2016 Parti Québécois leadership election

The 2016 Parti Québécois leadership election occurred from October 5 to October 7, 2016 due to the resignation of Parti Québécois leader Pierre Karl Péladeau on May 2, 2016. Jean-François Lisée was elected on the second ballot with 50.63% of the vote.

2016 Parti Québécois leadership election

← 2015 October 7, 2016 2020 →
Turnout75.09%
 
Candidate Jean-François Lisée Alexandre Cloutier
1st Ballot 25,936 16,357
percentage 47.03% 29.66%
2nd Ballot 27,801 17,403
percentage 50.63% 31.70%

 
Candidate Martine Ouellet Paul St-Pierre Plamondon
1st Ballot 9,077 3,772
percentage 16.46% 6.84%
2nd Ballot 9,702 Eliminated
percentage 17.67%

Leader before election

Pierre Karl Péladeau

Elected Leader

Jean-François Lisée

2016 Parti Québécois leadership election
DateOctober 5–7, 2016
Resigning leaderPierre Karl Péladeau
Won byJean-François Lisée
Ballots2
Candidates4
Entrance Fee$20,000
Spending limit$200,000

To be nominated, a candidate paid a $20,000 non-refundable registration fee and submitted signatures of 1,500 party members from the provinces 45 different ridings in Quebec's seven regions by June 30, 2016. The campaign spending limit was $200,000 per candidate.[1]

Timeline

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Candidates

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Background
 
Alexandre Cloutier, MNA for Lac-Saint-Jean

MNA for Lac-Saint-Jean (2007–present), Minister for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, the Canadian Francophonie and Sovereignist Governance (2012–2014), second-place finisher in 2015 leadership election.

Date candidacy declared: May 13, 2016[8]
Supporters
Support from caucus members: (14) François Gendron (Abitibi-Ouest), Agnès Maltais (Taschereau), Sylvain Roy (Bonaventure), Harold Lebel (Rimouski), Dave Turcotte (Saint-Jean), Martin Ouellet (René-Lévesque), Sylvain Rochon (Richelieu), Guy Leclair (Beauharnois),[9] Nicole Léger (Pointe-aux-Trembles),[10] Diane Lamarre (Taillon), Maka Kotto (Bourget), Mireille Jean (Chicoutimi), Sylvain Pagé (Labelle),[11] Gaétan Lelièvre (Gaspé)[12]
Support from former caucus members: Stéphane Bédard (Chicoutimi, 1998-2015), former interim leader (2014-2015),[8] Guy Julien (Trois-Rivières), Yves Duhaime (Saint-Maurice), Jean-Pierre Jolivet (Laviolette), Élaine Zakaïb (Richelieu), Serge Geoffrion (La Prairie), Jérôme Proulx (Saint-Jean) [13]
Other prominent supporters: Bernard Landry (Former Premier of Quebec)
Policies: Does not intend to call a sovereignty referendum until a PQ government's second term, if there is a 'groundswell' of support. Says education is a priority and also supports measures to keep corporate head offices from leaving Quebec. Also supports protecting the French language and entrenching secularism in Quebec's constitution.[8]
Background
 
Jean-François Lisée, MNA for Rosemont

MNA for Rosemont (2012–present), Minister of International Relations, La Francophonie and External Trade (2012–2014), former journalist and professor.[14] Ran in 2015 leadership election but withdrew.

Date candidacy declared: May 16, 2016[15]
Supporters
Support from caucus members: (5) Carole Poirier (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve), Alain Therrien (Sanguinet), Mathieu Traversy (Terrebonne), André Villeneuve (Berthier),[16] Pascal Bérubé (Matane-Matapédia)[17]
Support from former caucus members:
Other prominent supporters:
Policies: Opposes holding a referendum in a PQ government's first mandate and opposes any government initiatives or public spending to lay the groundwork for sovereignty until a PQ government wins its second mandate. Supports the proposed Quebec Charter of Values and has called for a ban on wearing the niqab and burka in public.[18]
Background
 
