Quebec Liberal leadership: Milliard gains widespread support in caucus

Quebec Liberal Party leadership candidate Charles Milliard speaks during a media availability as the caucus meets in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Charles Milliard, candidate in the new race for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP), is gaining support within the caucus.

Representatives Frantz Benjamin, Désirée McGraw, and Brigitte Garceau have just joined him, bringing the total of supporters among Liberal elected officials to ten.

The frontrunner in the race, Charles Milliard, went to the QLP headquarters in Quebec City on Monday to submit his candidacy.

• READ MORE: Quebec Liberal leadership hopeful wants to bring back to ‘bread and butter’ issues

Apart from Milliard, the former CEO of the Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce, only Beauce farmer Mario Roy has expressed interest in the race.

On Monday, Milliard had this message for his potential opponent:

“I think he should take note of the importance and strength of the movement behind me. But honestly, we live in a democracy. I will welcome all opponents and I will face them,” he said.

Millard finished second in the race won by Pablo Rodriguez last June. Roy finished in fifth place.

The names of former Via Rail Canada CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano and former Conseil du patronat president Karl Blackburn were circulating, but both men announced that they would not be running.

The leadership race officially began on Monday and aims to find a successor to Rodriguez, who resigned in December following allegations related to the financing of his own leadership campaign.

• READ MORE: ‘I took this decision solely out of a sense of duty’: Pablo Rodriguez speaks after resignation

The race begins with an initial “consultation” phase, which allows riding associations, regional councils, and standing committees to “meet with leadership candidates and share their concerns, ideas, and needs.”

This phase will end on February 13 at 5 p.m., which is the deadline for submitting a nomination. Candidates must collect 750 signatures from members in good standing and pay a $30,000 deposit.

If several individuals qualify as candidates, the new Liberal leader will be elected at a party convention to be held on March 14.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 12, 2026.