Charles Milliard has officially entered the race to lead the Quebec Liberal Party, declaring his confidence in victory as the campaign period opened on Monday, January 12, 2026. The former president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec is the first candidate to file his papers, setting the stage for a potentially swift leadership contest ahead of the next provincial election scheduled for October.
A Race Against Time
Milliard, who finished second to Pablo Rodriguez in the party's June 2025 leadership contest, emphasized the advantage of a quick resolution. The deadline for candidates to enter is February 13, 2026. If no other qualified candidates emerge, Milliard could assume the leadership as early as February 14. A contested race would see a new leader elected on March 14.
"We're short of time," Milliard stated after submitting his documents at party headquarters in Quebec City. "I'm going to need time to build the team, find new candidates, go throughout Quebec and propose a new electoral platform. I'm going to take as many minutes, seconds, and hours as I can to do that." He argued that being spared a prolonged internal battle would allow the party to better prepare to convince Quebecers.
Building Early Momentum
Milliard's campaign begins with significant caucus support, a crucial factor in establishing front-runner status. He currently has the backing of 11 out of the 18 Liberal Members of the National Assembly (MNAs). The latest endorsements came from MNAs Greg Kelley (Jacques-Cartier), Frantz Benjamin (Viau), Désirée McGraw (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce), and Brigitte Garceau (Robert-Baldwin).
They join Elisabeth Prass (D'Arcy-McGee) and Linda Caron (La Pinière), who declared support last week, as well as several MNAs who backed him in the previous race: André Fortin (Pontiac), Virginie Dufour (Mille-Îles), Jennifer Maccarone (Westmount—Saint-Louis), Madwa-Nika Cadet (Bourassa-Sauvé), and André A. Morin (Acadie). Five caucus members, serving as party officers, are barred from endorsing any candidate.
Potential Challengers and Rule Changes
The field of competitors remains uncertain. Economist-farmer Mario Roy, who garnered 0.8% of the vote in the 2025 race, has expressed interest in running again. However, he faces significant hurdles due to tightened party rules and an outstanding campaign debt of $18,000. New requirements mandate that half of the $30,000 entry fee must come from donations by party members, and candidates must collect 750 member signatures across at least 70 ridings in 12 regions.
Milliard addressed Roy's potential candidacy directly: "I think he should take note of the strength and significance of the movement behind me. But honestly, we are in a democracy and I will meet all the adversaries and confront them." He added, "I have already been tested in a Liberal leadership race. We'll see if I need to be tested a second time, but regardless, I am going to win this race."
Other potential candidates have already bowed out. Former VIA Rail CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano and former Mouvement Desjardins president Guy Cormier both announced they would not seek the leadership.
Legacy of the Previous Leadership
The leadership became vacant in December following the resignation of Pablo Rodriguez, who stepped down amid allegations of irregularities in his leadership campaign fundraising. If Milliard wins, he will face immediate decisions about the party's unity, including the status of Saint-Laurent MNA Marwah Rizqy. Rizqy was expelled from the caucus by Rodriguez and currently sits as an independent. Milliard stated he has not yet decided what would happen regarding her potential reintegration.
With the October general election on the horizon, the Quebec Liberals are aiming for a quick and decisive leadership contest to unify the party and begin the work of challenging the incumbent government. Milliard's early declaration and substantial caucus support position him as the formidable favourite in a race that will shape the party's direction for the critical campaign ahead.
