What's it like being an MNA during COVID-19? We asked 3 of them

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed how MNAs do their work.

The National Assembly was shut down for a few weeks in the spring and politicians had to work from home like so many other Quebecers.

Jolle Boutin,Coalition Avenir Qubec member for Jean-Talon, hadn't had much time in office before the pandemic took hold of Quebec.

After winning a byelection in2019, shewas sworn in in December and made her first appearancein the Blue Room when the legislativesession resumedFeb. 4, 2020.

The mother of two never thought hernewjob could change so quickly.

"Itwas totally different from what I expected," she said. "Instead of going to different events, visiting elders, weneeded to respond to emergency situations:citizens calling, panicking sometimes, people losing their jobs."

She said working remotely came with its own challenges.

"We needed to work from home most of the time. Itwas not very easy since I'm a mom too. Ineeded to take care of my kids while having, like, 10 hours of meetings a day."

One of Boutin'sbiggest challenges was trying to keep in touch with her constituents while her offices were closed.

"It was tough to reach people and to know if they neededsome help or not," she told CBC. So Boutin and her team started reaching out to community groups and organizations in her riding.

Universit Laval andtwo CEGEPSare located within Jean-Talon. Boutin said she was particularly worried about the impact the pandemic restrictions were having on students.

"Imagine spending months in your room studying in front of your computer: you don't see your friends, you don't party. It's pretty tough for them. Sowe needed to contact them and just have a chat."

Boutinsaid she's really looking forward to the day when she can meetmore people face-to-face.

"I went into politics for that," she said.

Communication problems

Qubec solidaire MNA Sol Zanetti told CBC that this year, he felt the very nature of his job had changed.

"A big part of an MNA's job is to feel what people are feeling, to be sensitiveto what's happening, to really be there to listen.So the fact that we couldn't meet people in person, that was a big difference," he said.

He said the alternative means of communicating with people weren't as "satisfying" and didn't always conveyadditional layers of meaning.

Communication in general proved a challenge, with Zanettibeing bombarded with requests for information that he wasn't always able to supply.

"A lot of people were asking so many questions. They wanted clarification about the government'smessage and often we didn't even have the information to give them. Sowe would turn back to the CIUSSS(regionalhealth and social services authority), for example."

Zanetti gave the example of a martial arts studio was it considered a gym? Did it have to close? The regional health authority referred itsquestions to the Health Ministry, which couldn't answer either.

"A lot of people have really concrete problems, really good questions. And we were trying to get answers for them, but it was not easy because the government didn't think everything through when it decided to do a partial lockdown," he said.

Zanetti, who represents the riding of Jean-Lesage, also became a father in October.

"It's a weird year, 2020. It's of course a terrible year for the planet, a terrible year for a lot of people. But I have this kid who is born and she doesn't know about the pandemic yet. She will understand later. It's just a bundle of joy and it's wonderful."

Unique challenges

Jennifer Maccarone, Liberal MNA forWestmountSaint-Louis, said her work has been affected by the impact COVID-19 has had on the downtown core of Montreal.

This means businesses, urban dwellers and the homeless population have been facing unique challenges this year.

"Downtown Montreal has definitely becomea ghost town," she said. "I can say having walked the riding recently, from one end to the other, there's almost no people."

She said meeting with business owners and hearing their stories has really personalized the challenges they are facing.

"It's heartbreaking to know there's very little that I can do to support them, other than other bring their voice to the National Assembly," she said.

Personally, she said things have been tough, not only taking care of her constituents but also spending time with her son who has autism.

"As a mom, it's tough to see your kid struggle," she said. "COVID is extra difficult for people whohave special needs. It has been particularly trying for my son who has absolutely had some dark momentsthe only social network that you often have, when you have special needs, is school."

Despite all the trials,Maccarone said she remains optimistic about the future.

"I'm an infinitely hopeful person, so I'm waiting for the after-COVIDbecause I'mhoping for some normalcy, to be able tostart seeing people again and support my kids in the way that they need to be supported."