Quebec Liberals enthusiastically welcome new leader Charles Milliard

Charles Milliard has been crowned the new leader of the Quebec Liberal Party.

A jubilant crowd welcomed the new leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Charles Milliard, to Trois-Rivières on Sunday afternoon, two days after his coronation.

He made his entrance alongside his partner in a room where nearly 600 caucus members had gathered to cheer him on.

Caucus members hope he will breathe new life into the party, which has had a tumultuous few months marked by scandals involving some of its members and the resignation of former leader Pablo Rodriguez in December following allegations related to the financing of his leadership campaign.

The new PLQ leader spoke to caucus members at the Delta Hotel. He outlined key measures that a future Liberal government would implement, including the creation of a telemedicine platform accessible seven days a week, a target of 100,000 housing starts per year, and tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He also pledged to make his government one of integrity, transparency, and accountability in response to the various scandals that his party has recently experienced.

Former Liberal premiers Daniel Johnson and Philippe Couillard took turns speaking to praise the new Liberal leader and the new generation of politicians he represents.

Former interim party leaders Marc Tanguay, Pierre Arcand, and Jean-Marc Fournier were also in attendance.

Milliard will face the challenge of making himself known to Quebecers, as unlike his predecessor, he has never been a member of parliament, either at the federal or provincial level.

A native of Lévis, Charles Milliard is a pharmacist by training and was president of the Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce (FCCQ) before making the leap into politics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French Feb. 15, 2026.

Quentin Dufranne, The Canadian Press