Quebec Liberals Aim to Revive Electoral Fortunes as Leadership Race Begins
The Quebec Liberal Party kicks off its leadership race, seeking to regain support after years of decline in the political landscape
Quebec, Liberals, Leadership Race, Pablo Rodriguez, Denis Coderre, Election
MONTREAL: The Quebec Liberal leadership race is officially on! It started Monday, and candidates are already gathering endorsements. The party is eager to regain its footing after struggling for years.
Four candidates have thrown their hats in the ring. We’ve got Pablo Rodriguez, a former federal cabinet minister, Denis Coderre, who used to be the Montreal mayor, Charles Milliard from the Quebec chambers of commerce, and tax lawyer Marc Bélanger.
Interestingly, a potential fifth candidate, Frédéric Beauchemin, decided to back Rodriguez instead of running himself. He believes Rodriguez is the one who can unite everyone in Quebec.
Rodriguez, at 57, seems to be the front-runner, but he’s got some baggage from his time in Justin Trudeau’s government. He stepped down as transport minister and is now sitting as an Independent until the leadership race heats up.
Milliard was quick off the mark, getting a big endorsement from former finance minister Raymond Bachand. He’s all about bringing a fresh perspective and creating a bridge between younger and older party members.
Bachand pointed out that Milliard has the advantage of not being a career politician, which is a subtle jab at Rodriguez. He also mentioned how weak the Quebec Liberals are in the regions, especially with francophone voters.
With the upcoming federal election, many Quebecers are leaning towards the Bloc Québécois or the Conservatives. Bachand questioned if the Liberals should really choose a leader closely tied to the federal government.
The Quebec Liberals faced a tough time in the last two elections, suffering their worst defeat in over 60 years in 2018. They’re now down to just 19 seats in the provincial legislature and need to win back support outside Montreal.
Sylvia Martin-Laforge, who heads an anglophone advocacy group, suggests the party should focus on its traditional strengths in economic management while promoting minority rights as essential for provincial growth.
The new leader will be elected on June 14, and the party has been without a permanent leader since Dominique Anglade stepped down in late 2022. Marc Tanguay is currently filling in as interim leader.
This leadership race will coincide with the Liberal Party of Canada’s own leadership contest to replace Trudeau. Exciting times ahead!