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Montreal Gazette
7 days ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Analysis: New Quebec Liberal leader Pablo Rodriguez has his work cut out for him
Quebec Politics By QUEBEC — Now comes the hard part. In winning the Quebec Liberal leadership Saturday in the second round of voting, with 52.3 per cent of the vote versus runner-up Charles Milliard's 47.7 per cent, Pablo Rodriguez takes on the stewardship of Quebec's oldest political party, which was founded in 1867 and has governed Quebec for much of its contemporary history. Today that party is at a crossroads — a victim of Quebec's multi-party system, which has muddled the voting patterns from the days when the Liberals thrived by selling themselves as a mixture of economic stability and a bulwark against referendums on independence. After losing the 2018 general election to the Coalition Avenir Québec — which promised a third option beyond federalism and sovereignty, based on economic growth and nationalism — the Liberals did worse in 2022, earning less than 15 per cent of the vote and a mere 21 seats. Without the support of non-francophone minority voters in the Montreal region, which helped the party earn more seats, the Liberals today would not have the title of the official opposition in the National Assembly. Enter Rodriguez, a former federal cabinet minister from the Justin Trudeau years. In electing Rodriguez as leader Saturday over the other candidates in the race, the Liberals decided he is the one to end their long walk in the political hinterland. They believed his promise of a return to power. Throughout the long leadership race, he reminded them that he was the only one of the five candidates with extensive political experience, as a former transport and Canadian heritage minister and political organizer. He was also Trudeau's Quebec lieutenant from 2019 to 2024. And Rodriguez didn't hesitate to mention he was better known than the other candidates, highlighting a Léger poll from May showing the Liberals under his leadership would come out ahead of the soaring Parti Québécois and drooping CAQ. 'Becoming leader of the Quebec Liberals is an incredible honour,' Rodriguez, 57, said in his victory speech Saturday. 'It's the honour of a lifetime. 'One race has ended today and another (the 2026 election) starts right away. Are you ready?' But what lies ahead for Rodriguez in the short and long term? For one thing, he has to quickly get a better grasp of how the Quebec government works. Far off in Ottawa, federal politicians rarely have to address the details of how health and education services are delivered to the people, sticking to big-picture policies. Rodriguez will be facing seasoned politicians like Premier François Legault, Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal, all of whom have a much firmer grasp on these issues and are ready to skewer the newbie when he trips up. His federal Liberal roots will make him an easy target, and they won't hesitate to portray his arrival as a federal takeover of the Quebec Liberal 'branch plant.' 'I'm my own man and will be judged on my own decisions, my team, my program,' Rodriguez responded Saturday to reporters. There is also the matter of a seat in the Quebec legislature. Rodriguez does not have one. That will limit his media visibility and ability to impose his leadership on the 19-member Liberal caucus. Participating in the cut and thrust of daily question period — something he can't do without a seat — is good practice for those televised election campaign debates he will face in the 2026 election. There were rumours flying at the Liberal convention Saturday that Rodriguez would ask St-Laurent MNA Marwah Rizqy, who has announced she will not run in 2026, to leave earlier and free up a riding. But Rodriguez does not appear to be in a hurry to get into the legislature. The advantage of staying away for now is he will have time to rebuild the party in the regions, which is key to shoring up support with francophone voters. In the last two elections, francophone voters turned to the CAQ. They decide who gets elected in Quebec because they dominate the vote in most of the 125 ridings. In the May Léger poll, the Liberals were polling at 10 per cent in this voting group. 'The Liberals need to reconnect with francophone voters,' Université Laval political science professor Éric Montigny said in an interview. 'That implies (the party) renewing itself with a certain nationalism without alienating its current base. 'It also needs to beef up its economic credo and propose audacious ideas. In a multi-party system, it can no longer count on the fear of the PQ to get itself elected.' The Liberals undertook just such a reboot after the 2022 election, led by former senator André Pratte and Bourassa-Sauvé MNA Madwa-Nika Cadet. The party approved a new program that, among other things, called for the drafting of a Quebec constitution to defend Quebec's interests in the federation. Seen as an effort to shore up nationalist votes, none of the candidates in the leadership race aside from Mario Roy said a Quebec constitution would be a priority for them. The challenge is great, the landscape ever shifting. In recent weeks, Legault himself has been adjusting his message to counter the surging PQ, which, for the moment, represents a greater threat to him than the Liberals. Aligning himself with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Legault has been saying only a CAQ government can protect the Quebec economy from U.S. tariffs, and that means working closely with the federal government — something the PQ is not interested in doing. Stopping short of calling himself a federalist, Legault said the PQ's plan to hold another referendum on sovereignty could not come at a worse time. 