Just weeks before the official start of the provincial election campaign in Quebec, the Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard it has been relatively quiet.
On Wednesday, Milliard made his first policy announcement in weeks, laying out his party’s economic vision. The plan focuses on strengthening Quebec’s role within Canada, building new trade partnerships and preparing the province for changes in the North American economy.
“We are proposing something clear and pragmatic, which is to work for a stronger Quebec and a stronger Canada,” Milliard said, speaking outside the U.S. Consulate in Quebec City.
Political analyst Karim Boulos said Milliard generated momentum after winning the Liberal leadership in February.
“When he was announced, the numbers went up. The Liberals looked great. They were in second place and they were passing the CAQ,” Boulos said.
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But according to Boulos, that momentum faded in recent months as Prime Minister Christine Fréchette worked to distance herself from the François Legault era.
“The PQ in recent months has started to lose a bit of steam, so it created a window of opportunity that Mr. Milliard could have exploited. However, it was Madame Fréchette who seized it,” Boulos said.
Some Montrealers said they are still unfamiliar with Quebec’s Liberal leader. When asked by Global News, some respondents said they could not identify Milliard, while others said they knew little about his priorities but were interested in learning more as the election approaches.
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Côte-des-Neiges Liberal MNA Désirée McGraw said voters can expect to see more from the party leader in the coming weeks.
“I think you can expect to see a lot more of it and more announcements in terms of unveiling our platform in due course,” she said.
Boulos said Milliard’s economic message Wednesday was a good example of seizing an opportunity and could also resonate with voters seeking greater cooperation between Quebec and the rest of Canada.
According to Boulos, Milliard will still need to present a strong platform sooner rather than later, addressing issues such as health care, education, infrastructure, investment and technology if he hopes to stand out before the Oct. 5 election.
At the moment, Milliard says Quebec has played too little a role on the national stage and says greater cooperation with the rest of Canada is essential to increasing Quebec’s economic influence.
