After excluding MP Marie-Claude Nichols from the Liberal caucus last Thursday, the leader of the official opposition, Dominique Anglade, declared on Monday that “the events of the last few days have gone too far”. She is now reaching out to the chosen one in Vaudreuil.
“I did realize at some point that things had probably been done in a rush,” said M.me English at To have to, after meeting Ms. Nichols earlier in the day. In the end, are we looking for a culprit or are we looking for a solution to fix the thing? »
On October 27, Marie-Claude Nichols was ejected from the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) caucus, after refusing transportation-related issues within the new shadow cabinet of Mrs England. She coveted the third vice-presidency – a position reserved for the official opposition – but the leader instead gave her support to Frantz Benjamin, re-elected in Viau.
The door to the PLQ caucus “remains open” if the MNA re-elected for a third term “wishes to defend the interests of Quebecers within the official opposition”, specified Dominique Anglade. The latter is still awaiting the response of Marie-Claude Nichols as to whether she wishes to rejoin the Liberal ranks.
Regarding the functions that the elected could occupy within the caucus if she returns, there are “different things that are on the table”, said the liberal leader, without giving more details. However, there is no question of turning around and supporting Mr.me Nichols for the third vice-presidency. “It is a file that is behind us. This is Frantz Benjamin. »
Days “difficult on a human level”
If events like the expulsion of a member of the caucus are “part of politics”, they are not pleasant, said Dominique Anglade. The last few days have been “difficult on a human level”, she said.
Mme Anglade says he kept silent from Thursday until Monday “out of respect for Marie-Claude” and to “give himself one more chance to find a solution that would suit everyone”. But “as of Friday”, the leader of the official opposition wanted to find “a way through”, she assured.
After the ejection of Mme Nichols, former elected Liberals like Lise Thériault and Gaétan Barrette strongly criticized this decision.
Last Thursday, the president of the caucus, Enrico Ciccone, said that a member of the Liberal team must agree to participate in parliamentary work, “and not demand a particular position. This way of thinking is not part of our values. »
Friday, M.me Nichols had declared that she would sit as an independent MP. “My values do not change, they remain liberal,” she said.
After the expulsion of Marie-Claude Nichols, the PLQ now has 20 elected members in Quebec. With only 14.4% of the popular vote (compared to 24.82% in October 2018), the party recorded a historically low score on October 3.
Last turbulent days
For the past few days, the Liberals have been going through a turbulent period.
Last Saturday, the chief organizer, Jean-François Helms, announced his departure. Two weeks after the elections, Dominique Anglade’s director of communications, Jeremy Ghio, also announced that he was leaving the ship. Asked whether other members of the team will leave, Ms.me Anglade replied that “this is not what is planned. »
In a lengthy social media post, Helms pledged to publish a detailed report on the failures and successes of the last election campaign. The first weeks of the Liberal tour were marked by organizational problems, such as the withdrawal of candidates at the last minute.
“As chief organizer, I must assure that the efforts of each candidate and each campaign team will not have been in vain,” he wrote.
With The Canadian Press