Latest news with #ÉricDuhaime
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Arthabaska: Denis Coderre urges Liberals to vote for Éric Duhaime
Former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre (left) appears alongside Éric Duhaime, leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) and candidate in the Arthabaska by-election, in Victoriaville on Thursday, May 29, 2025. (The Canadian Press/Thomas Laberge) In a political twist in Arthabaska, Denis Coderre has thrown his support behind Éric Duhaime, calling on Liberals and federalists in the riding to vote for the Conservative leader. 'A party leader, no matter who it is — if it had been someone else, I would've done the same darn thing — has the right to sit in the National Assembly,' the former mayor of Montreal said Thursday at a press conference in Victoriaville, standing alongside Duhaime. Coderre said the Conservative leader's ideas deserve to be heard at the National Assembly. 'The interests of Quebecers include, among other things, scrapping the carbon tax, and the only one who's been clear, straightforward and transparent about that is Éric Duhaime,' he said. The former federal minister urged the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) not to run a candidate in the riding, both to facilitate Duhaime's election and to 'save money.' 'If the PLQ runs someone, they won't even get 10 per cent,' he argued. Sitting beside him, the Conservative leader welcomed the endorsement, describing Coderre as a politician who puts democracy first. 'It sends the message that people of all stripes — no matter your position on the Constitution, no matter where you fall on the left-right spectrum — you're welcome in the Quebec Conservative Party. I want to bring people in Arthabaska together,' Duhaime said. After the press conference, the two went to shake hands with seniors at a nearby retirement residence. Tax troubles Until recently, Coderre had wanted to run for the PLQ leadership. But his ongoing tax troubles led the Liberals to reject his candidacy in February. At the time, he said he was 'disgusted' by the party's decision. On Thursday, the former mayor insisted his support for the Conservatives isn't about getting back at the Liberals. Coderre's tax issues remain unresolved. La Presse reported in recent days that he still owes taxes at both the provincial and federal levels. Back in October 2024, he said his situation would be resolved by January. At Thursday's press conference in Victoriaville, he repeated that 'all funds are secured.' 'The rest of this sounds more like smearing, harassment and intimidation,' he said. Asked whether he might run with the Conservatives in 2026, he replied simply: 'I'll deal with my stuff first.' Despite everything, the former federal minister says he still holds a PLQ membership card. When asked whether paying taxes is important, Duhaime sidestepped the question, saying that 'unfortunately,' in politics, old stories always resurface. 'Today's real news is that someone is standing up to say that democracy has its place in Quebec,' he added. Coderre was mayor of Montreal from 2013 to 2017. Before that, he was a federal Liberal MP from 1997 to 2013 in the Montreal riding of Bourassa. Three-way race According to poll aggregator Qc125, the Arthabaska by-election is shaping up to be a three-way race between the Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ), the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), and the Parti Québécois (PQ). Former Radio-Canada journalist Alex Boissonneault is running for the PQ. Voters in Arthabaska haven't elected a PQ MNA in over 25 years. Québec solidaire is running Pascale Fortin in the by-election. So far, neither the CAQ nor the Liberals have named a candidate. The riding has been held by the CAQ since 2012. In the 2022 provincial election, Conservative candidate Tarek Henoud placed second in Arthabaska with 25 per cent of the vote. The government has until September to call the by-election. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 29, 2025. By Thomas Laberge, The Canadian Press
Montreal Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Coderre urges Quebec Liberal supporters and federalists to vote for Conservative leader Duhaime in Arthabaska byelection
Quebec Politics Former Montreal mayor and unsuccessful Quebec Liberal leadership candidate Denis Coderre is calling upon provincial Liberal supporters and federalists to support Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime in the yet-to-be called byelection in the provincial riding of Arthabaska. Coderre said on Thursday he believes Duhaime's ideas, such as the latter's opposition to the provincial carbon tax, should be heard in the National Assembly. 'In (the general election of ) 2022, the (Quebec) Liberals got 591,000 votes and (elected) 21 MNAs, while the (provincial) Conservatives got 530,000 votes and elected no one,' Coderre said in a communiqué. 'To combat the prevailing cynicism toward the political class, it seems to me essential that Éric Duhaime get into the National Assembly.' Coderre tried to run for the Quebec Liberal leadership, but unresolved tax issues on his part led to the party rejecting his candidacy. Coderre public stated he was 'disgusted' by the party's decision. Coderre served as mayor of Montreal from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that he was Liberal MP for the Montreal riding of Bourassa. According to the Qc125 aggregator site, the byelection in Arthabaska is a three-way race between the Conservatives, the ruling Coalition Avenir Québec and the Parti Québécois. Former Radio-Canada journalist Alex Boissonneault is running for the PQ ,and Pascale Fortin is running for Québec solidaire. The CAQ and Quebec Liberals have yet to announce a candidate. Arthabaska has been a CAQ riding since 2012. In the 2022 vote, Conservative candidate Tarek Henoud finished in second place with 25 per cent of the vote.
CTV News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Journalist Alex Boissonneault to run as Parti Québécois candidate in Arthabaska byelection
Journalist Alex Boissonneault, host of Radio-Canada Québec's Première heure, will be the Parti Québécois (PQ) candidate in the Arthabaska byelection. The PQ confirmed the information on Monday, saying in a written response that 'the announcement in due form and the answers to questions will be made on Wednesday in Arthabaska.' Éric Duhaime, leader of the Quebec Conservative Party and candidate in Arthabaska, is hoping to win his party its first seat in the National Assembly in the byelection. The Conservatives had 13 per cent of the vote in the last election, but did not elect any members to the National Assembly. Poll aggregator Qc125 predicts a very tight three-way race in Arthabaska between the Coalition avenir Québec, the PQ and the Conservatives. Premier François Legault has until September to call the byelection. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 12, 2025.
Montreal Gazette
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Conservative Éric Duhaime to seek Arthabaska seat in eventual byelection
Quebec Politics VICTORIAVILLE — The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec has formally announced his intention to seek a seat in the legislature by running in the riding of Arthabaska when a byelection is eventually called. Éric Duhaime made the announcement during a speech on Sunday afternoon. The Arthabaska riding in central Quebec has been vacant since the March resignation of Éric Lefebvre, an Independent who had previously left the governing Coalition Avenir Québec to run in the recent federal election. He won the riding of Richmond-Arthabaska for the Conservatives, one of 11 seats the party claimed in the province. Duhaime's Conservatives did not win any seats in the 2022 provincial campaign despite the party capturing more than 530,000 votes and growing their share of the popular vote to nearly 13 per cent. Duhaime lost his own attempt to capture the Quebec City area riding of Chauveau in 2022, finishing second to the CAQ. Poll aggregator Qc125 predicts a close three-way race in Arthabaska between the Coalition Avenir Québec, Parti Québécois, and Duhaime's party. Premier François Legault has not yet called a byelection, which must come within the next six months.
