practice is to “give respect [to a culture] before asking respect.”

“We cannot make the mistake in Quebec that there is only the francophone culture to defend,” he said in a French phone interview.

Corriveau first presented himself as the Conservative candidate in the 2021 federal election, where he lost against Bloc Québécois MP Sylvie Bérubé.

He has not travelled to Nunavik yet. When he first ran, he wanted to travel to the region but was “disenchanted” by the price of a plane ticket, which exceeded his budget.

But, if elected, he pledges that this summer he will go to every single community to see the people and understand their concerns.

“Only your eyes can make you feel,” Corriveau said.

He later added that he, as a candidate, holds no personal priorities when it comes to his campaign.

“I see the role of an MP as someone who is elected by the people to improve their situation,” he said.

“Once that is in place I won’t wait at my office, feet on the ottoman, waiting for the phone to ring.”

He pledges to keep in touch with local leaders in Nunavik because they are the “experts on the terrain.”

Similar to the other candidates, Corriveau said he believes the riding needs four offices, in Val d’Or, Chibougamo, Chisasibi and Kuujjuaq, and that he intends to hire Crees and Inuit to work in the regional offices.

One of his ambitions is to work on redistributing the riding’s voters by separating Eeyou-Istchee and Nunavik from James-Bay and Abitibi.

“It will enable people to have access to their own representation in Ottawa,” adding it would be an important gesture of reconciliation.

According to the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, Quebec is eligible for riding readjustments again in 2033. Corriveau believes that gives plenty of time for leaders in the region to plan.

“It is something that is close to my heart, and will be a legacy that I would leave behind,” he said.