The election was conducted using a
one member, one vote formula. Each member of the Parti Quebecois was allowed to vote by phone or on the web from May 13 until May 15. If there is not a majority for a candidate (50% +1) on the first ballot, there will be a run-off ballot between the two candidates who had the most votes on the first ballot. If a second ballot was required, it would have been held from May 20 until May 22. To be nominated, a candidate needed to collect 2,000 signatures aggregated from 50 ridings, in 10 regions and pay $20,000 to be listed on the first ballot. If there were a second ballot, candidates would have had to pay an additional $5,000. The spending limit was $400,000. A proposal to allow a
vote open to non-members was defeated.[1][2][3]
April 10, 2014:
Stéphane Bédard chosen interim parliamentary leader by the PQ caucus.[4]
May 13, 2014: Former
Bloc Québécois leader
Gilles Duceppe announces he will not be a candidate for the PQ leadership despite polls showing him to be the most popular choice of the potential candidates.[5]
June 7, 2014: Marois' resignation takes effect; Parti Québécois Council of Presidents meets to discuss the party's future course and the timing and rules for the leadership election. A decision on setting a date for the election was deferred until the fall. A proposal was made to hold an
open primary in which all Quebeckers could vote for the party's leader.[6][7][8]
October 4, 2014: PQ riding association presidents met in
Sherbrooke,
Quebec to decide rules and timeline for leadership election.[1]
MNA for
Lac-Saint-Jean (2007–present), Minister for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, the Canadian Francophonie and Sovereignist Governance (2012–2014).[12]
Other prominent supporters:
France Bonsant (former MP),
Thierry St-Cyr (former MP),[20] Sylvie Legault (2014 candidate in
Mercier),[26] Michel Parent (president of Montreal’s blue collar workers’ union), JiCi Lauzon (actor),[27] Pierre Céré, (2015 leadership candidate and 2014 MNA candidate in Laurier-Dorion)[10]
Policies: Calls for a sovereignty referendum during her first term leading a PQ government,[28] and has stated environmentalism and social-democracy are at the heart of her campaign.[27]
Policies: Has stated he's less interested in referendum dates and more on explaining the benefits of sovereignty. This has drawn criticism from other candidates, who claim he's too vague.[34]
Policies: Calls for a PQ government to negotiate a new partnership with Ottawa. If the negotiation fails, the government will call a new referendum on independence. Céré's platform is social-democratic, defending the welfare state and proposing a series of measures to reconnect the party with the people.
MNA for
Rosemont (2012–present), Minister of International Relations, La Francophonie and External Trade (2012–2014), former journalist and professor.[45]
Other prominent supporters: Evelyne Abitbol (2014 candidate in
Acadie)[47]
Policies: In the wake of the PQ's election defeat he has been critical of the party's proposed Quebec Charter of Values.[36] Has said he wants to reboot the PQ as inclusive and less focused on division, and open to anglophone and minority voters.[48]
Réjean Hébert, former MNA for
Saint-François (2012–2014), Minister of Health (2012–2014).[51] Announced on September 3, 2014, that he is finished with politics and is resuming his career as a physician.[52]
Véronique Hivon, MNA for
Joliette (2008–present), Minister of Social services and Youth protection (2012 - 2014).[53]
Nicole Léger, MNA for
Pointe-aux-Trembles (1996–2006, 2008–present), Minister responsible for Family Services (1998–2001), Minister responsible for the War against Poverty (2001–2003), Minister of Families (2012–2014).[30]
Nicolas Marceau, MNA for
Rousseau (2009–present), Minister of Finance (2012–2014).[23] Announced on 10 November that he will not be a candidate.[54]
^"Chefferie du PQ: Nicolas Marceau ne sera pas candidate" [PQ leadership: Nicolas Marceau will not be a candidate]. canoe.ca (in French). Quebecor. Agence QMI. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)
The election was conducted using a
one member, one vote formula. Each member of the Parti Quebecois was allowed to vote by phone or on the web from May 13 until May 15. If there is not a majority for a candidate (50% +1) on the first ballot, there will be a run-off ballot between the two candidates who had the most votes on the first ballot. If a second ballot was required, it would have been held from May 20 until May 22. To be nominated, a candidate needed to collect 2,000 signatures aggregated from 50 ridings, in 10 regions and pay $20,000 to be listed on the first ballot. If there were a second ballot, candidates would have had to pay an additional $5,000. The spending limit was $400,000. A proposal to allow a
vote open to non-members was defeated.[1][2][3]
April 10, 2014:
Stéphane Bédard chosen interim parliamentary leader by the PQ caucus.[4]
May 13, 2014: Former
Bloc Québécois leader
Gilles Duceppe announces he will not be a candidate for the PQ leadership despite polls showing him to be the most popular choice of the potential candidates.[5]
June 7, 2014: Marois' resignation takes effect; Parti Québécois Council of Presidents meets to discuss the party's future course and the timing and rules for the leadership election. A decision on setting a date for the election was deferred until the fall. A proposal was made to hold an
open primary in which all Quebeckers could vote for the party's leader.[6][7][8]
October 4, 2014: PQ riding association presidents met in
Sherbrooke,
Quebec to decide rules and timeline for leadership election.[1]
MNA for
Lac-Saint-Jean (2007–present), Minister for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, the Canadian Francophonie and Sovereignist Governance (2012–2014).[12]
Other prominent supporters:
France Bonsant (former MP),
Thierry St-Cyr (former MP),[20] Sylvie Legault (2014 candidate in
Mercier),[26] Michel Parent (president of Montreal’s blue collar workers’ union), JiCi Lauzon (actor),[27] Pierre Céré, (2015 leadership candidate and 2014 MNA candidate in Laurier-Dorion)[10]
Policies: Calls for a sovereignty referendum during her first term leading a PQ government,[28] and has stated environmentalism and social-democracy are at the heart of her campaign.[27]
Policies: Has stated he's less interested in referendum dates and more on explaining the benefits of sovereignty. This has drawn criticism from other candidates, who claim he's too vague.[34]
Policies: Calls for a PQ government to negotiate a new partnership with Ottawa. If the negotiation fails, the government will call a new referendum on independence. Céré's platform is social-democratic, defending the welfare state and proposing a series of measures to reconnect the party with the people.
MNA for
Rosemont (2012–present), Minister of International Relations, La Francophonie and External Trade (2012–2014), former journalist and professor.[45]
Other prominent supporters: Evelyne Abitbol (2014 candidate in
Acadie)[47]
Policies: In the wake of the PQ's election defeat he has been critical of the party's proposed Quebec Charter of Values.[36] Has said he wants to reboot the PQ as inclusive and less focused on division, and open to anglophone and minority voters.[48]
Réjean Hébert, former MNA for
Saint-François (2012–2014), Minister of Health (2012–2014).[51] Announced on September 3, 2014, that he is finished with politics and is resuming his career as a physician.[52]
Véronique Hivon, MNA for
Joliette (2008–present), Minister of Social services and Youth protection (2012 - 2014).[53]
Nicole Léger, MNA for
Pointe-aux-Trembles (1996–2006, 2008–present), Minister responsible for Family Services (1998–2001), Minister responsible for the War against Poverty (2001–2003), Minister of Families (2012–2014).[30]
Nicolas Marceau, MNA for
Rousseau (2009–present), Minister of Finance (2012–2014).[23] Announced on 10 November that he will not be a candidate.[54]
^"Chefferie du PQ: Nicolas Marceau ne sera pas candidate" [PQ leadership: Nicolas Marceau will not be a candidate]. canoe.ca (in French). Quebecor. Agence QMI. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)