Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard to receive $230,591 salary

Quebec Liberal party Leader Charles Milliard speaks at a news conference at the legislature in Quebec City, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) will pay its new leader, Charles Milliard, a salary of $230,591 per year.

The salary was agreed between him and the party, according to information provided to The Canadian Press on Wednesday by a spokesperson.

It is the same as the agreement made for his predecessor, Pablo Rodriguez.

The leader’s compensation has already been a contentious issue for the PLQ—particularly during former leader Jean Charest’s tenure, as he received an additional $75,000 even when he was premier.

The PLQ will pay Milliard from its own coffers because, like Rodriguez, he is not elected to the National Assembly and therefore does not currently receive any emoluments.

The $230,591 is exactly the amount he would receive if he were the official opposition leader at the head of his parliamentary group in the House.

The agreement is valid until Oct. 5, the day of the Quebec general election, since Milliard intends to run for election as the member for Orford and then enter the National Assembly.

Last summer, after Rodriguez was elected to lead the PLQ at a convention, the party also justified its decision to pay its leader a salary equivalent to that of the leader of the opposition as established under the rules of the National Assembly.

“This decision reflects the nature of his current duties, which correspond in every respect to those of a national party leader in a position of government preparation,” the party explained.

“He now assumes responsibility for leading the parliamentary team, defining the party’s strategic directions, preparing the government alternative, and publicly representing the Quebec Liberal Party throughout the province.”

Rodriguez was forced to resign in December following controversy over the financing of his leadership campaign. Milliard, who finished second in that race, was crowned leader on Feb. 13, after a nomination period in which no other candidates were able to qualify.

In October 2020, the Parti Québécois (PQ) also chose to pay a salary to its leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon after he was nominated head of the party, before he was elected member of the National Assembly for Pointe-aux-Trembles in the October 2022 general election.

The National Executive Council decided to pay him $120,000 per year.

The same treatment had been given in the past to Jacques Parizeau in 1988, when he succeeded Pierre Marc Johnson, and to André Boisclair in 2005, when he took over from Bernard Landry, it was argued at the time.

In 2008, Jean Charest’s Liberal government was embroiled in controversy following an indiscretion by party president Jean D’Amour. He revealed that Charest had been receiving a salary of $75,000 per year from the PLQ since he became party leader in 1998, even after becoming premier of Quebec in 2003. That position, however, provided him with an annual salary of $175,000.

In December 2010, he had to give up his party supplement when Bill 48 was passed, which subjects all elected officials to a code of ethics.

Under this code, “a member of the National Assembly may not receive, directly or indirectly and in any form whatsoever, a salary, allowance, financial assistance or any other benefit from a political party or party body.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 11, 2026.