The candidate of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) in Taschereau in 2022, Marie-Josée Hélie, will be a candidate for the nomination of the Conservative Party of Canada in Montmorency–Charlevoix–Haute-Côte-Nord. An approach strongly encouraged by the leader of the PCQ, Éric Duhaime.
The information was confirmed by the PCQ on Tuesday. The defeated PCQ candidates of 2022 were “strongly encouraged” to join the PCC so “that they can gain experience,” indicated party spokesperson Cédric Lapointe.
Marie-Josée Hélie had collected 8.7% of the votes in the elections in the Taschereau constituency, which had instead elected a member from Québec solidaire.
Since then, she has remained very active in the party, where she played the role of environment spokesperson. According to one of her publications dated May 28 on the X platform, she has already started “campaigning”.
The riding she covets, Montmorency–Charlevoix–Haute-Côte-Nord, is currently represented by a member of the Bloc Québécois, Caroline Desbiens.
A former member of the PCQ executive also gets involved
Another well-known PCQ figure, Mark Buzan, also announced his intention to become a candidate for the party led by Pierre Poilievre, this time in Pontiac–Kitigan Zibi, in Outaouais.
During the PCQ congress last fall, he failed to be elected president of the party, the members having preferred a notorious criticism of leader Éric Duhaime, Chantal Dauphinais.
To promote his candidacy, Mr. Buzan highlighted his contacts with the PCC organization. He was previously vice-president of the party’s executive.
The federal riding of Pontiac–Kitigan Zibi has been represented since the last elections by the Liberal Sophie Chatel.