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 improving the Liberal party’s position in Quebec politics by focusing on enhancing the economy, ensuring government transparency, and providing reliable public services.
Having previously finished as a close runner-up in the party’s last leadership race won by Pablo Rodriguez, who recently resigned amid internal conflicts and allegations of vote-buying, Milliard is the first candidate to officially declare for the upcoming leadership contest. While other potential contenders like Karl Blackburn have opted out of the race, Mario Roy, a farmer and economist, has joined the competition once more, emphasizing the need for substantial party renewal.
Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, a former VIA Rail Canada CEO, is also contemplating entering the leadership race. Prospective candidates will need to gather 750 signatures from party members and submit a $30,000 deposit to qualify for the contest. The leadership election is set to take place on March 14, just before the province’s general election scheduled for October 5.