In an interview with Radio-Canada, Mr Couillard reiterated that his political family must not turn its back on liberal values. However, in a context where the policy supply is more fragmented than ever, the PLQ has an interest in simplifying the expression of these values, he said.
It is about defining and asserting the PLQ’s place on the political chessboard at a time when the chessboard is no longer the same. The pie is now divided between several players, acknowledges the man who was Quebec’s prime minister from 2014 to 2018.
According to Mr. Couillard, the PLQ must therefore return to three basic niches: assertive federalism, sustainable and low-carbon economic development, and individual freedoms.
Although other Quebec political parties are also trying to defend these ideals, Mr. Couillard believes that the PLQ has embodied them for more than 150 years and therefore must have confidence. Don’t try to imitate other parties, he warns.
“For me, trying to become a new CAQ, new PQ or new QS would be the biggest mistake. »
– A quote from Philippe Couillard, former President of the PLQ
Former executives met
Mr. Couillard recently shared this vision with the PLQ’s revitalization committee, set up last March to redefine what it means to be a Liberal in Quebec in 2023.
With the exception of Jean-Marc Fournier, who is due to meet in the coming weeks, the former PLQ chairmen were also able to share their observations with the committee.
However, Jean Charest, Daniel Johnson and Dominique Anglade turned down interview requests from Radio-Canada.
The co-chair of the PLQ’s revitalization committee, Madwa-Nika Cadet, reiterated that the former leaders feel very challenged by the party’s future, but doesn’t think they are worried about what will happen next.
Liberal MP Madwa-Nika Cadet is co-chair of her party’s relaunch committee.
Photo: Radio Canada / Madwa-Nika Cadet
These former executives have the wisdom to look at things from a historical perspective, from an overall perspective, and are able to recognize that this is an episode, she says.
“This is not our first difficult episode. Talk to mr [Georges-Émile] The Palm tree. If he had been with us he would have spoken to us about the time under Mr. Duplessis. »
– A quote from Madwa-Nika Cadet, Co-Chair of the PLQ Revitalization Committee
A party unable to embody its Québecitude?
Some 400 activists will be called on Saturday afternoon at the PLQ General Council to vote on the revival of their political party, which received only 14% of the votes cast in the last provincial elections.
Three themes are covered: collect, flourish and assert yourself. It is important that we can hear the activists, argues Ms. Cadet.
But on Friday, on the eve of the General Assembly, former President of the PLQ Political Commission Jérôme Turcotte threw a stone into the pond. He published an open letter in La Presse, in which he officially distanced himself from the party and described himself as a political orphan.
In its gradual transformation into a vehicle to contain the threat of a referendum, the PLQ has lost its ability to adequately embody its Quebecness, Mr Turcotte in particular wrote.
“He no longer masters the codes of self-determination. It also seems to have a certain current of Canadian nationalism running through it. That worries me. »
— A quote from an excerpt of Jérôme Turcotte’s open letter, published in La Presse on May 26, 2023
Asked about this position, Ms Cadet believes that Mr Turcotte is entitled to her opinion, but confirms that she does not share these criticisms and reiterates that she has not heard them since the Recovery Committee began its work.
We are the Liberal Party of Quebec. It’s not for free. The ability to defend a strong Quebec within Canada has always been an element that has underpinned the core of our political education, she said.
However, Ms Cadet assures that the PLQ hears Mr Turcotte’s criticism and that the party will pay attention to it if it is picked up by the militants gathered in the General Council.
We want there to be debates. We know that there are certain convergence points; If they come out, all the better. But if there are differences of opinion, this is the right forum to listen, take note and draw the necessary conclusions.