QUEBEC—Philippe Couillard opened his first general conference as Liberal Party leader on Saturday by calling for a major overhaul of the party.
Couillard told about 400 Liberal Party delegates the new platform must culminate in time for the winter ahead of a likely spring election.
Couillard also used the party's first major conference since being elected leader in March to take aim at the ruling Parti Quebecois, a “flip-flopping” minority government that is “rudderless” and looking “to take away our passport to our great country, Canada.”
Couillard addressed Quebec identity throughout and slammed the PQ for conjuring up an image that was out of tune with the reality of a province where the population is “not humiliated, not besieged.” The former Quebec Health Minister said the 21st-Century was tailor-made for Quebecers, with economic prosperity the key.
On a day when Quebec made headlines around the world for its U-turn on a decision to ban turbans on the soccer field, Couillard said the party one of tolerance and social inclusion “for all Quebecers.”
“People in all regions agree with us and our values,” Couillard said.
Couillard is among those who believe a spring election could come after the next provincial budget is presented, since the PQ hanging by a slim minority. Couillard has said his party could be ready to go as early as this fall, although the party needs the support of the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) to bring down the government.
