Federal Minister Pablo Rodriguez, since he sits in Ottawa, should make a “profession of faith towards Quebec” if he wishes to join the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), believes candidate Charles Milliard.
“If there are federal people who run, they will have to, I imagine, make a certain profession of faith towards Quebec, and explain how they can embody renewal, because that is what we need in the party,” Mr. Milliard told journalists on the first day of a PLQ caucus meeting in Gatineau on Tuesday.
Charles Milliard has left the presidency of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec to enter the race to replace Dominique Anglade at the head of the PLQ. He took part in the Liberal rally in Gatineau on Tuesday, unlike former Montreal mayor and former federal Liberal minister Denis Coderre, who was also in the race.
Justin Trudeau’s current Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez, has yet to officially confirm or deny his interest in moving to the provincial level to try his luck as leader of the PLQ, even though his campaign is well underway. Mr. Rodriguez was also conspicuous by his absence on Tuesday.
The federal minister was, however, the subject of barely veiled criticism from Charles Milliard. The latter, for example, stated that he was worried about the risk that the PLQ would become a branch of the Liberal Party of Canada.
“I think that the Quebec Liberal Party is an umbrella party that brings together all the forces at the federal and provincial levels. I want us to be as inclusive as possible,” explained the aspiring leader, who has already been involved in the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in the past.
Originally from Lévis, Charles Milliard presented himself as “centre-right”, and presented his own profession of faith towards Quebec as “being extremely ‘focused’ on Quebec identity, on the economic development of Quebec”.
Interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay declined to comment on Rodriguez’s decision to continue his work as a minister in Ottawa while maintaining the suspense over his intentions with a party in Quebec.
“The Quebec Liberal Party has an independent existence, and in this sense we are very proud, but we welcome all those who want to build the recovery with us,” he repeated.
The only other confirmed candidate, tax lawyer Marc Bélanger, was also questioned in the first press scrum of his life. Originally from Matane, living in Gatineau and working in Montreal, he delivered a long speech with an economic nationalist flavour, insisting on the importance of not having “our resources stolen” by foreign countries.
For his part, Marguerite-Bourgeoys MP Frédéric Beauchemin indicated that his decision is “pretty close to being made” and that the announcement of his possible candidacy “is coming soon.” He explained with a big smile that he had traveled over 4,000 kilometres to Quebec to meet with Liberals from all regions.
PLQ elected officials are meeting in a hotel on the Ottawa River in Gatineau until Thursday.