'Imagine if Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was in my place tomorrow morning,' Legault told Radio-Canada as the legislature recessed for the summer on June 6. 'He only wants to demonstrate that Canada does not work.' Rodriguez will have to find a way to counter Legault's scheme, which taps into the Liberals' federalist bread and butter. Some veteran Liberals remain optimistic about the party's brand despite its poor performance in recent years. A key argument rests on the party's ability to create a bigger tent than the CAQ or PQ can, they say. 'Quebecers are thirsty for leadership — a leadership that is not one of turning inwards,' former premier Jean Charest told Liberals in a speech Saturday. 'Quebecers want us to reconnect with all of Quebec, whether you live in Montreal or the regions, whether you speak English or French. 'More than ever, what we need is to be together.' 'There's a change in the political dynamic that leaves room for the Liberal party,' former premier Philippe Couillard said Saturday in an interview at the leadership convention. 'There have been highs and lows (for the party historically). We have always come through them.'
Global News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Quebec Liberals hope to boost their fortunes as they choose new leader
After a drawn-out campaign overshadowed by upheaval in Ottawa and threats from the United States, Quebec Liberals will choose a new leader this weekend who they hope will revive the party from years of inertia. The Liberals suffered back-to-back defeats to François Legault's upstart Coalition Avenir Québec in 2018 and 2022. The party has struggled to connect to francophone voters in regions outside of Montreal, and has failed to benefit from Legault's waning popularity in recent years. Instead, the sovereigntist Parti Québécois has surged in the polls and seems poised to form the next government, despite holding just five of the 125 seats in the provincial legislature. With the next election set for October 2026 in a province known for dramatic electoral swings, the pressure is on for the Liberals to prove they're still a vital force. The question card-carrying Liberals must answer before choosing their new leader is simple, said Pablo Rodriguez, a leadership candidate and former federal minister. 'Who can beat François Legault and the Parti Québécois?' said Rodriguez, 57. 'Who can bring us back to power in 2026?' Story continues below advertisement The timing of the campaign, which began in January, has made it difficult for the party to capture the public's attention. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's decision to resign kicked off a whirlwind federal leadership race in February, followed by a general election, with U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of tariffs and annexation looming over it all. 'The (Quebec) leadership race has unfortunately been drowned out,' said Sébastien Dallaire, an executive vice-president with the polling firm Léger. Rodriguez, the most well-known of the five candidates, is the presumed front-runner. After nine years in Trudeau's government, he left Ottawa last September to seek the provincial leadership and has emphasized his lengthy political resumé. A Léger survey of the general population published in May showed him leading his rivals by a wide margin. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy But the party's leadership rules make it hard to predict the results, which will be revealed at a convention in Quebec City on Saturday, said Sophie Villeneuve, a political analyst and former Parti Québécois staffer. The Liberals have assigned an equal number of points to each of Quebec's 125 ridings. In each riding, one third of the points are reserved for members aged 25 and younger. That means the winner will have to appeal to young voters and those outside Montreal. That could be a challenge for Rodriguez, whose federal seat was in the city, Villeneuve said. 'I think that Mr. Rodriguez is very well-known in Montreal, but not so well-known in the regions of Quebec,' she said. 'And it's through the regions that the Liberal party can hope to win back the trust of Quebec voters.' Story continues below advertisement Although there is some overlap among members, the provincial Liberals are not affiliated with the federal Liberal party. The Quebec Liberals currently hold just 19 seats in the provincial legislature, mostly in and around Montreal. The concentration of Liberal voters in the city has allowed them to hang on to Official Opposition status. Karl Blackburn, former president of a Quebec employers group who hails from the Saguenay area, said the Liberals need to re-establish themselves as the party of the economy and the regions. 