Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on January 22, 2015

A former TV journalist is jumping into the Conservative fold, hoping to help the party shed its negative image in Quebec and win the long-coveted seat of Mount Royal on Montreal Island.

Pascale Dry, 38, said she feels the Conservatives have been unfairly criticized in the province since Stephen Harper became Prime Minister in 2006. The party has never managed to gain a foothold in the Montreal area under his leadership, but she feels that she can help to make a difference.

Ms. Drys candidacy is being greeted as a breath of fresh air in the Conservative Party, and the fact she is Jewish stands to help her win the Conservative nomination in the riding, which has a large Jewish population and has long been courted by Mr. Harpers team.

For the last few years, I have witnessed what has been said and written about the Tories as a journalist, Ms. Dry said in an interview. Frankly, I think we really need to change this bad perception, this poor perception that the Tories have in Quebec.

She said the Conservatives are frequently seen as being hostile and non-transparent in her home province, even though they have a strong record on the economy and in providing help to families.

I dont think they really made bad decisions for Quebec; I think people probably misunderstood the message of the Conservatives, she said. I want to be one of those candidates who will be able to change that perception.

Having just retired from journalism after 15 years, Ms. Dry announced her intention to run for the Conservative nomination in the riding of Mount Royal on Wednesday night.

A key selling point for the Conservative Party in the riding is the Harper governments steadfast support for Israel. Ms. Dry, whose parents are Sephardic Jews from Morocco, said the governments position helps to explain why she was attracted to the party.

She was born in Mount Royal and is currently living in the riding with her husband and two children. She attended primary school at Montreals Maimonides School, which describes itself as a jewel of the citys Sephardic community.

The support from Mr. Harper towards Israel is a big thing, Ms. Dry said. But this is not the only reason that I am running.

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Retired journalist to run for Tory nomination in Mount Royal

Category: Sephardic
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