(Ottawa) MP Alain Rayes slams the door of the Conservative Party. He will now sit as an independent member for Richmond-Arthabaska in the House of Commons after being elected under the Conservative banner for the first time in 2015.
Posted at 1:13 p.m.
Updated at 1:22 p.m.
“I no longer find myself within my own political formation in which I have invested myself for seven years now”, affirmed in a solemn tone Alain Rayes, in a video addressed to his constituents which he published on the social media.
“There are issues, there are values, there are convictions on which, for me, I cannot compromise,” added Mr. Rayes, who has set his sights on the former Prime Minister of Quebec Jean Charest during the leadership race.
Among these issues, he noted respect for law and order, the protection of Canadian institutions, the fight against climate change and the sound management of public finances, among other things.
Mr. Rayes, who was political lieutenant in Quebec to former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer and took over that role under Erin O’Toole after the last federal election, said in an interview with The Press have “no intention” of joining the ranks of Justin Trudeau’s Liberals or participating in the creation of another political party.
“What I do know is that I love politics. I feel like continuing to do politics. I will honor my mandate as an independent member. We’ll see what’s next. Politics can be done at different levels. Provincial politics, one day, could become an option,” said the MP, who said he wanted to take care of himself and his family after a grueling race.
“I am a Progressive Conservative at heart. I remain conservative. I keep my membership card. I’m not tearing it up. But I no longer feel in line with the direction the party is taking.”
The new leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, loses one therefore one MP, despite the decisive victory he won on Saturday evening at the end of an often acrimonious leadership race. This departure constitutes a first political stone in the shoes of the new leader, who was acclaimed at the head of the party by a large majority (70%) of the 420,000 members who voted. This earned him 68% of the points awarded under the rules of the leadership race, against only 16% to Jean Charest. Mr. Poilievre won the majority of support in 330 of the 338 ridings, including the one Mr. Rayes represents
Mr. Poilievre stretched out a pole to the members of Quebec, who lined up mainly in the camp of Jean Charest during the race, by making a surprise visit to the meeting of the caucus of Quebec, Monday, before the national caucus.
This visit was hailed by all of Quebec’s elected officials and senators as the Conservative leader’s sincere desire to take steps to unite the troops. However, Alain Rayes was not present at the meeting of the caucus of Quebec nor at that of the national caucus, thus fueling the discussions of corridor on his future.
In a message sent to all his former Conservative colleagues, from Quebec and elsewhere, Mr. Rayes affirms that he is not leaving the party out of anger. “I am serene and zen with my decision”, which is “maturely considered”.
In interview at The PressTuesday, Mr. Rayes returned to the reasons that fueled his thinking and that led him to take this decision with serious consequences.
Thus, Mr. Rayes specified that the support given by Pierre Poilievre to the convoy of truckers, which paralyzed downtown Ottawa for three weeks and who also blocked roads at the Canada-US border, is inconsistent with the principles of respect for law and order.
He also expressed concern about the fallout from Mr. Poilievre’s attacks on the Bank of Canada and Governor Tiff Macklem. According to him, this has the effect of weakening Canadian institutions.
“Canadian institutions are essential to the proper functioning of our democracy. When we see what is happening around the world, this erosion that we feel in all Western countries, I find that we are playing a dangerous game of using a discourse that attacks our institutions”, he advanced.
“I am also extremely worried about the alignment that the Conservative Party will take in the face of climate change. I don’t have the feeling that we’re going in the right direction,” he said.
Mr. Rayes also affirmed that he will not hesitate to denounce “the excesses” that he could raise in Ottawa, whether they are fueled by the Conservative Party or any other political formation.
In his message to his constituents, Mr. Rayes also deplored the growing toxicity of exchanges and debates on the political scene.
“Citizens question me about the way politicians behave when they talk to each other about issues. […] The speech became disrespectful in many ways, surly and hateful and even threatening at times. So all these elements that I share with you have made me come to this conclusion, ”he argued before announcing that he will sit as an independent MP.