Quebec Liberal leadership race: despite his debts, Mario Roy is running again

Quebec Liberal Leadership candidate Mario Roy speaks during a debate in Quebec City Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

After Charles Milliard put his name forward, Beauce farmer Mario Roy is also re-entering the race for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).

At the same time, he is asking for help to pay off his $18,000 debt from the last race.

“I am therefore making a big appeal to the public to go to my website to sign my nomination form and to go to the Élections Québec website to contribute as quickly as possible to pay off my last debt from the last leadership race and allow me to take part in the new race,” he said during his announcement on Tuesday in his hometown of Saint-Jules.

• Marc Bélanger not running for Quebec Liberal leadership race in 2026
• Quebec Liberal Party leadership race begins Monday

In addition to the debt, Roy must raise $15,000 in donations and 750 signatures from Liberal members by Feb. 13 to be part of the new race. The task ahead is therefore colossal for the 32-year-old, who lacks name recognition. In the previous leadership race, the farmer from Beauce finished fifth with less than 1 per cent of the vote.

It is therefore likely that Roy will not qualify for the race, which would leave the field open to the only other declared candidate, Milliard.

Milliard continues to garner support within the Liberal caucus. On Tuesday morning, Marguerite-Bourgeoys MNA Frédéric Beauchemin endorsed him, bringing his total support within caucus to 12.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 13, 2025.