Notes from the election
campaign in NDG-Westmount

Anna Gainey and Neil Drabkin skip candidate debates and public meetings

By Irwin Rapoport

April 24, 2025

Based on my informal polling of voters in NDG and Montreal West, incumbent Liberal MP Anna Gainey should be re-elected for the NDG-Westmount riding.

Since the election was called, I have spoken with more than sixty residents between the ages of 18 and 80+, asking:

What are your thoughts about the election campaign?
How do you think you will be voting?

My methodology was neutral, and follow-up questions were based on the responses. The sample base consisted of English, French, visible minority, and multicultural voters.

The vast majority are voting Liberal. Some were still undecided on whether to vote Liberal or NDP, while others would vote either NDP or Green. Supporters of the Greens were vehement that their votes expressed a deep concern for the environment. I did not encounter any Bloc Québécois voters.

When I asked Liberal, NDP, and Green voters if there was anything Pierre Poilièvre could say or do to persuade them to vote Conservative, most simply said “No.

One Conservative supporter indicated he had had enough of the Liberals and their policies over the past ten years. This attitude perfectly reflects the views of many Conservative voices being heard on radio call-in shows and read in letters to the editor. There is a Conservative voter base in NDG-Westmount, and especially in the Mount Royal riding, where Conservative candidate Neil Oberman is leaving no stone unturned to unseat incumbent Liberal MP Anthony Housefather.

When I asked Liberal, NDP, and Green voters if there was anything Pierre Poilièvre could say or do to persuade them to vote Conservative, most simply said “No.”

On April 28, voters have the choice of Anna Gainey (Liberal), Neil Drabkin (Conservative), Malcolm Lewis-Richmond (NDP). Arnold Downey (Green Party), Félix Antoine-Brault (Bloc Québécois), Rachel Hoffman (Marxist-Leninist), Stephen Hensley (Rhinoceros), Marc Perez (People’s Party), and Alex Trainman Montagano (Independent).

The June 19, 2023, by-election, in which 21,726 of 73,152 eligible voters participated, gave the Liberals 50.87 % of the vote, the NDP 13.81 %, the Conservatives 13.51%, the Greens 13.45%, and Montagano 2.35%.

Liberal MP and Transport Minister Marc Garneau won the 2021 election with 53.76 percent of the vote, which had 45.591 of 73,595 eligible participants. The NDP garnered 19.2 %; Conservatives 14.06 %, Bloc 5.28 %, Greens 4.20%, and People’s 3.29%.

Liberal support has been consistent in the last two elections, while NDP and Conservative support is slipping. The percentage of Green voters is based on the strength of particular candidates and their campaigns. Robert Green, the Green candidate in 2019, received 10.73 % of the vote due to the dedicated effort he and his campaign team put in.

Liberal voters voiced concern about the social safety net, old age pensions, Medicare, the CBC, and other popular programs. They did not trust Poilièvre and the Conservatives, and most certainly did not appreciate Poilièvre’s persistent, angry tone and hostility, along with the name-calling. Poilièvre was trying to soften his image, which was reflected in his two debate performances. However, since then, he has returned to his standard rhetoric and is stressing an anti-woke agenda.

‘Some NDP supporters are seriously considering voting Liberal to avoid splitting the vote. This is also being played out in many Quebec, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada ridings.’

NDP voters expressed positive thoughts for leader Jagmeet Singh and the party’s policies. Green voters appreciate the party’s commitment to protecting the environment. Like Liberal supporters, they distrust Poilièvre and see him as a Canadian version of Trump. This Gazette article, Poilièvre backs Montreal candidate’s call to cut university funding over anti-Semitism, confirms this belief.

As noted, some NDP supporters are seriously considering voting Liberal to avoid splitting the vote. This is also being played out in many Quebec, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada ridings. Green voters know they are voting for a principle that needs to be voiced.

I predict that Gainey will receive between 55 and 60 % of the vote. This could change should NDP and Green candidates in the remaining days stress that they “recognize the Liberals will win, and voting for them will not split the vote.”

Westmount, NDG, and Montreal West are chock-full of election signs, and residents are receiving phone calls from campaign teams and have met candidates going door-to-door. As election day approaches, be on the lookout for voter reminder flyers.

On the subject of election signs, while most are untouched, a few Gainey signs have “corrupt” written on them, as well as some with “genocide” and pro-Gaza stickers placed on them. On a section of Monkland Avenue, Drabkin signs had “team Trump” scrawled on them.

Gainey and Conservative candidate Mathew Kaminski declined to participate in debates organized by the Westmount Municipal Association (WMA) and the NDG Community Council (Council) for the 2023 by-election. Sadly, both organizations cancelled the events. Gainey’s refusal to attend dogs her to this day. Both organizations held debates for the ongoing election cycle.

