Charles Milliard, a former CEO of Quebec’s federation of chambers of commerce and a trained pharmacist, has announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Quebec Liberals. In a video shared on social media early Tuesday, Milliard expressed his commitment to enhancing the Liberal party’s position in Quebec politics by focusing on bolstering the economy, fostering government transparency, and improving public services reliability.
During the previous leadership contest, Milliard narrowly missed the top spot to Pablo Rodriguez, who recently resigned amid internal conflicts and allegations of vote-buying within his leadership campaign. Milliard is the first candidate to officially declare his intention to run for the leadership position, while other potential contenders, such as Karl Blackburn, have opted out of the race.
The official start of the leadership race is set for Jan. 12, with a party convention scheduled for March 14 to select the new leader. Mario Roy, a farmer and economist who participated in the previous election, has also announced his candidacy, emphasizing the urgent need for significant renewal within the party. Additionally, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, a former CEO of VIA Rail Canada, is contemplating entering the leadership race, stating that the possibility remains open.
Prospective candidates must gather 750 signatures from party members and provide a $30,000 deposit to qualify for the leadership contest. The leadership election takes place less than a year before the upcoming general election in Quebec, which is slated for Oct. 5.