CAQ leadership race | Two more MPs support Simon Jolin-Barrette

(Quebec) Two more deputies emerge from the shadows to support the anticipated candidacy of Simon-Jolin-Barrette in the three-way race which is emerging to succeed François Legault. The former Minister of Agriculture, André Lamontagne, and the MP for Saint-Jean, Louis Lemieux, lined up behind him on Thursday, the day the rules of the leadership campaign were revealed.

Elected since 2014, André Lamontagne, a wealthy former independent businessman and fervent nationalist, is one of those who, as has already been described to the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), has “one foot in the identity camp and one foot in the economic camp”. We remember a fiery nationalist speech during a CAQ congress from this usually discreet elected official.

The 65-year-old politician has been more discreet than ever since the ministerial reshuffle last September. He had to give up his position as Minister of Agriculture, which he had held since the CAQ came to power in 2018. The member for Johnson (constituency which straddles Centre-du-Québec and Montérégie) will not stand for re-election in the next election.

“The CAQ was able to break the cycle of alternation between sovereignists and federalists by focusing both on an assumed nationalism and the importance of a strong economy. Whoever takes the reins of the party must embody this third way and have the capacity to inspire, rally and mobilize Quebecers to continue to write the history of our Quebec nation in the most beautiful way,” maintains Mr. Lamontagne.

He worked for 12 years with Simon Jolin-Barrette. “Twelve years during which I had a front-row seat to appreciate his exceptional talents and his unfailing commitment to Quebec,” he adds. “Simon is a leader, a team guy and a tireless worker. Since 2018, he has revealed himself as a great reformer, fully invested in moving forward and progressing Quebec. I invite him to start the race; I will be by his side. »

For his part, former host Louis Lemieux, elected since 2018, wanted to be clear on the reasons leading him to place his trust in Simon Jolin-Barrette, using capital letters on social networks. “Because… I am a NATIONALIST and I need our next leader to be… more than less,” he wrote while Finance Minister Eric Girard calls for François Legault’s successor to have “a more inclusive and unifying nationalism”. “Because… I am realistic and I want a chef who is experienced AND has a future,” added Mr. Lemieux.

Simon Jolin-Barrette has so far had support among the members of the current council of ministers, Jonatan Julien (Transport). The former minister and MP for Verchères, Suzanne Roy, who will also leave political life at the end of the mandate, announced her support. This is also the case for deputies Shirley Dorismond (Marie-Victorin), Mario Asselin (Vanier-Les Rivières) and Stéphane Sainte-Croix (Gaspé).

The Minister of Justice and parliamentary leader says he is still in “serious consideration”, but he and his entourage are multiplying the signals pointing to an upcoming candidacy.

Bernard Drainville had his first two supports in the caucus on Wednesday: the youngest elected CAQ members. Minister Samuel Poulin (Beauce-Sud) and MP Kariane Bourassa (Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré) lined up behind him. The Minister of the Environment has just resolved a file: it postponed by five years, to 2035, the achievement of the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 37.5%.