Anglade announced her decision at a press conference in Montreal this morning. Her departure comes just over a month after the Quebec election. Quebec’s Liberal Party remained in the official opposition in the National Assembly despite a shaky campaign that ended with the party securing just under 15 percent of the popular vote — the lowest vote share in its history. The Liberals held on to most of their liberal strongholds on the island of Montreal, but were shunned by a large majority of French-speaking voters. The party won 21 seats but was reduced to 20 MNAs after the expulsion of Marie-Claude Nichols, who represents Vaudreuil in the Montreal region, further fueling speculation about Anglade’s future as Liberal leader. On Monday, Anglade acknowledged her party was in turmoil and said she was resigning “in the interests of Quebec and for the good of the party.” “Our party is facing many challenges. It must continue its work because we have the great task of reconnecting with francophones and with every region in Quebec while staying true to our values,” Anglade said. “Demographic, cultural, socio-economic and ecological issues are too important to have an official opposition that is divided.” WATCHES | Anglade explains why she resigned as leader of the PLQ:
Anglade reveals why she is resigning
Dominique Anglade outlined her reasons for resigning as leader of the Quebec Liberal party at a press conference Monday. Anglade assumed the role in May 2020, becoming the first black woman to ever lead a Quebec political party. She arrived months into the COVID-19 pandemic after her only rival in the leadership race withdrew his candidacy. Anglade took over from Philippe Couillard, who was Quebec’s premier from 2014 to 2018 before suffering a crushing defeat to François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec party. The 2018 election is widely seen as a turning point in Quebec politics, one that marked the end of the traditional debate over federalism and sovereignty in the province. Many pundits have said that the Liberals, under England, have failed to reposition themselves in this new political landscape. Anglade hugs her children after announcing her resignation during Monday’s press conference. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press) Anglade is also stepping down as the MNA for the Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne riding in southwest Montreal, where she was first elected in 2015. She will retain that role until December 1. In a tweet, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante praised Anglade for devoting several years of her life to Quebec and thanked her for being an inspiration to women. “Through her work and her involvement, she showed women that it was possible to run for the highest political office,” Plante said. The Liberals now need an interim leader with about three weeks to go before the National Assembly resumes business on November 29.
“The only decision was available to her”
David Birnbaum, the former MNA for the riding of D’Arcy-McGee, who did not run for re-election this fall and was one of the few to publicly defend Anglade, said he was saddened but not surprised by her decision. “I am proud of her as ours [leader]I was proud to serve with her and I’m a little less proud of some of my former Liberal colleagues who made it impossible for her to continue,” he said. Despite some mistakes made in the first and during the election, Birnbaum said, Anglade ran a courageous campaign and was a responsible and effective opposition leader. “I think so [she] she deserved the right to decide her own future and many in the Liberal Party made that impossible for her and now she has made the kind and responsible and only decision available to her.” Former Liberal MNA David Birnbaum was among those still loyal to Anglade. She says many in her party have made it impossible for her to continue as leader. (Radio-Canada) Birnbaum said the Liberal party must now renew itself without losing sight of its “unique and fundamental values” regarding federalism, the future of English-speaking Quebecers and linking economic success to environmental responsibility. “These are tough jobs and it’s not a quick leadership campaign that’s going to do these things,” he said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us.” After Anglade’s announcement, many members of the Liberal group took to social media to highlight her contribution to Quebec and praise her character. “You are a woman of heart, of conviction, deeply invested in a sense of public service and a true desire to offer equal opportunities to all Quebecers,” Liberal House leader Andre Fortin said in a tweet. Marc Tanguay, the Quebec Liberal MNA for LaFontaine, thanked Anglade for her years of public service. “She has contributed to the economic development of Quebec while setting an example of success for all Quebec women,” she tweeted. “Thank you dear Dominique! It was a privilege to work with you.”
Party leaders say goodbye
“I want to emphasize Dominique Anglade’s commitment and dedication to Quebec,” Premier Francois Legault tweeted. “It takes courage to be involved in politics. It takes determination to be in politics. It takes humility to quit politics. Thank you Dominique!” In a statement, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, the co-spokesperson for Québec Solidaire, said Anglade brought honesty and dignity to political discussions. “I will remember her commitment to feminism and her outspoken concerns about mental health,” Nadeau-Dubois said. Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon also took to Twitter to applaud Anglade’s commitment and dedication. “Regardless of our differences, she has shown resilience and total commitment to politics and her party,” he said. “I wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
