The Quebec election campaign is in the final stretch.
Right now, it’s looking like the Parti Québécois are on the cusp of a majority government.
For Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard, that means his final days on the trail will be spent reminding the 70 per cent of voters who don’t currently want a referendum that his party could be the federalist alternative with the CAQ in a freefall.
He joined hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on the latest episode of The Corner Booth at Snowdon Deli to explain why the Quebec Liberals are “the most rational people in town.”
Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette
“I think that especially given those special circumstances we’re in, given the fact that we are in a referendum campaign and that the CAQ has been disqualifying itself over the past few days — this is a real debacle — I’m trying to talk to all Quebecers that do not want a referendum, that do not want to quit Canada, to unify.”
Have you read the Livre Bleu? I’m not sure a lot of Quebecers have.
Charles Milliard
Quebec Liberal Party leader
But Milliard finds himself in a difficult position, where the majority of his support comes from the Montreal area and other parties have come to realize you don’t need Montreal to win an election.
The political neophyte, who is running in the Eastern Townships riding of Orford, brought some issues facing Montrealers to the podcast, such as homelessness.
“I recruited one of the best experts in Quebec by the name of James Hughes, who used to lead Mission Old Brewery. He will be playing obviously a top role in our government,” Milliard said.
Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette
He also singled out public transport and business as two priorities for his party.
“I think we need to fix the métro. We need to look at what we’re going to do with the REM de l’Est. There’s still some work to do with the REM connecting to the airport.
“I want to be very helpful with the pharmaceutical sector and aeronautic sector. We have great expertise in Montreal. Those people have been left out in the past years with a policy that was promised and was not executed.”
With only days left to gather support, Milliard is trying to position the Quebec Liberals in a similar way to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal Liberals, as the party of stability in uncertain times. Milliard said the spectre of a referendum now would only hurt trade negotiations with the Donald Trump White House.
“So the next time, and the last time actually, Quebecers have a say on a potential referendum is Monday. It’s not in three years.”
Milliard then asked the hosts, “have you read the Livre Bleu?” in reference to the 524-page Parti Québécois blueprint document for an independent Quebec. “I’m not sure a lot of Quebecers have.”
The Corner Booth is also available on The Gazette’s YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts and on Spotify.