(Quebec) Dominique Anglade fails what Liberal association presidents considered a test of leadership. MNA Marie-Claude Nichols refuses to rejoin the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) caucus. An episode that fuels discontent and pushes former deputies and political staff to seek a new leader, testified a source with deep roots in the party.
Updated at 0:12
Marie-Claude Nichols does not want to be “the lifeline of a leadership that gets lost in unexplained, thoughtless and hasty decisions”, she wrote in a letter she sent to Liberal MPs on Tuesday and that several media, including The Presshave obtained.
She thus rejected the hand extended to her by Mrs.me Anglade during an interview on Monday. The Liberal leader had then offered to return to caucus, four days after having expelled her. Marie-Claude Nichols, who “remains liberal” although the “wound is deep”, refuses to return to a party led by a leader in whom she does “not entirely trust”.
In an interview with RDI at the start of the evening, Mme Nichols went further. “She’s clearly not making the right decisions. […] Dominique no longer has the leadership to lead the Quebec Liberal Party. “On LCN, she added. “She has to quit and she has to quit quickly because this is the damage she is creating in the Liberal Party. »
The probabilities of a return of Mme Nichols in the Liberal fold were slim.
According to our information, the MP had confided in relatives, saying she was “humiliated” and “completely upside down”, even after her meeting with the chief. The elected in Vaudreuil since 2014 therefore remains an independent MP.
Dominique Anglade says to take “note of his decision” and affirms that “the door remains open”.
“It is now time for us to devote our energies to the most important issues for Quebecers, such as the economy, health and education, as well as to the start of the parliamentary session which will take place soon,” on November 29, she concludes in a written statement. Two new Liberal MPs are also sent to the front to try to change the subject: Frédéric Beauchemin and Madwa-Nika Cadet summoned the media to a press conference this Wednesday in Montreal on the theme of the economic slowdown and the labor shortage -work.
“It growls cursed”
But Dominique Anglade will find it difficult to turn the page, according to a well-connected liberal source. “It growls cursed. People are starting to look for a new leader”, testified this source who has a lot of experience within the party. These “people” are former MPs and political staff.
Dominique Anglade received a very clear message during a meeting Monday evening with the presidents of the PLQ association: she had to reintegrate Mme Nicholas. They even made it a test of leadership, confirmed to The Press the president of the Bas-Saint-Laurent regional council, Émilien Nadeau, who sits on the executive committee and the management committee.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
MP Marie-Claude Nichols
Following the refusal of M.me Nichols to return to caucus, “Dominique Anglade herself has a decision to make. The sooner she takes it, the better. From a human point of view, it’s better to leave than to be kicked out,” he added. “Within the executive [du PLQ], […] we are still behind Mme England. Will we always be? I do not know. »
During the meeting on Monday evening, the leader “seemed to say that she was going to surrender” until the vote of confidence, “but can she change her mind? “, he said. This vote must take place at the congress of members, which will be held within a year.
Expulsion from caucus
According to information collected by The Pressduring the meeting behind closed doors, Dominique Anglade defended the choice of Frantz Benjamin as third vice-president of the National Assembly, a position coveted by Mr.me Nicholas. She then argued that the transportation file offered to Ms.me Nichols, who refused it, is still very important. It was this refusal that earned him his expulsion from the caucus.
President in Chicoutimi, Christian Simard took the floor to tell Dominique Anglade that the expulsion was an excessive measure and that his decision had harmed the party. We must make more efforts for Marie-Claude Nichols to return to caucus, pleaded for her part Françoise Hogue-Plante, president of the Mauricie regional council. Another president claimed that the leader had mishandled the file and that this did not bode well for the reconstruction of the party, whose foundations are now very fragile. He also criticized caucus chairman Enrico Ciccone, who he said added fuel to the fire with his public statements.
At the head of the regional council of Montérégie-Ouest, where the riding of Vaudreuil is located, Jean-François Primeau argued that if the party continues in this direction, it risks losing the militants it has left. President in Hull, Noémie Fiset-Tremblay argued that the party must give a push, because the militants are completely discouraged.
For another association president, as long as the Liberal house is not in order, the party, which forms the official opposition, will have no lesson to give to the Coalition avenir Québec.
If Patrick Boissonneault, president in Marquette, praised the courage of Mme Anglade who listened to everyone’s recriminations, he observed that the needle of the polls had not moved in favor of the PLQ since his arrival in office in May 2020.
Nadine Pierre, president in Viau, lamented that the deputy for her riding, Frantz Benjamin, is a collateral victim in this story. She accused the media of being responsible for the crisis at the PLQ.
But another president replied that the party must stop blaming journalists. If the PLQ finds itself in the media for the wrong reasons, it’s its own fault, he said.
Throughout the virtual meeting which lasted more than an hour and a half, the discomfort was great as the recriminations were numerous against the chef, confirmed participants.
At the end of the meeting, Dominique Anglade said that she took note of the comments and said she was ready to quickly launch projects to resolve the problems and rectify the situation. For his part, the new president of the party, Rafaël Primeau-Ferraro, affirmed the importance of refocusing on liberal values. He said he was ready to rebuild the party.
A source consulted by The Press, who has a lot of experience in the party and who took part in the meeting behind closed doors, is surprised that its content is found in the public square. “It’s symptomatic of a deep problem”, rarely seen at the PLQ, dropped this source.