Mario Roy still eyeing Quebec Liberal leadership, despite party refusing candidacy
Posted February 11, 2026 12:11 pm.
Last Updated February 11, 2026 4:01 pm.
Quebec farmer Mario Roy is still hoping to run in the Quebec Liberal Party’s leadership race despite the party refusing his candidacy.
Roy placed a distant fifth in last summer’s leadership race that saw Pablo Rodriguez, who has since stepped down, claim victory.
To run for leader against Charles Milliard, the only other candidate in the running, Roy must raise $18,000 and get 750 signatures by Friday.
CityNews spoke to Roy to find out where he stands with the deadline fast approaching.
How’s it going so far?
I’m working hard. The team is working hard to meet the condition that is asked by the party in order to become the official candidate. It’s going well in terms of meeting the condition and I’m reaching out to everybody to go on my website and donate because that’s the biggest issue right now.
Now if you meet the criteria, the electoral committee could reconsider their decision to reject the candidacy. How confident are you feeling right now that that could happen?
Well, it’s going well in terms of the campaign and I’m going to be working hard until the end to make sure that the conditions are met. The party didn’t give me the official ‘yes’ in order to be an official candidate, but that’s of course how it’s working because I didn’t give all the criteria that are asked. So the condition, the situation hasn’t changed. I have until the 13th to meet everything to become the official candidate.
I’m looking forward to meet and continue to meet the members in order to get their support and represent them. That’s really why I’m in the race because the question comes up, the question that remains is, do the members want a convention today and I’m there to offer them a real debate and I’m there to represent all of them.
Why is it important for you to be part of the Quebec Liberal leadership race?
Yes, that’s really a good question because during the past few days I’ve been travelling to Montreal, different meetings, different communities, Anglophone community in particular and I’m shocked to hear every time that I’m meeting people that people do not feel represented. The members do not feel represented by the party and that needs to change and that’s why we need a real debate to see how the party can do better and how as a leadership candidate I can represent and respect all of them and that’s my message today. I want to defend and respect all members and with that new debate we’ll be able to change the message and change how the party is going.
