Marie-Claude Nichols returns to Quebec Liberals, supports Pablo Rodriguez for leader

Independent member of the national assembly Marie-Claude Nichols, who was expelled from the Quebec Liberal Party caucus by former leader Dominique Anglade in 2022, signs a new membership card at the invitation of leadership candidate Pablo Rodriguez, at the party’s headquarters in Montreal, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Pierre Saint-Arnaud/The Canadian Press)

A Quebec legislature member who was kicked out of the Liberal caucus in 2022 has returned to the party and is supporting Pablo Rodriguez in the leadership race.

Marie-Claude Nichols made the announcement today at the party’s headquarters in Montreal alongside Rodriguez, a former federal cabinet minister under Justin Trudeau.

She was removed from the party after falling out with former leader Dominique Anglade shortly after the Liberals’ poor election performance in 2022.

Nichols, who has been representing the Vaudreuil riding as an Independent, says the Liberals need to be the party of the economy, and the recent downgrading of Quebec’s credit rating by Standard & Poor’s spurred her decision to return.

Rodriguez has succeeded in bringing Nichols back to the party after attempts by interim leader Marc Tanguay failed.

The Quebec Liberals are holding two debates over the weekend for the leadership race, with a winner to be elected on June 14.

The other contenders are Karl Blackburn, former president of a Quebec employers group; Charles Milliard, former head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce; international trade lawyer Marc Bélanger; and economist and farmer Mario Roy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2025.

The Canadian Press