(Ottawa) The calls from Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) activists have been insistent for nearly a year. They intensified further in June, leading Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to undertake a brief reflection during part of his summer vacation.
But his answer remains the same. He will not run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party, confirmed the influential minister of the Trudeau government in an interview with The Press.
While he says he is “humble” by the many calls he has received in recent months and aware that the possibility of leading Quebec one day would be a privilege, he affirms that it is possible to contribute to the growth of Quebec by working in Ottawa.
“I have been working on the federal scene for 10 years. I see the greatness of Quebec and all its potential on many levels – economic, social, even internationally. But my way of helping Quebec is to be in Ottawa,” said Mr. Champagne.
The minister said he felt the need to provide “clarity” about his intentions, as the rumour mill had been running wild about him in recent weeks.
“My mission is in Ottawa. That’s how I can best help Quebec. I did it. I’m doing it. And I’m going to continue to do it. I never really indicated my intention to go there. It was people who approached me. There was a good campaign by several people who contacted me. I thought about it over the summer. But I’ve always been consistent that it’s in Ottawa that I can help Quebec,” he explained.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
François-Philippe Champagne felt the need to provide “clarity” about his intentions, as the rumor mill has been running wild about him in recent weeks.
Since becoming Minister of Industry, François-Philippe Champagne has taken numerous steps to attract new businesses to the country by working in concert with his provincial counterparts.
The minister, nicknamed the “Energizer Bunny” in Liberal ranks because of the countless hours he devotes to his files, has notably succeeded in attracting the Moderna biomanufacturing plant to Quebec, helped land the Northvolt battery manufacturing plant in the province as well, and convinced the Joe Biden administration in the United States to establish a semiconductor manufacturing corridor between Bromont and Albany, New York, among other successes.
I think I have contributed to moving Quebec forward. Quebec has impressive levers on the economic level. It has always been ahead on the social level. It also has an international presence that is the envy of all the other provinces. I know all that. But I believe that my way of helping Quebec is by also serving the country. I think we have demonstrated that. It takes people in Quebec as well as in Ottawa. I believe that my mission is there.
François-Philippe Champagne
“The political future in Ottawa is also exciting. The next few months are going to be interesting,” he also said.
Mr. Champagne confirmed that he discussed the PLQ leadership race with his colleague Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport, who is currently thinking about running for the PLQ leadership. Mr. Rodriguez, who also wears the hat of Justin Trudeau’s political lieutenant in Quebec, should announce the results of his thinking in the coming weeks.
“Pablo and I are very close. We had a discussion about all this,” Champagne said, declining to speculate on what his cabinet colleague might choose.
Within Liberal ranks in Ottawa, Champagne is seen as a candidate with the makings to one day succeed Justin Trudeau at the helm of the Liberal Party of Canada. The names of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Treasury Board President Anita Anand are also being mentioned, as is former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney.
As for the PLQ leadership race, two candidates have confirmed their intentions so far. They are former Montreal mayor and former federal minister Denis Coderre, and former president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, Charles Milliard. Victoriaville mayor Antoine Tardif is also considering entering this race, as is minister Pablo Rodriguez.