Quebec Conservative candidate Dr. Roy Eappen is aiming to make a mark in the upcoming provincial election. .“I’ve never thought I’d actually be running,” said Eappen in an interview. .“I’m usually a behind-the scenes person.” .Eappen’s father came to Canada from Kerala, India, in 1956 to do a PhD in physics. Eappen was born in Kerala in 1963 and emigrated to Notre-Dame-de-Grace, the riding he is running in, with his mother. .Eappen grew up and attended school in the area. What sparked his candidacy is Quebec Conservative Leader Eric Duhaime is a close friend. . Roy Eappen campaign signRoy Eappen putting a campaign poster on a pole. .Duhaime asked Eappen for his opinion on running for Quebec Conservative leader. He encouraged his friend to do it, as he believed it would be a great opportunity. .Duhaime said he would run if Eappen was a candidate in the next election, which he declined at first. After some convincing, Eappen relented. .He works as an endocrinologist, which made him passionate about reforming Quebec’s healthcare system. He called the province’s healthcare “in particularly bad shape.” .The candidate said he will fix healthcare by adopting best practices from other countries. He supports Quebec converting to the Swedish model, where there is a 30-60-90 day program. .There are private hospitals and doctors in Sweden. If people do not receive care in the public system after 90 days, the Swedish government will be forced to pay for it in the private system. . Roy Eappen campaign busRoy Eappen standing next to Eric Duhaime's campaign bus. .Eappen said he will advocate for supply healthcare. His hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic outsourced cataract surgeries by moving them to private facilities, which eliminated the backlog. .He went on to say he will fight inflation by cutting income taxes for the two lowest tax brackets by 2%. The Conservatives will increase the personal deduction, which would see the average family earning $80,000 per year save $2,000. .The Conservatives are opposed to future COVID-19 restrictions. One of their proposals is to change the Public Health Act to require 80% of the Quebec National Assembly vote in favour of similar measures if they are going to be enacted again. .No one has commented on him being an openly gay man running for the Conservatives. He said he has felt welcomed while campaigning and has not faced any discrimination. .His sexual orientation has not been a topic at the doors because Duhaime is gay. He is the first gay leader of a provincial conservative party in Canada. . Roy Eappen rallyRoy Eappen among a crowd of people attending an Eric Duhaime rally. .Eappen said campaigning in his riding has gone well. While there has been one moment where a person was rude to him while canvassing, most people have been friendly and thanking him for running. .He said campaigning has given him “a new respect for politicians.” He has learned it takes significant energy to run for office. .338Canada projects the Quebec Liberals have a safe hold on the seat. The previous Conservative candidate garnered a few percentage points of the vote, but he is expected to receive somewhere in the double digits. .Eappen said people should vote for the Conservatives because Quebec has gone through “50 years where we discuss nothing but sovereignty and federalism.” .“We represent a difference in the Quebec political scene,” he said. .“All of the other parties are of the left or of the far-left.” .Duhaime said on September 12 he is excited about the upcoming provincial election, as his party has put forward principled policies. .READ MORE: Quebec Conservatives hoping to offer true conservative vision for the province.“I am running for the Quebec Conservatives because I’m a centre-right guy who has been very disappointed by Francois Legault and the CAQ (Coalition Avenir Quebec) over the last four years,” he said. .“He’s offering us a government that’s quite on the left.”