'Mr. Rodriguez is zero for two on these issues,' said Blackburn, 57, who is leaning heavily on his business credentials. Blackburn's campaign has commissioned a poll of party members that it claims shows Rodriguez with a slight lead, but not enough to win on the first round of the party's ranked ballot system. His team says Rodriguez's support is focused in Montreal, which could give Blackburn an advantage in a second round, when voters' down-ballot choices would be counted. Villeneuve also predicted there will be no winner in the first round. But she said Blackburn, who was a member of the provincial legislature during the Liberal government of former premier Jean Charest, 'represents the Liberal party's past' at a time when it's looking for renewal. Meanwhile, Charles Milliard, former head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce, is pitching himself as the youthful option. A political newcomer, he compared himself in an interview to charismatic Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who had never held office before taking the reins of the party in 2020. Story continues below advertisement 'I like the way he does politics,' said Milliard, 45. 'We obviously have different views on the future of Quebec, but I think it would be a very interesting match next year.' Marc Bélanger, an international trade lawyer, and Mario Roy, an economist and farmer, are also seeking the party's leadership. The leading candidates offer similar lines on many of the major issues facing Quebec. They've attacked Legault's record on the economy, pointing to the record $13.6-billion deficit the government tabled this year. They've expressed openness to new pipeline projects in Quebec, which have long been a non-starter in the province. And they're promising to unify Quebecers after years of what they call divisive politics under the Coalition Avenir Québec government, pointing to Legault's focus on identity issues such as immigration, secularism and the French language. 'The first job of a premier is to unite the people, not to divide them,' Rodriguez said. 'So just by changing the tone, that will change a lot of things.' They're also presenting the Liberals as the best option for those who want to avoid another referendum on independence, which the Parti Québécois has promised to hold by 2030. 'I really feel that Quebecers are due for a change,' Blackburn said. 'And that change won't be a referendum like Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon is proposing. It will be a vision that looks to the future.' Story continues below advertisement Regardless of who the party elects on Saturday, the Liberals will have their work cut out for them if they're to have a shot at forming the next government, Dallaire said. 'Somehow the long-standing relationship between the Liberal party and their francophone voters in Quebec got broken,' he said. 'It should be the first priority of the new leader to put forth a program that more francophones can relate to. It's really been the major issue for the party for the better part of a decade.'
National Observer
13-06-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
Quebec Liberals hope to boost their prospects as they choose new leader
After a drawn-out campaign overshadowed by upheaval in Ottawa and threats from the United States, Quebec Liberals will choose a new leader this weekend who they hope will revive the party from years of inertia. The Liberals suffered back-to-back defeats to François Legault 's upstart Coalition Avenir Québec in 2018 and 2022. The party has struggled to connect to francophone voters in regions outside of Montreal, and has failed to benefit from Legault's waning popularity in recent years. Instead, the sovereigntist Parti Québécois has surged in the polls and seems poised to form the next government, despite holding just five of the 125 seats in the provincial legislature. With the next election set for October 2026 in a province known for dramatic electoral swings, the pressure is on for the Liberals to prove they're still a vital force. The question card-carrying Liberals must answer before choosing their new leader is simple, said Pablo Rodriguez, a leadership candidate and former federal minister. 'Who can beat François Legault and the Parti Québécois?' said Rodriguez, 57. 'Who can bring us back to power in 2026?' The timing of the campaign, which began in January, has made it difficult for the party to capture the public's attention. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's decision to resign kicked off a whirlwind federal leadership race in February, followed by a general election, with US President Donald Trump's threats of tariffs and annexation looming over it all. 'The (Quebec) leadership race has unfortunately been drowned out,' said Sébastien Dallaire, an executive vice-president with the polling firm Léger. Rodriguez, the most well-known of the five candidates, is the presumed front-runner. After nine years in Trudeau's government, he left Ottawa last September to seek the provincial leadership and has emphasized his lengthy political resumé. A Léger survey of the general population published in May showed him leading his rivals by a wide margin. But the party's leadership rules make it hard to predict the results, which will be revealed at a convention in Quebec City on Saturday, said Sophie Villeneuve, a political analyst and former Parti Québécois staffer. The Liberals have assigned an equal number of points to each of Quebec's 125 ridings. In each riding, one third of the points are reserved for members aged 25 and younger. That means the winner will have to appeal to young voters and those outside Montreal. That could be a challenge for Rodriguez, whose federal seat was in the city, Villeneuve said. 'I think that Mr. Rodriguez is very well-known in Montreal, but not so well-known in the regions of Quebec,' she said. 