Outaouais Branch brings older adults’ questions to candidates
Oct 29, 2026 2 min read
Outaouais Branch president Réal Fortin raises questions about government priorities for older adults during the Quebec election debate.
What would the next Quebec government do to help older adults age with dignity and choice?
Réal Fortin, president of the Outaouais Branch of Federal Retirees, put that question to candidates at a September debate in Gatineau, Quebec. He asked what priority their parties would give older adults and whether a future government would appoint a minister with a dedicated budget to address their needs.
The question reflected a wider concern. Older adults make up about 35 per cent of Quebec’s population and roughly 43 per cent of its electorate. Their needs, Fortin argued, should have a clear place in government priorities.
The event brought together eight organizations serving older adults in the Outaouais. All candidates were invited to participate. Four candidates representing the Coalition Avenir Québec, the Parti libéral du Québec, the Parti québécois and Québec solidaire attended the debate. About 100 people were in the room, with others joining online.
The format gave representatives from the organizations and audience members the chance to ask questions directly. Topics included health care, autonomy, housing and income security. André Thivierge, general manager of the Outaouais Branch and the debate’s facilitator, described the tone this way: “The people in the room were very respectful of the candidates and asked thoughtful questions.”
That exchange is the heart of advocacy: bringing concerns to those seeking public office and pressing for action on the issues that matter.
The questions raised in Gatineau echo Federal Retirees’ priorities in Quebec, including healthy aging with dignity, reliable health care and financial security in retirement. These priorities don’t end with the election, and Federal Retirees will continue working with members, branches and decision-makers to keep them on the agenda.
