Dominique Anglade “dug her own grave” by expelling MP Marie-Claude Nichols, argues Lise Thériault, who was the dean of the Liberal caucus before leaving politics this year. Many former liberal elected officials consider, according to her, that the leader “has signed her death warrant”. We are witnessing “the beginning of the end”.
Updated at 0:00
For his part, M.me Nichols has no plans to join another party because his “values don’t change [et] remain liberal. The independent MP says she has received a lot of support in the past few hours.
Lise Thériault does not hide it: she is close to Mme Nicholas. If she goes out to defend her, it is above all because “the injustice [la] reacts,” she insists. “And what is happening to Marie-Claude is deeply unfair. It’s a decision that just adds to an election campaign that was catastrophic. I can’t say nothing here! »
The treatment that Dominique Anglade reserved for Mme Nichols is “appalling” in the eyes of the former MP, who represented Anjou–Louis-Riel for 20 years.
PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Lise Thériault, former Liberal MP for Anjou–Louis-Riel
We do not live in a dictatorship in Quebec! Members have the right to speak out and say no. What message are we sending? When someone isn’t happy, we kick them out! Let’s see!
Lise Thériault, former Liberal MP
Thursday, Marie-Claude Nichols was expelled from the Liberal caucus after refusing the responsibilities that Dominique Anglade wanted to entrust to her within her shadow cabinet.
“Flawless” work
MNA for Vaudreuil since 2014, Mme Nichols coveted the post of third vice-president of the National Assembly. But the chef chose to support the candidacy of Frantz Benjamin, elected since 2018. She offered Mme Nichols to be spokesperson for transport, entrusting a rookie, Virginie Dufour, with the responsibilities that the MNA for Vaudreuil held in the last mandate (municipal affairs and housing).
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Marie-Claude Nichols, during the swearing in of Liberal MPs, October 18
Lise Thériault finds it difficult to explain this decision, especially since Mme Nichols is “a good soldier”, “always available”, whose work is “impeccable”.
“We told her: “No, you will not be vice-president, and by the way, municipal affairs, you forget that; housing, you forget that! We’ll give you your fourth choice.” Hey! Frankly ! “, she launched.
According to the former MP, Marie-Claude Nichols “is right to say no” to the chef. This is not an unusual situation: Lise Thériault says that she herself refused to be Deputy House Leader in the past because the position did not interest her. Common ground was found.
It is inadmissible to have put a member out by implying that she does not play as a team.
Lise Thériault, former Liberal MP
She points out that the Liberal Party has made sure for 20 years to appoint a woman from among its ranks to occupy one of the positions of vice-president of the National Assembly. “And there, we decide that no, it will be Frantz Benjamin! Ayoy! I have nothing against Frantz Benjamin, but ask any deputy, all parties combined, between the work that Marie-Claude has done and the work of Frantz Benjamin…”, she dropped.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The Member of Parliament for Viau, Frantz Benjamin
According to her, the member for Viau could well have been named transport critic since hot issues concern eastern Montreal (the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel, the eastern REM and the extension of the blue line subway, for example). And if Mme Anglade had suspicions about Mme Nichols, who had not supported her during the failed leadership race, “the best way to neutralize her” without causing a stir would have been to appoint her to the vice-president, a position that requires neutrality, analyzes Lise Theriault.
” The beginning of the end “
Dominique Anglade should have tried to “rally the troops”, especially after “the worst defeat in the history” of the party. But with the expulsion of Mme Nichols, Dominique Anglade “dug his own grave”, launched Mme Thériault, recalling that the leader will have to submit to a vote of confidence at a congress of members within a year.
She says she is surprised by the number of Liberal MPs who have served over the past 20 years who have written or spoken to her to express their outrage. They “say that this is really the beginning of the end. She signed her death warrant. She did a very bad call “.
The chef nevertheless still has time to “put the toothpaste in the tube”, to reconsider her decision, according to Mme Theriault.
Lise Thériault insists: “I have no interest in the leadership and I have no candidate” to lather. She points out that she is the only ex-MP from the last term to have attended the swearing-in of the new cohort of elected Liberals last week.
In a brief press release published on Friday, Marie-Claude Nichols said she intended to “sit as an independent” and not ” [s’]affiliate with any other political party”. “My values don’t change, they remain liberal,” she says.
She thanks “the many people from all walks of life who [lui] have shown their support over the past few hours.
The MP declines interview requests.