After the Ballot

Summary: Chers ľecteurs documents the gruelling everyday life of two Members of Quebec's National Assembly who, although at opposite ends of the political spectrum, share the fact that their sole power lies in their convictions. Two MNAs. Two adversaries. And two entirely different realities, whether in Parliament or in their ridings. Daniel Turp is the P.Q. Member of the National Assembly for Mercier. His degrees are in law. He is a man of ideas who loves culture and who favours social housing. The reason he embarked on a political career was to help achieve sovereignty for Quebec. Charlotte L'Écuyer, Liberal Member of the National Assembly for Pontiac, is pragmatic and wary of promises. She served as Director of Pontiac's health and social services centre before going into politics and dealing with crucial issues linked to the forest industry and lumber crisis. Chers ľecteurs aptly illustrates that ordinary MNAs have very little authority since the real power is wielded by ministers who, in turn, are subject to the ups and downs of a globalized economy. Meanwhile, their fellow citizens keep asking for the impossible. Is a MNA's life a hopeless mission?