(Ottawa) Pressure is increasing on the mayor of Victoriaville, Antoine Tardif, to enter the race for leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ).
The main person concerned affirms that, for the moment, his priority is to advance important projects for the city he leads, but he does not close the door to serving its citizens one day “at another level”.
The members of the PLQ must elect their new leader on June 14, 2025. In principle, the starting gun for the PLQ leadership race will take place six months before, that is to say on January 13. The party’s senior leadership plans to organize four debates between April and June 2025.
So far, Liberal MP Frédéric Beauchemin has expressed interest in entering the race, as has former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre. Behind the scenes, the names of Karl Blackburn, president of the Employers’ Council, and Charles Milliard, president and CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec, are also circulating.
Building a bridge with the regions
Longtime liberal activists want 34-year-old Mayor Antoine Tardif to add his name to that list. His possible candidacy surfaces while the PLQ must hold its general council this weekend in Bromont.
Former advisor to prime ministers Jean Charest and Philippe Couillard, Salim Idrissi, is among those urging Mr. Tardif to enter the race. He maintains that the mayor of Victoriaville “checks several boxes” to ensure the reconstruction of the PLQ. “He is young, he is French-speaking, he runs a regional city and he is Montreal-compatible,” he said in an interview with The Press.
I am a lifelong liberal. The scale of the 2022 defeat made many liberals, including me, think about the kind of leadership necessary for the reconstruction of the PLQ. The PLQ must reconnect with the regions of Quebec and must reconnect with the French-speaking electorate.
Salim Idrissi, former advisor to liberal prime ministers
“There are boxes to check to be party leader. I think Antoine Tardif ticks several of them. First, he espouses liberal values. He is a federalist and no one doubts that. He was born in the region, he grew up in the region, he raises his children in the region, he is mayor of a town in the region. He is also vice-president of the Quebec Federation of Municipalities,” he added.
He said he was convinced that Mr. Tardif could bridge the gap between Montreal and the regions of Quebec, having lived in Montreal and studied at McGill University. “Would I like him to introduce himself?” Yes. Am I trying to encourage him? Yes. I strongly encourage him to go.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that there is a big movement happening at the moment. But there are many people who think like me, that’s for sure. There are serious people trying to convince him. I think it will help him in his thinking. »
“He has the required qualities”
The president of the PLQ, Rafael Primeau-Ferraro, affirmed that the members of the party would favorably welcome the candidacy of the mayor of Victoriaville. “We want as many quality applications as possible. A person like him would be a bit like a player showing up for training camp. We’ll see how he performs and what he has in his stomach. But I think he has the qualities required to be a very good candidate. There are undoubtedly many activists who will find it refreshing if he decides to take the plunge,” he stressed.
In a statement to The PressAntoine Tardif said he was “grateful” that members of the PLQ expressed the wish to see him enter the race.
“I am grateful that influential people want to see me run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec. Since I started in politics, my goal has always been to have a positive impact on the citizens I represent and I am not closing the door one day to doing so at another level. Currently, I devote all my energy to advancing Victoriaville’s projects as mayor. »
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE SITE ALAINRAYES.CA
Antoine Tardif and federal deputy Alain Rayes
Before being elected head of Victoriaville in 2021, Antoine Tardif was a close collaborator of the federal MP for Richmond–Arthabaska, Alain Rayes. When the latter was Quebec political lieutenant for the Conservative Party, between 2017 and 2019, he entrusted the role of director of party operations in Quebec to Mr. Tardif. Behind the scenes, sources indicate that Mr. Rayes would be ready to set up an organization if he decides to run for the leadership of the PLQ.
With Tommy Chouinard, The Press
Who is Antoine Tardif?
- He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the National School of Public Administration and a diploma from McGill University in economics, politics and management.
- He was a goalkeeper for three QMJHL teams between 2006 and 2010: the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the Drummondville Voltigeurs and the Quebec Remparts.
- He was elected mayor of Daveluyville in 2013 at the age of 23 while pursuing his university studies.
- He was political advisor to the federal MP for Richmond–Arthabaska, Alain Rayes, between 2016 and 2021.
- He was elected mayor of Victoriaville by acclamation in October 2021.
- He is married and the father of three children.