Federal MP Pablo Rodriguez and the former CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec, Charles Milliard, officially kicked off the race for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec by launching their respective campaigns.
A well-known figure on the Canadian federal political scene, Pablo Rodriguez presented his candidacy to lead the PLQ on Monday alongside MPs Frédéric Beauchemin and Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, former adversaries who chose to join him.
I announce to you that I have decided to leave the race for leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec and to fully support Pablo Rodriguez
declared from the outset Frédéric Beauchemin whose candidacy was supported by Ms. Olivier.
After praising the qualities of his two new allies, Pablo Rodriguez explained that he and his team are running for party leadership in order to to work every day to improve Quebec
.
We are going to build a Quebec that wins in terms of the economy, employment, education, for our young people, for our seniors, for our families… A Quebec that wins for everyone and it starts today.
Considered by many as the favorite in this race for the leadership of the PLQ, Pablo Rodriguez has been the federal deputy for Honoré-Mercier since 2004, in eastern Montreal. He is an experienced politician who led several ministries within Justin Trudeau’s government.
Aged 57, he arrived in Quebec at the age of 8 from Argentina. A graduate in business administration, he campaigned within the Youth Commission of PLQ in the 1990s before getting involved in federal politics.
Last September, he made known his intentions to run for the leadership of the PLQ after resigning as Federal Minister of Transport. He has since sat as an independent in the Commons.
He can count on the support of MPs Désirée McGraw, Michelle Setlakwe and Linda Caron, former ministers of the Couillard and Bourassa governments, including Carlos Leitao and young Liberals.
Charles Milliard wants to embody change
A little over an hour before, it was the former CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec, Charles Milliard, who kicked off the race for the leadership of the PLQ by launching his campaign .
Surrounded by his team, Charles Milliard presented himself alongside the former Liberal Minister of Finance, Raymond Bachand who said he saw in Mr. Milliard a man who embodies both renewal and experience.
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Charles Milliard launched his campaign surrounded by his team and the former Liberal Minister of Finance, Raymond Bachand.
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According to Mr. Billion, the PLQ is today at the crossroads
and significant changes must be made within the organization to regain the trust of Quebecers.
It’s a breath of fresh air that I want to offer with my team today and it’s an intergenerational alliance
declared the one who received the support of 80 members of the youth wing of the party last spring.
Beyond rigor, I want to be the candidate for vigor. I want us to have more tax and development revenue. I want us to have a positive culture.
At his side, Raymond Bachand praised the nationalism
of Mr. Milliard, a man close to the regions who, according to him, is capable to stand up for Quebec
and able to say no to Ottawa which systematically encroaches on Quebec’s areas of jurisdiction
explained the former Liberal minister.
Before launching into the race for leadership of the PLQCharles Milliard served as CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (FCCQ) for more than four years.
Aged 45, Charles Milliard is a pharmacist by training. He was executive vice-president of the Uniprix pharmacy chain before joining the public relations firm National.
Mr. Milliard has so far received the support of deputies Virginie Dufour, André Fortin, Madwa-Nika Cadet and André A. Morin. This support is in addition to that of former delegate ministers Jean D’Amour and Lucie Charlebois, in particular.
He also wishes to run for the Orford riding in the next election, regardless of the outcome of the leadership race.
A new chef at the end of spring
It is on June 14, at the end of a 150-day race, that we will know the name of the person who will win the leadership of the party, during the Congress for the leadership of the PLQ.
The vote will take place at this time. Party members will then be asked to place the candidates in order of preference on their ballot paper. For a candidate to be elected, he or she must win more than 50% of the votes cast. If this percentage is not obtained, the two leading candidates will face each other in a second round.
Although the party leadership race begins today, interested candidates can apply until April 11.
Since the departure of Dominique Anglade, the interim has been taken over by MP Marc Tanguay. The latter announced in the summer of 2023 that he would not be a candidate.
