Victoriaville mayor isn't closing door on Quebec Liberal leadership bid
![Antoine Tardif Victoriaville Mayor Antoine Tardif has not ruled out running for the Quebec Liberal leadership. (Antoine Tardif)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/5/23/antoine-tardif-1-6898211-1716487203827.png)
Victoriaville Mayor Antoine Tardif commented on rumours in recent days that he may run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).
While attending the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) conference in Montreal on Thursday, Tardif said he was "not closing the door on entering politics at another level," but that for the time being, "all my energies and my entire head are totally devoted" to the city of Victoriaville.
"I was very flattered to read the comments yesterday from some influential Liberals who could see me running for the leadership," he told reporters, adding that in "politics, you should never say no, so it's not a no. But today, I can tell you that I'm not there yet."
The 34-year-old mayor, a former hockey goalie, drew an analogy with the sport to explain how he perceived the rumours about him.
"I feel a bit like when I played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. When the trade period comes around, there are a lot of rumours about trades, but as long as nothing has moved, you go back to the arena and put on your city's uniform. And right now, the uniform I'm wearing is the Victoriaville uniform," said the mayor.
Acadie-Bathurst Titans' first pick Antoine Tardif pouts on his jersey as team owner Léo-Guy Morissette look on at the QMJHL draft on Saturday June 10, 2006 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. (Rémi Sénéchal, The Canadian Press)
There is still no official candidate in the race, although several names are circulating.
The leadership race begins on Jan. 13, 2025. The next leader of the PLQ will be chosen in June of that year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 23, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6929558.1718631751!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Heat warnings to last into the weekend for some provinces
A heat wave is expected to hit parts of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick this week, and it could feel as warm as 45, according to latest forecasts.
opinion Symbolic meaning behind Princess of Wales' style choices at first public appearance since diagnosis revealed
The Trooping the Colour marked the first public outing this year for the Princess of Wales, who has not been seen at any official royal engagements since December 2023. We now know that was due to abdominal surgery and preventive chemotherapy, with no return to public life anytime soon. But the Princess of Wales chose this occasion to soft launch her return to royal life, and it was eagerly anticipated.
Japan reports record spike in potentially deadly bacterial infection
Cases of a dangerous and highly fatal bacterial infection have reached record levels in Japan, official figures show, with experts so far unable to pinpoint the reason for the rise.
2 Canadian cities ranked high on global list of most expensive places to buy a home
As Canadians continue to struggle with the extremely high cost of buying a home in some of the country’s major urban centres, a new global report is underscoring just how expensive some of those markets are.
Nuclear-armed nations are deepening their reliance on their nuclear weapons, watchdog finds
The world's nine nuclear-armed states continue to modernize their nuclear weapons as the countries deepened their reliance on such deterrence in 2023, a Swedish think tank said Monday.
World's first weekly insulin injection coming to Canada in 2 weeks, manufacturer says
Many people with diabetes in Canada will soon be able to take insulin once a week instead of daily, drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced on Monday.
Israeli officials say Netanyahu has dissolved the War Cabinet after key partner bolted government
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved the influential War Cabinet tasked with steering the war in Gaza, Israeli officials said Monday, a move that comes days after a key member of the body bolted the government over frustrations surrounding the Israeli leader's handling of the war.
Putin to visit North Korea for talks with Kim Jong Un, both countries say
North Korean state media says Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in the country on Tuesday for a two-day visit.
U.S. surgeon general calls on Congress to require social media warning labels, like those on cigarettes
The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes.