Charles Milliard becomes PLQ leader, unopposed
Posted February 13, 2026 5:28 pm.
Last Updated February 13, 2026 6:52 pm.
Charles Milliard is the new leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) after no other candidates entered the race by Friday’s deadline.
Almost a year after he was the runner-up in the leadership elections, Milliard will replace Pablo Rodriguez as the leader of the PLQ.
Following several weeks of scandals leading up Rodriguez’s December resignation and the subsequent dip the party took in the polls, Milliard and Mario Roy were the only people to express intention to run in the leadership race.
However, Roy, a farmer from Beauce didn’t qualify for the race after he amassed debts from his 2025 run.
“Serving our party as leader is an immense privilege,” said Milliard in a press release from the PLQ.
“I accept this with determination, with pride, and with the deep conviction that we have before us a real opportunity to build something strong.”
Daniel Tran, the director of communications and governmental relations at Casacom says that despite not having spent much time as a politician, Milliard’s role as a pharmacist and as the CEO of Quebec’s Federation of Chambers of Commerce from 2020 to 2024 shows that he has experience in other areas relevant to Quebecers.
“(Milliard) represents something different than Pablo Rodriguez, I think, he has a he has that air of freshness because he’s not part of the Liberal Party,” Tran said. “He has he’s has not been elected official.”
However, Tran added that being a newcomer to the political scene Milliard has his task cut out for him.
“He will have an authority challenge because he’s starting, he’s not well known yet,” Tran said. “He does have an advantage as soon as he becomes the leader of the look a Quebec Liberal Party. He can get to work right away. He can talk to people. He can like go into different regions to make sure that he’s known.”
Milliard is promising to renew the party that has fallen out of favour with large swaths of the francophone majority.
The race unfolds at a pivotal moment in Quebec politics with the Coalition Avenir Québec also seeking a new leader after Premier François Legault announced last month he would step down.
Despite the PLQ’s image taking a hit over the cash-for-vote scandal that led to Rodriguez’s departure, Tran said he believed that Milliard’s election could be positive for the party.
“The most important part is that anything can happen as of now (…), but all cards on a table,” Tran said.
“(Milliard’s chances) that will depend on two key factors, number one getting him known by the population and number two, and this is probably the most important, getting the right team, besides him to support him and plan the next action for the campaign.”
Montrealers react
CityNews spoke to about what Milliard’s election means to them and what they thought about PLQ’s chances in the upcoming provincial elections with the new leader at the helm.
Westmount resident Neil Colman is a PLQ supporter, but he says he and his friends do not know enough about Milliard.
“I don’t think people know too much about him,” Colman said. “Hopefully, he’ll represent traditional liberal values. He against the constitution that the CAQ is determined to pass. He against Bill 21, Bill 96.”
Montrealer Ruth Wani has been a longtime liberal voter, especially at the federal level. She says she pretty much knew nothing of the new PLQ leader, but hoped that he would represent change.
“I just say hope because we don’t know him yet enough,” Wani said. “So let’s see and hope for the best.”
Westmount resident Jacques Malo welcomed Milliard’s election and said that he should have been elected last year.
“I think he represents the younger people. I think he’ll come up with some new ideas instead of the old thinking of the other older people. I’m optimistic about him being able to compete with the other leaders of either the CAQ or the PQ,” Malo said, even though he thought Milliard’s inexperience could pose him some difficulties convincing Quebecers to elect PLQ to power.
Another Montrealer, Dan, agreed with Malo’s assessment, especially given Milliard’s coming from the regions.
“I think it gives (PLQ) a chance,” Dan said. “I don’t think they have the momentum to get it a majority government, but I could certainly see them forming a minority government because the CAQ it seems is done according to the polls. So it’s really the PQ or the Liberals,” he added.
Quebecers are scheduled to vote in the provincial election set for October.
— With files from The Canadian Press