Martine Ouellet, MNA for Vachon

MNA for Vachon (2010–present), Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife (2012–2014), third-place finisher in 2015 leadership election.[15] Worked at Hydro-Québec for 20 years as a mechanical engineer prior to entering politics.[19]

Date candidacy declared: May 27, 2016[15]
Supporters
Support from caucus members:
Support from former caucus members: Robert Dean (Prévost), Gilbert Paquette (Rosemont)
Other prominent supporters: Mario Beaulieu, MP for La Pointe-de-l'Île and president of the Bloc Québécois, Xavier Barsalou-Duval, MP for Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, Michel Boudrias, MP for Terrebonne, Marilène Gill, MP for Manicouagan
Policies: Promises to hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty in a first mandate[19]

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon

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Background

39-year-old lawyer, political columnist, essayist and commentator who has never held a seat in the Quebec National Assembly.[20]

Date candidacy declared: June 3, 2016[20]
Supporters
Support from caucus members:
Support from former caucus members:
Other prominent supporters:
Policies: Wishes to revive social democracy and opposes austerity. Opposes holding a referendum on sovereignty during a PQ government's first mandate and would hold public consultations during a second mandate to gauge whether or not the public is interested. Opposes the Quebec Charter of Values proposed by the former PQ government in 2014.[21]

Withdrawn candidate

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Background

MNA for Joliette (2008–present), Minister of Social Services and Youth Protection, Minister of the Lanaudière region and Minister responsible for the Die in Dignity commission (2012–2014).[15]

Date candidacy declared: May 9, 2016[22]
Date candidacy withdrawn: August 26, 2016[23]
Supporters
Support from caucus members: (5) Mathieu Traversy (Terrebonne), Claude Cousineau (Bertrand), André Villeneuve (Berthier), Carole Poirier (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve), Sylvain Pagé (Labelle)[24]
Support from former caucus members: (8) Marie Bouillé (Iberville), Gilles Chapadeau (Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue), Linda Goupil (Lévis) former Justice minister, Élizabeth Larouche (Abitibi-Est) former Aboriginal Affairs minister, Scott McKay (Repentigny), Serge Ménard (Laval-des-Rapides) former Public Security minister, Lucie Papineau (Prévost) former Industry and Commerce minister, Cécile Vermette (Marie-Victorin)
Other prominent supporters: Claude DeBellefeuille, former Bloc Québécois MP (Beauharnois—Salaberry), Gabrielle Lemieux, Advisor on the national executive of the PQ, Paul Crête, Vice-President on the national executive of the PQ, Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc Québécois MP (Joliette)
Policies: Supports electoral reform and more free votes in the Quebec National Assembly.[25]

Declined

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Results

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First round:

  • Jean-François Lisée: 25,936 (47.03%)
  • Alexandre Cloutier: 16,357 (29.66%)
  • Martine Ouellet: 9,077 (16.46%)
  • Paul St-Pierre Plamondon: 3,772 (6.84%)

Second round:

  • Jean-François Lisée: 27,801 (50.63%)
  • Alexandre Cloutier: 17,403 (31.70%)
  • Martine Ouellet: 9,702 (17.67%)
    • Total votes: 55,142
    • Turnout: 75.09 per cent

Source:[30]

Opinion polling

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Parti Québécois supporters

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Polling firm/Link Last date
of polling
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Alexandre
Cloutier
Véronique
Hivon
Jean-François
Lisée
Martine
Ouellet
fr:Paul St-Pierre Plamondon Other/
Undecided
Léger Marketing September 29, 2016 991 ± 3.1% 31% 29% 12% 3% Don't know 16%
None of the above 8%
No answer 1%
CROP September 19, 2016 1,000 37% 36% 22% 5%
Léger Marketing September 1, 2016 1,006 ± 3.1% 39% 23% 18% 1% Don't know 15%
None of the above 4%
Léger Marketing June 8, 2016 990 ± 3.1% 37% 14% 15% 7% 2% Don't know 26%
Léger Marketing May 5, 2016 1,003 ± 3% 27% 11% 6% 4% Don't know 22%
Bernard Drainville 15%
Jean-Martin Aussant 14%
No answer 1%