'And it's through the regions that the Liberal party can hope to win back the trust of Quebec voters.' Although there is some overlap among members, the provincial Liberals are not affiliated with the federal Liberal party. The Quebec Liberals currently hold just 19 seats in the provincial legislature, mostly in and around Montreal. The concentration of Liberal voters in the city has allowed them to hang on to Official Opposition status. Karl Blackburn, former president of a Quebec employers group who hails from the Saguenay area, said the Liberals need to re-establish themselves as the party of the economy and the regions. 'Mr. Rodriguez is zero for two on these issues,' said Blackburn, 57, who is leaning heavily on his business credentials. Blackburn's campaign has commissioned a poll of party members that it claims shows Rodriguez with a slight lead, but not enough to win on the first round of the party's ranked ballot system. His team says Rodriguez's support is focused in Montreal, which could give Blackburn an advantage in a second round, when voters' second choices start to matter. Villeneuve also predicted there will be no winner in the first round. But she said Blackburn, who was a member of the provincial legislature during the Liberal government of former premier Jean Charest, 'represents the Liberal party's past' at a time when it's looking for renewal. Meanwhile, Charles Milliard, former head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce, is pitching himself as the youthful option. A political newcomer, he compared himself in an interview to charismatic Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who had never held office before taking the reins of the party in 2020. 'I like the way he does politics,' said Milliard, 45. 'We obviously have different views on the future of Quebec, but I think it would be a very interesting match next year.' Marc Bélanger, an international trade lawyer, and Mario Roy, an economist and farmer, are also seeking the party's leadership. The leading candidates offer similar lines on many of the major issues facing Quebec. They've attacked Legault's record on the economy, pointing to the record $13.6-billion deficit the government tabled this year. They've expressed openness to new pipeline projects in Quebec, which have long been a non-starter in the province. And they're promising to unify Quebecers after years of what they call divisive politics under the Coalition Avenir Québec government, pointing to Legault's focus on identity issues such as immigration, secularism and the French language. 'The first job of a premier is to unite the people, not to divide them,' Rodriguez said. 'So just by changing the tone, that will change a lot of things.' They're also presenting the Liberals as the best option for those who want to avoid another referendum on independence, which the Parti Québécois has promised to hold by 2030. 'I really feel that Quebecers are due for a change,' Blackburn said. 'And that change won't be a referendum like Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon is proposing. It will be a vision that looks to the future.' Regardless of who the party elects on Saturday, the Liberals will have their work cut out for them if they're to have a shot at forming the next government, Dallaire said. 'Somehow the long-standing relationship between the Liberal party and their francophone voters in Quebec got broken,' he said. 'It should be the first priority of the new leader to put forth a program that more francophones can relate to. It's really been the major issue for the party for the better part of a decade.'
CBC
13-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Quebec Liberals hope to boost their fortunes as they choose new leader
After a drawn-out campaign overshadowed by upheaval in Ottawa and threats from the United States, Quebec Liberals will choose a new leader this weekend who they hope will revive the party from years of inertia. The Liberals suffered back-to-back defeats to François Legault's upstart Coalition Avenir Québec in 2018 and 2022. The party has struggled to connect to francophone voters in regions outside of Montreal, and has failed to benefit from Legault's waning popularity in recent years. Instead, the sovereigntist Parti Québécois has surged in the polls and seems poised to form the next government, despite holding just five of the 125 seats in the provincial legislature. With the next election set for October 2026 in a province known for dramatic electoral swings, the pressure is on for the Liberals to prove they're still a vital force. The question card-carrying Liberals must answer before choosing their new leader is simple, said Pablo Rodriguez, a leadership candidate and former federal minister. "Who can beat François Legault and the Parti Québécois?" said Rodriguez, 57. "Who can bring us back to power in 2026?" The timing of the campaign, which began in January, has made it difficult for the party to capture the public's attention. