Five takeaways from the weekend's Quebec Liberal leadership debates

Montreal Gazette

04-05-2025

Quebec Politics
By
One day after the campaign's first French debate, the second of six Quebec Liberal leadership faceoffs took place Sunday at John Abbott College — the only one to be conducted entirely in English.
Candidates Pablo Rodriguez, Charles Milliard, Karl Blackburn, Marc Bélanger and Mario Roy all participated.
The debate — which drew about 300 people, including former Liberal cabinet minister Clifford Lincoln — was moderated by Brenda O'Farrell, editor-in-chief of the 1019 Report.
'As we say, it's Bonjour-Hi to open debate,' O'Farrell said at the start of the encounter.
1. Bill 96
The candidates were asked on Sunday where they stand on Bill 96, the Coalition Avenir Québec government's law overhauling the French Language Charter, an issue that has sparked concern in the English-speaking community. All the candidates said they had reservations about the law.
Rodriguez said French is the official language of Quebec but there is no need to protect it by attacking the English-speaking community. 'We will always protect French, but not by being against the English community. A Quebecer is a Quebecer is a Quebecer.'
Blackburn said it is possible to affirm the importance of French 'without taking people's rights away.' He added he was proud to say that in a debate being held in Premier François Legault's home riding of L'Assomption in the West Island.
Bélanger, who is from Matane and ensured his children became bilingual, said under his leadership 'Bill 96 will be reviewed because I don't believe in any measures that do not give results.'
Milliard said it's 'nonsense' to use language as a weapon, and that the recent controversy over the phrase 'Go Habs Go' shows the government needs to review the way some language measures are being applied. He repeated his view that the six-month period for immigrants to learn French is too short and that the law creates too much red tape for businesses.
Roy said all minorities should be treated fairly and on the same level. He challenged Rodriguez to act, asking the former MP: 'What have you done to help minorities?'
The issue of the Constitution's notwithstanding clause, which shields Bill 96 from court challenges, was not raised during the debate, but the candidates responded after to media questions about it. They were not all clear.
Milliard said since he wants to drop parts of Bill 96, it might not be necessary to renew the use of the notwithstanding clause for another five years. Rodriguez said he wants to see what the fate of Bill 96 is in court challenges first, but in principle he disagrees with the clause being used as a preventive measure.
Blackburn, who is the former head of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, the province's largest employer group, said he does not think the clause should be used routinely. He said Bill 96 imposes too much red tape on businesses and described the current campaign to force companies to change their commercial signs as a 'witch hunt.'
2. Tuition
Milliard said Sunday he would cancel the CAQ government's recent university tuition increase for out-of-province students because it discriminates against those from the rest of Canada. He also said international students need to be seen as an asset, not a problem.
Blackburn said Quebec needs international students because they help create prosperity. He said he would lift the current freeze on admissions to the English CEGEP system.
Roy said that as a farmer from Beauce, he learned English at McGill University. 'This is an institution I will always defend. We need to change that idea that bilingualism is a weakness.'
'What the CAQ did was wrong,' said Rodriguez. 'It's a bad move. Everyone agrees on this. The CAQ shot itself in the foot.'
3. A Quebec constitution
The candidates were asked on Sunday if they would support the creation of a Liberal-sponsored Quebec constitution, as recommended by a party policy committee. The idea was endorsed at the Liberals' policy convention in November 2024.
Roy was the only candidate who said he would act on the idea. The others said it would not be a priority for them.
4. Tariffs and supply management system
Milliard said Sunday the tariff crisis is an opportunity for Quebec to learn to do business in other ways and make better use of other Canadian markets.
Rodriguez noted he was in the federal government when Canada signed a trade agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump the first time he was in office.
'I stood up to Donald Trump,' he said. 'It's not easy to deal with this guy. He changes his mind a lot. We have to be united. François Legault does not understand Canada.'
Bélanger took a swipe, saying he has doubts Rodriguez was actually that involved in the deal.
5. Jabs at Rodriguez
The first debate of the race took place Saturday in Laval, in French. As many predicted, Rodriguez was the target of numerous jabs connected to his past work as a federal MP in the government of Justin Trudeau.
Blackburn went after Rodriguez on immigration, saying that when Rodriguez was in Ottawa the federal government heeded Quebec's wish and capped the number of temporary immigrants — a move that Blackburn said deprived Quebec of much-needed labour.
The next debate is Saturday, May 10 in Gatineau.