All Quebecers

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Polling firm/Link Last date
of polling
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Alexandre
Cloutier
Véronique
Hivon
Jean-François
Lisée
Martine
Ouellet
fr:Paul St-Pierre Plamondon Other/
Undecided
Léger Marketing September 29, 2016 991 ± 3.1% 20% 21% 8% 2% Don't know 27%
None of the above 20%
No answer 2%
Léger Marketing September 1, 2016 1,006 ± 3.1% 26% 16% 10% 1% Don't know 25%
None of the above 20%
Léger Marketing June 8, 2016 990 ± 3.1% 25% 13% 11% 3% 1% Don't know 43%
No answer 4%
Léger Marketing May 5, 2016 1,003 ± 3% 22% 10% 6% 3% Don't know 35%
Bernard Drainville 10%
Jean-Martin Aussant 9%
No answer 4%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "PQ to pick new leader Oct. 7 following a shortened campaign".
  2. ^ a b c "No stars shine on Parti Québécois horizon as party searches for leader", Globe and Mail, May 6, 2016
  3. ^ "Sylvain Gaudreault chosen Parti Québécois' interim leader | CBC News".
  4. ^ "New PQ leader to be elected by mid-October | CBC News".
  5. ^ "Parti Québécois to elect new leader by mid-October".
  6. ^ "PQ to choose next leader Oct. 7". May 29, 2016.
  7. ^ "Parti Québécois announces five official candidates, launches leadership race".
  8. ^ a b c "PQ can't expect blank cheque on sovereignty, Cloutier says kicking off PQ leadership campaign".
  9. ^ "Alexandre Cloutier n'est pas pressé".
  10. ^ "Parti québécois: Trois officiers quittent leurs fonctions et appuient Cloutier".
  11. ^ Le Huffington Post Québec (September 10, 2016). "Sylvain Pagé appuie Alexandre Cloutier". Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  12. ^ ICI Radio-Canada.ca (September 22, 2016). "Course à la chefferie du PQ : Gaétan Lelièvre derrière Alexandre Cloutier". Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "De nouveaux appuis en Montérégie pour Alexandre Cloutier". Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  14. ^ "Jean-François Lisée se lance dans la course à la direction du PQ". Radio Canada. October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "PQ leadership candidate Martine Ouellet says Quebec urgently needs to separate from Canada".
  16. ^ Lavallée, Hugo (September 7, 2016). "Quatre députés appuient Lisée dans la course à la direction du PQ". Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  17. ^ Croteau, Martin (September 19, 2016). "Course au PQ: Pascal Bérubé appuie Jean-François Lisée". Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  18. ^ "Don Macpherson: Jean-François Lisée and the truth about Quebec independence".
  19. ^ a b "PQ leadership candidate Martine Ouellet says Quebec urgently needs to separate from Canada". Montreal Gazette. May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Paul St-Pierre Plamondon joins Parti Québécois leadership race". Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  21. ^ "Paul StPierre Plamondon enters PQ leadership race, promises no referendum". Montreal Gazette. June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  22. ^ "Joliette MNA Véronique Hivon announces bid for Parti Québécois leadership".
  23. ^ "Véronique Hivon bows out of Parti Québécois leadership race".
  24. ^ "PQ leadership race heats up with Cloutier poised to announce candidacy".
  25. ^ "PQ's Véronique Hivon promises electoral reform".
  26. ^ [1][usurped]
  27. ^ "La course péquiste : Débat d'idées ou culte de la personnalité?".
  28. ^ "Sylvain Gaudreault steps in as interim Parti Québécois leader".
  29. ^ "Nicolas Marceau opts out of Parti Québécois leadership race".
  30. ^ "Jean-François Lisée squeaks to victory in Parti Québécois leadership race | Montreal Gazette". Archived from the original on October 9, 2016.