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's decision to resign kicked off a whirlwind federal leadership race in February, followed by a general election, with U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of tariffs and annexation looming over it all. "The [Quebec] leadership race has unfortunately been drowned out," said Sébastien Dallaire, an executive vice-president with the polling firm Leger. Rodriguez, the most well-known of the five candidates, is the presumed front-runner. After nine years in Trudeau's government, he left Ottawa last September to seek the provincial leadership and has emphasized his lengthy political resumé. A Leger survey of the general population published in May showed him leading his rivals by a wide margin. But the party's leadership rules make it hard to predict the results, which will be revealed at a convention in Quebec City on Saturday, said Sophie Villeneuve, a political analyst and former Parti Québécois staffer. The Liberals have assigned an equal number of points to each of Quebec's 125 ridings. In each riding, one third of the points are reserved for members aged 25 and younger. That means the winner will have to appeal to young voters and those outside Montreal. That could be a challenge for Rodriguez, whose federal seat was in the city, Villeneuve said. "I think that Mr. Rodriguez is very well-known in Montreal, but not so well-known in the regions of Quebec," she said. "And it's through the regions that the Liberal party can hope to win back the trust of Quebec voters." Although there is some overlap among members, the provincial Liberals are not affiliated with the federal Liberal party. The Quebec Liberals currently hold just 19 seats in the provincial legislature, mostly in and around Montreal. The concentration of Liberal voters in the city has allowed them to hang on to Official Opposition status. A look at the candidates Karl Blackburn, former president of a Quebec employers group who hails from the Saguenay area, said the Liberals need to re-establish themselves as the party of the economy and the regions. "Mr. Rodriguez is zero for two on these issues," said Blackburn, 57, who is leaning heavily on his business credentials. Blackburn's campaign has commissioned a poll of party members that it claims shows Rodriguez with a slight lead, but not enough to win on the first round of the party's ranked ballot system. His team says Rodriguez's support is focused in Montreal, which could give Blackburn an advantage in a second round, when voters' second choices start to matter. Villeneuve also predicted there will be no winner in the first round. But she said Blackburn, who was a member of the provincial legislature during the Liberal government of former premier Jean Charest, "represents the Liberal party's past" at a time when it's looking for renewal. Meanwhile, Charles Milliard, former head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce, is pitching himself as the youthful option. A political newcomer, he compared himself in an interview to charismatic Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who had never held office before taking the reins of the party in 2020. "I like the way he does politics," said Milliard, 45. "We obviously have different views on the future of Quebec, but I think it would be a very interesting match next year." Marc Bélanger, an international trade lawyer, and Mario Roy, an economist and farmer, are also seeking the party's leadership. The leading candidates offer similar lines on many of the major issues facing Quebec. They've attacked Legault's record on the economy, pointing to the record $13.6-billion deficit the government tabled this year. They've expressed openness to new pipeline projects in Quebec, which have long been a non-starter in the province. And they're promising to unify Quebecers after years of what they call divisive politics under the Coalition Avenir Québec government, pointing to Legault's focus on identity issues such as immigration, secularism and the French language. "The first job of a premier is to unite the people, not to divide them," Rodriguez said. "So just by changing the tone, that will change a lot of things." They're also presenting the Liberals as the best option for those who want to avoid another referendum on independence, which the Parti Québécois has promised to hold by 2030. "I really feel that Quebecers are due for a change," Blackburn said. "And that change won't be a referendum like Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon is proposing. It will be a vision that looks to the future." Regardless of who the party elects on Saturday, the Liberals will have their work cut out for them if they're to have a shot at forming the next government, Dallaire said. "Somehow the long-standing relationship between the Liberal party and their francophone voters in Quebec got broken," he said.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Quebec Liberals hope to boost their fortunes as they choose new leader
MONTREAL — After a drawn-out campaign overshadowed by upheaval in Ottawa and threats from the United States, Quebec Liberals will choose a new leader this weekend who they hope will revive the party from years of inertia. The Liberals suffered back-to-back defeats to François Legault's upstart Coalition Avenir Québec in 2018 and 2022. The party has struggled to connect to francophone voters in regions outside of Montreal, and has failed to benefit from Legault's waning popularity in recent years. Instead, the sovereigntist Parti Québécois has surged in the polls and seems poised to form the next government, despite holding just five of the 125 seats in the provincial legislature. With the next election set for October 2026 in a province known for dramatic electoral swings, the pressure is on for the Liberals to prove they're still a vital force. The question card-carrying Liberals must answer before choosing their new leader is simple, said Pablo Rodriguez, a leadership candidate and former federal minister. 