Before a crowd of roughly 600 supporters gathered at the Delta Hotel in Trois-Rivières on Sunday, Charles Milliard officially stepped into his new role as leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, promising renewal, integrity and a bold policy agenda after a turbulent chapter for the party.
Milliard, acclaimed earlier this week in a leadership race that drew no challengers, entered the ballroom to sustained applause. His address struck a tone of rebuilding and forward motion following months of internal upheaval.
“We have gone through a difficult period, but today we look forward,” Milliard told supporters. “Under my leadership, integrity, transparency and accountability will guide us. Trust is something that must be earned.”
The party has been navigating uncertainty since December, when former leader Pablo Rodriguez resigned amid controversy tied to alleged vote-buying and reimbursed donations during the leadership race he won last June. The episode rattled party ranks and triggered calls for renewal.
Standing before longtime Liberal figures including former premiers Daniel Johnson and Philippe Couillard Milliard sought to present himself as both a fresh face and a steady hand. Though he has never held elected office at either the provincial or federal level, he brings experience as the former president of the Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce and as a pharmacist by training.
In his speech, Milliard outlined five central priorities he says would define a future Liberal government: bolstering the economy, improving public services, strengthening support for regions beyond major urban centres, promoting Quebec culture and addressing the housing crisis.
Among the headline proposals were the creation of a telemedicine platform available seven days a week, a target of 100,000 housing starts annually and tax relief measures for small and medium-sized businesses. He also pledged a strong emphasis on mental health services and expanded home-care programs to help seniors remain in their communities.
“Uprooting seniors from their homes and regions is a scourge on society,” he said, promising investments that would allow aging Quebecers to stay closer to family and support networks.
Education reform also featured prominently in his remarks. If elected this fall, Milliard said he would launch wide-ranging consultations aimed at reshaping a system he described as overstretched and in need of modernization to better serve students and teachers alike.
“Our current system has reached its limit the bell has rung,” he declared.
Describing himself as “nationalist, regionalist and federalist,” Milliard argued that these identities are not incompatible but rather reflect Quebec’s complexity within Canada. He also pledged to strengthen the powers of local governments, calling himself “the prime minister of decentralization in Quebec.”
Following the speech, Milliard faced questions at his first news conference as party leader. Among the pressing matters is the status of Marwah Rizqy, who was removed from the Liberal caucus last year after dismissing her chief of staff without consulting Rodriguez a decision that sparked internal tensions. The former staffer has since launched a $500,000 lawsuit against Rizqy.
Milliard said the issue will be discussed at the party’s first caucus meeting under his leadership and emphasized that any decision would be made collectively. “I am not rushing things,” he said.
As he begins the task of introducing himself to voters across the province, Milliard faces the challenge of rebuilding trust while positioning the Liberals as a viable alternative government. Sunday’s event marked both a symbolic reset and the opening act of what promises to be a pivotal political season in Quebec.
