Quebec Liberal Party leadership: Karl Blackburn wants to offer ‘ambitious’ vision

Affirming that his determination “is stronger than ever,” former Roberval MNA Karl Blackburn confirms that he is entering the race for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).

Blackburn revealed his intentions in an open letter published Monday morning in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec. He is also scheduled to hold an afternoon press conference in Quebec City.

In his letter, the former president and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec calls for a “new style of leadership.”

If elected head of the PLQ in June, Blackburn intends to embody “positive, inclusive leadership, capable of bringing Quebecers together: regions and metropolis; young and old; Francophones, Anglophones, allophones and First Nations people.”

After battling prostate cancer in recent months, Blackburn stresses that his health has returned and that his passion for Quebec and its regions has never left him.

“I am therefore entering the race for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party with the intention of offering an ambitious vision to Quebecers,” he writes.

‘Wrong trajectory’

In his letter, Blackburn argues that he has what it takes to put Quebec back on the right track. In his opinion, the province is on a “bad trajectory” due to the “bad choices” made by François Legault’s government.

He cites, among other things, the $13.6 billion deficit forecast in the budget unveiled last week, the creation of Santé Québec, the cuts required in the education network and the “CAQ discourse” in which “new arrivals are a threat to Quebec rather than an enrichment”.

In his opinion, “the state of our public finances puts us in a highly vulnerable position in the economic war unleashed by Donald Trump.”

“A strong economy and healthy public finances are the foundations of our prosperity and the assurance of quality public services and infrastructure. François Legault’s record in this regard is dismal,” he says.

Blackburn says he wants to draw on his experience of more than thirty years in business and politics to change things.

“Those who know me know how much I love Quebec and how committed I’ve always been to having a positive impact on its development,” he recalls.

Race against the clock

Blackburn’s late entry into the race represents a major challenge, since candidates have until April 11 to submit their candidacy files to the party.

This includes a deposit of $40,000 and the signatures of 750 members in good standing, including 350 new members.

Over the weekend, although Blackburn’s candidacy was not officially announced, some of those close to him began circulating links on social networks to register as a PLQ member and sign his candidacy form.

The PLQ will elect its new leader on June 14 at the end of a convention to be held in Quebec City. Between now and then, there will be six debates, the first of which will be held on April 27 in Gatineau.

Former CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec Charles Millard, former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez, lawyer Marc Bélanger and farmer Mario Roy are already in the running.

Blackburn was the Liberal MNA for Roberval from 2003 to 2007. He also served as chief organizer and general manager of the PLQ from 2007 to 2013.

In 2013, he was appointed Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Resolu Forest Products.

Since 2020, he has been head of the Conseil du patronat. The announcement of his resignation last week paved the way for his entry into the PLQ leadership race.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews