Charles Milliard, a former CEO of Quebec’s federation of chambers of commerce and a pharmacist by profession, has announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Quebec Liberals once again. In a video shared on social media early Tuesday, Milliard expressed his commitment to strengthening the Liberal party’s presence in Quebec politics by focusing on enhancing the economy, promoting transparency in government, and improving public services reliability.
Having previously finished as the runner-up in the party’s last leadership race, losing to Pablo Rodriguez, Milliard is now the first candidate to officially declare his intention to run for the leadership position. Rodriguez recently resigned amidst internal conflicts and accusations of vote manipulation within the party during his leadership campaign.
Mario Roy, a farmer and economist who participated in the previous leadership contest and garnered less than one percent of the vote, has also announced his decision to run for the leadership again. Additionally, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, a former CEO of VIA Rail Canada, has hinted at the possibility of entering the race.
Prospective candidates interested in contesting the leadership must gather 750 endorsements from party members and provide a $30,000 deposit. The leadership race precedes the upcoming general election in Quebec, scheduled for October 5, by less than a year. If more candidates emerge, the official race will commence on January 12, culminating in the selection of a new leader at a party convention on March 14.