Approximately 120 people attended the Council’s April 15 debate at NDG’s Wesley United Church. It started at 7 pm, I arrived ten minutes before it began and did not have time to survey the attendees.

‘I predict that Gainey will receive between 55 and 60 % of the vote. This could change should NDP and Green candidates in the remaining days stress that they “recognize the Liberals will win, and voting for them will not split the vote.’

The format was based on candidates giving two-minute opening and closing statements, answering two council questions (one on immigration and a second on building affordable housing), and taking audience questions.

Organizers explained that Gainey was unable to attend due to a family emergency and that Drabkin would not be present. This elicited a fair amount of anger, which went viral after it was explained that videos Gainey prepared for the intro and the two Council questions would be shown. Montagano took exception to this and engaged in a back-and-forth with the organizers for roughly five minutes, with most of the audience cheering him on. Several people stood up and turned their backs to the screen when the videos were presented.

The Q&A session dealt with food security, affordable housing and rising rents, the cost of living, various local concerns, seniors’ issues, and language. Four of the five members of Vote for Palestine brought up the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, asking what the candidates would do regarding the selling of weapons to Israel. The give-and-take was passionate and informative.

Afterwards, the candidates spoke with voters for more than twenty minutes. This was a good sign, and I expect this interest shall be reflected by a strong voter turnout on Monday. The audience consisted predominantly of Liberal, NDP, and Green supporters. Several stressed that they wanted to question the Liberal and Conservative candidates, and how they were disappointed. I am sure word is spreading about Gainey and Drabkin skipping the debate.

The WMA held its debate the next day at Victoria Hall, the night of the French leaders’ debate. NDP candidate Malcolm Lewis-Richmond told me that only twenty people attended, including several NDP supporters. The other candidates on the podium were Downey, Linda Sullivan, speaking on behalf of Rachel Hoffman, Montagano, and Stephen Hensley.

Drabkin and Gainey were no-shows. Gainey had informed debate organizers that she would be with Mark Carney at the French leaders’ debate. Despite the small audience, the debate lasted two hours, with many questions being asked. Previous WMA federal election debates attracted 200-plus people.

‘A pre-recorded video of Sitting MP Anna Gainey received boos and jeers at a “meet the candidates” event in NDG. Gainey is facing backlash from community members for cancelling multiple public appearances…’

– Frequency report

The Montreal West Public Library, located on Westminster Avenue, organized a series of meetings with the individual candidates. Lewis-Richmond, Downey, Antoine-Brault, and Montagano spoke to voters and took questions. Gainey had confirmed, but according to a Frequency report, Voters in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce frustrated with MP Anna Gainey’s lack of public engagement, had second thoughts.

The audio portion of the report provides details of the bizarre incident:

“The day after the NDG candidates meeting, Gainey was scheduled to appear at a meet and greet at the Montreal West Library, but cancelled the moment it was scheduled to start… Gainey had walked into the library and turned around, and walked right out before calling in to cancel.”

The full report can be heard via the link. Here is the text that was provided:

“A pre-recorded video of Sitting MP Anna Gainey received boos and jeers at a “meet the candidates” event in NDG. Gainey is facing backlash from community members for cancelling multiple public appearances, including that Meet the Candidates event, her own campaign launch, and recently, a meet-and-greet at a public library.”

“Librarian Deborah Marcoglise said she was “shocked” when Gainey cancelled an appearance at her library and told CJLO she wanted to hear what Gainey had to say about Montreal West.”

“Local campaigners for the Vote for Palestine platform speculated that Gainey would not appear at the library event because she did not want to answer questions about Israel-Palestine. Political Scientist Matthew Taylor said his theory was that Gainey is relying on people voting for party over candidate in the Liberal stronghold of NDG-Westmount.”

* * * * *

I voted at the advance poll on Monday night in NDG, where there was a steady stream of voters throughout the day. I met a few voters who were backing the Liberals. One person set the tone, saying, “I like Carney.” The Carney effect is paying dividends for the Liberals, with many seeing him as the voice of reason and experience – i.e. the steady hand at the tiller.

Between now and election day, campaign teams will reach out to voters, and constituents will be discussing the election with family and friends. This is an important election, and I urge everyone to vote. If you can provide a lift for those with mobility issues, I’m sure they would be grateful.

I hope these observations are helpful. Should readers desire to share their concerns and thoughts on the parties and their candidates, and the campaign itself, please do. The more informed we are, the better.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca or its publishers.

Feature image: William John Gauthier via StockPholio.net