Charles Milliard has officially entered the race to become the next leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, declaring his confidence in a victory as the campaign period opened on Monday, January 12, 2026.
A Confident Start with Significant Backing
Arriving at the party's headquarters in Quebec City to file his candidacy papers, Milliard struck a tone of assuredness. "I am going to win this race," he stated firmly to reporters. His confidence is bolstered by substantial support within the party's caucus. So far, 11 out of the 18 Liberal Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) have endorsed his leadership bid.
This early show of strength includes support from MNAs such as Greg Kelley, Frantz Benjamin, Désirée McGraw, and Brigitte Garceau, who declared their backing on Monday. They join Elisabeth Prass and Linda Caron, who supported him the previous week, as well as several MNAs who backed him in the previous leadership contest.
The Race Against Time and Potential Rivals
Milliard, the former president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, emphasized the advantage of a swift leadership process. With a provincial general election scheduled for October, he argued that time is of the essence to rebuild the party. "We're short of time, so I'm going to need time to build the team, find new candidates, go throughout Quebec and propose a new electoral platform," Milliard explained.
The leadership became vacant in December 2025 following the resignation of Pablo Rodriguez amid allegations of fundraising irregularities in his leadership campaign. Milliard was the runner-up to Rodriguez in the June 2025 leadership vote.
While other potential candidates like Yves Desjardins-Siciliano have opted out, one figure from the last race remains interested. Economist and farmer Mario Roy has expressed a desire to run again, despite carrying a debt of $18,000 from his previous campaign. However, new, stricter party rules—including a $30,000 entry fee and a requirement for signatures from 750 members across 70 ridings—pose a significant hurdle for his candidacy.
Path to Leadership and Party Unity
The deadline for candidates to enter the race is February 13, 2026. If no other qualified candidates emerge, Milliard could be acclaimed leader on February 14. If a contested race is necessary, the party will elect its new leader on March 14, 2026.
Milliard addressed his potential rival directly, suggesting Roy should "take note of the strength and significance of the movement behind me." He also referenced his previous platform, stating, "I have already been tested in a Liberal leadership race. We'll see if I need to be tested a second time."
Beyond caucus support, Milliard's bid is also backed by a letter of endorsement signed by 200 Liberal youth members. The party's rules currently prevent five MNAs who are party officers from endorsing any candidate.
Looking ahead, Milliard was non-committal on the future of independent MNA Marwah Rizqy, who was expelled from the Liberal caucus by Rodriguez. He stated that decision would be made if he wins the leadership.
