Charles Milliard, a former CEO of Quebec’s chamber of commerce federation and a trained pharmacist, has announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Quebec Liberals in a video shared on social media early on Tuesday. Milliard aims to enhance the Quebec Liberal party’s position in the province’s political landscape by focusing on strengthening the economy, promoting transparency in government, and improving public services.
In the previous leadership race, Milliard finished as the runner-up to Pablo Rodriguez, who recently resigned amid internal conflicts and accusations of vote-buying within the party. Milliard is the first candidate to officially enter the leadership race, with other potential contenders like Karl Blackburn, the former head of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, opting out of the competition.
Mario Roy, a farmer and economist who participated in the previous leadership race, has also declared his candidacy for the leadership. Additionally, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, the former CEO of VIA Rail Canada, is contemplating joining the race.
Prospective candidates must gather 750 signatures from party members and pay a $30,000 deposit to participate in the leadership contest. The leadership election is set to take place on March 14, less than a year before the upcoming provincial election in Quebec scheduled for October 5.