The seat of MP for Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne was not even vacant when some were already busy behind the scenes. At least one candidate is in the running for the by-election which will follow the departure of the current deputy, Dominique Anglade.
The duty learned that lawyer Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, who finished with less than 3,000 votes behind the Liberal leader on October 3, has already submitted his candidacy for the nomination of Québec solidaire (QS) for the by-election in come. However, the Office of the Prime Minister, which has the prerogative on the date of triggering this election, is still far from having chosen a date. And he has until the end of May 2023 to do so.
Fallen leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), Dominique Anglade will hold the position of Member of Parliament for Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne until 1er december. The Liberal candidate who will jump into the fray to try to replace her has not yet been identified, the party said. “At this time, we believe it is premature to present a candidacy that can continue the work of Mr.me England. An announcement will be made in due time,” wrote the director of communications for the PLQ.
But for Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, the race has already begun. “It’s as if there was an extension,” said the immigration lawyer, who garnered 28% of support in the riding during the last general election, against 36% for Mr.me England.
The ex-candidate will have to go through the traditional solidarity nomination race before being formalized as a candidate. However, he says he has support, in particular from the member for Verdun, Alejandra Zaga Mendez, and “in the membership “.
Too early ?
Mr. Cliche-Rivard intends to “resume work where he left off” in early October. He also defends his choice to activate even before the departure of the current deputy. “Not having the information on the trigger date, it is better to be cautious, he said. In fact, considering it’s so close [de la date de l’élection générale], we’re just going to continue, finally, the ground that we were doing a few weeks ago. »
Joined by The duty, the director general of the Coalition avenir Québec, Brigitte Legault, does not hold it against Québec solidaire to prepare the race. If it has received applications, the government party has not yet made its choice. The priority is not there, explained Mme Legault.
The Parti Québécois has not made a choice either. The Conservative Party of Quebec did not respond to us within the allotted time.
With 12 deputies — rather than its current 11 — QS would automatically obtain the title of recognized parliamentary group in the National Assembly, currently negotiated by the various parties elected in the last ballot. It would also demonstrate that the “Door to the Southwest” is open, argued Mr. Cliche-Rivard. The electoral division of Verdun passed in extremis into the hands of the left party on October 3.
In Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne, “the result we achieved was honourable,” says Mr. Cliche-Rivard. “I think we can do better. »
Since its creation in 1994, this riding, which encompasses a good part of southwestern Montreal — Saint-Henri, Pointe-Saint-Charles and Griffintown, in particular — has elected only Liberal members.
The last by-election in Quebec, in Marie-Victorin, ended in a CAQ victory.