At the close of the nomination period for the Quebec Liberal Party leadership race, which ended today at 5:00 p.m., the Electoral Committee received only one admissible candidacy declaration: that of Charles Milliard.
Accordingly, the Chief Electoral Officer, Me Nicolas Plourde, pursuant to section 28 of the 2026 Leadership Race Rules, declared Charles Milliard elected by acclamation as Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party.
In a message addressed to party members, Charles Milliard expressed his gratitude and determination. “Serving our party as leader is an immense privilege. I take it on with resolve, with pride, and with the deep conviction that we have before us a real opportunity to build something strong,” he said.
The Way Forward Is Clear: The General Election of October 5, 2026
The new leader identified the general election of October 5, 2026 as the central objective that must guide every decision, action, and effort within the party. He called on members to strengthen the organization, sharpen the message, and ensure a constant and consistent presence across Quebec.
“I deeply believe in our collective potential. I believe in our ability to persuade. And I believe in our capacity to offer Quebecers a strong, credible, and resolutely modern alternative, true to our values of freedom, openness, justice, and progress,” Charles Milliard affirmed.
Emphasizing the party’s historic significance, as well as the expertise and calibre of the Liberal team, the new leader stressed the QLP’s capacity for action and the need to deploy it fully. He called for hard work and discipline, while affirming that mutual trust would be the driving force on the road to October 2026.
Charles Milliard concluded his message with a call for unity: “There are no more camps. There is a party to consolidate, a team to mobilize, and a Quebec to win over.”
The President of the Quebec Liberal Party, Rafaël Primeau-Ferraro, reacted enthusiastically to the election of the new leader: “The election of Charles Milliard marks the beginning of a new era for the Quebec Liberal Party. I am convinced that under his leadership, our party will rally Quebecers around a vision rooted in freedom, progress, and prosperity. Starting today, we set out on the road to October 2026 with one clear objective: to give Quebecers a majority Liberal government!”
The election of Charles Milliard opens a new chapter for the Quebec Liberal Party. With a determined leader, a clear objective, and a commitment to bringing people together, the Liberal party intends to position itself as a credible and unifying alternative ahead of the October 2026 general election.
Biographical Notes
Charles Milliard, former President and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec and a pharmacist by training, today becomes the Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, where he has been a member since 1998.
A seasoned executive, he served as Executive Vice-President of Groupe Uniprix and Vice-President, Health, at NATIONAL. A holder of an MBA from HEC Montréal, Charles excels in strategic management and public advocacy.
He has also been actively involved in the cultural and education sectors, notably as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Festival international de Lanaudière, the Festival TransAmériques, and the Fondation du Cégep de Lévis, as well as serving on the boards of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.
Most recently, he served as Senior Executive in Residence at the Williams School of Business at Bishop’s University. In this role, he dedicated himself to inspiring and equipping the next generation of business leaders. Through active mentorship and lectures, he shared his vision of responsible and innovative growth, building essential bridges between academic knowledge and the realities of the business world.