'Who can beat François Legault and the Parti Québécois?' said Rodriguez, 57. 'Who can bring us back to power in 2026?' The timing of the campaign, which began in January, has made it difficult for the party to capture the public's attention. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's decision to resign kicked off a whirlwind federal leadership race in February, followed by a general election, with U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of tariffs and annexation looming over it all. 'The (Quebec) leadership race has unfortunately been drowned out,' said Sébastien Dallaire, an executive vice-president with the polling firm Léger. Rodriguez, the most well-known of the five candidates, is the presumed front-runner. After nine years in Trudeau's government, he left Ottawa last September to seek the provincial leadership and has emphasized his lengthy political resumé. A Léger survey of the general population published in May showed him leading his rivals by a wide margin. But the party's leadership rules make it hard to predict the results, which will be revealed at a convention in Quebec City on Saturday, said Sophie Villeneuve, a political analyst and former Parti Québécois staffer. The Liberals have assigned an equal number of points to each of Quebec's 125 ridings. In each riding, one third of the points are reserved for members aged 25 and younger. That means the winner will have to appeal to young voters and those outside Montreal. That could be a challenge for Rodriguez, whose federal seat was in the city, Villeneuve said. 'I think that Mr. Rodriguez is very well-known in Montreal, but not so well-known in the regions of Quebec,' she said. 'And it's through the regions that the Liberal party can hope to win back the trust of Quebec voters.' Although there is some overlap among members, the provincial Liberals are not affiliated with the federal Liberal party. The Quebec Liberals currently hold just 19 seats in the provincial legislature, mostly in and around Montreal. The concentration of Liberal voters in the city has allowed them to hang on to Official Opposition status. Karl Blackburn, former president of a Quebec employers group who hails from the Saguenay area, said the Liberals need to re-establish themselves as the party of the economy and the regions. 'Mr. Rodriguez is zero for two on these issues,' said Blackburn, 57, who is leaning heavily on his business credentials. Blackburn's campaign has commissioned a poll of party members that it claims shows Rodriguez with a slight lead, but not enough to win on the first round of the party's ranked ballot system. His team says Rodriguez's support is focused in Montreal, which could give Blackburn an advantage in a second round, when voters' second choices start to matter. Villeneuve also predicted there will be no winner in the first round. But she said Blackburn, who was a member of the provincial legislature during the Liberal government of former premier Jean Charest, 'represents the Liberal party's past' at a time when it's looking for renewal. Meanwhile, Charles Milliard, former head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce, is pitching himself as the youthful option. A political newcomer, he compared himself in an interview to charismatic Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who had never held office before taking the reins of the party in 2020. 'I like the way he does politics,' said Milliard, 45. 'We obviously have different views on the future of Quebec, but I think it would be a very interesting match next year.' Marc Bélanger, an international trade lawyer, and Mario Roy, an economist and farmer, are also seeking the party's leadership. The leading candidates offer similar lines on many of the major issues facing Quebec. They've attacked Legault's record on the economy, pointing to the record $13.6-billion deficit the government tabled this year. They've expressed openness to new pipeline projects in Quebec, which have long been a non-starter in the province. And they're promising to unify Quebecers after years of what they call divisive politics under the Coalition Avenir Québec government, pointing to Legault's focus on identity issues such as immigration, secularism and the French language. 'The first job of a premier is to unite the people, not to divide them,' Rodriguez said. 'So just by changing the tone, that will change a lot of things.' They're also presenting the Liberals as the best option for those who want to avoid another referendum on independence, which the Parti Québécois has promised to hold by 2030. 'I really feel that Quebecers are due for a change,' Blackburn said. 'And that change won't be a referendum like Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon is proposing. It will be a vision that looks to the future.' Regardless of who the party elects on Saturday, the Liberals will have their work cut out for them if they're to have a shot at forming the next government, Dallaire said. 'Somehow the long-standing relationship between the Liberal party and their francophone voters in Quebec got broken,' he said. 'It should be the first priority of the new leader to put forth a program that more francophones can relate to. It's really been the major issue for the party for the better part of a decade.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
