CAQ Leadership Candidate Demands Voting Rights Be Limited to Canadian Citizens
Bernard Drainville, a candidate in the Coalition Avenir Québec leadership race, has publicly called on his party to revise its voting regulations to exclude non-Canadian citizens from participating in the upcoming leadership election. The current rules permit individuals aged 16 and older who have resided in Quebec for at least six months to vote, regardless of citizenship status.
Drainville's Proposal and Party Response
In a social media post on Thursday, Drainville argued that it is inappropriate for people who are merely living in Quebec temporarily to have a say in selecting the party's next leader, who will automatically become premier. "It is not normal that the rules of the CAQ allow voting by people who are simply living in Quebec for six months," Drainville wrote. "In my opinion, the answer is obvious: it should be necessary to be a citizen to be able to vote. I thus invite the CAQ to review the rules."
However, the CAQ's communications director, Claude Potvin, responded that altering the voting rules at this stage is not straightforward. The regulations are embedded in the party's constitution and can only be modified during a full policy convention. Potvin also noted that, contrary to concerns, the party has not experienced a flood of new membership requests from individuals not on Quebec's official electoral list.
Context of the PEQ Program Controversy
This debate emerges amid ongoing controversy over the CAQ government's decision to abolish the Programme de l'expérience Québécois (PEQ), a popular immigration pathway that many use as a fast track to permanent residency and which supplies labor to Quebec businesses. Drainville has proposed a grandfather clause to protect immigrants already in the program, while his opponent, Christine Fréchette, recently reversed her stance, announcing she would extend the existing program for two years if elected leader.
Samuel Poulin, a junior minister of the economy and key Drainville supporter, expressed worries that temporary immigrants might attempt to influence the vote by purchasing membership cards to support Fréchette, who advocates for the PEQ. "We have seen on social media there are people who, yes, suggest that by purchasing a membership card they could change their situation," Poulin told reporters.
Internal Party Reactions and Broader Implications
Some CAQ members of the National Assembly have voiced support for Drainville's proposal. Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, who has not endorsed any candidate, called it "a good proposal." Fréchette acknowledged the legitimacy of Drainville's concern in a social media comment, stating she would comply if the party changes the rules, but emphasized her focus on issues like cost of living, health, and education.
The leadership election is scheduled for April 12, with a deadline of March 13 for non-members to purchase membership cards to vote. Potvin mentioned that the CAQ is currently verifying about 35 membership requests from youth not on the electoral list, indicating minimal impact from non-citizen participation so far.
This situation highlights tensions within the CAQ over immigration policy and democratic participation, as the party navigates a leadership transition that could shape Quebec's political landscape. The outcome may influence not only the leadership race but also broader debates on citizenship and voting rights in provincial politics.
