Bloc Québécois leadership election, 2014

Bloc Québécois leadership election, 2014

Date	June 14, 2014
Resigning leader	Daniel Paillé
Won by	Mario Beaulieu
Ballots	1
Candidates	2
Entrance Fee	$15,000 CDN

An election for the leadership of the Bloc Québécois was held June 14, 2014 to choose a successor for Daniel Paillé who resigned on December 16, 2013 due to health reasons.^[1][2]

Voter turnout in the election was 58.5%, up from the 2011 leadership election, with approximately 19,000 members voted by telephone to elect Daniel Paillé's successor.^[3]

Timeline

• May 2, 2011: Federal election reduces the Bloc Québécois to 4 seats in the House of Commons. Party leader Gilles Duceppe loses his own riding in Laurier—Sainte-Marie and announces his resignation.^[4]
• December 11, 2011: Daniel Paillé is elected leader at the party's 2011 leadership election.^[5]
• February 27, 2013: Jonquière—Alma MP Claude Patry leaves the New Democratic Party caucus to join the Bloc Québécois.^[6]
• September 12, 2013: Ahuntsic MP Maria Mourani is expelled from the Bloc Québécois caucus due to comments against the provincial Parti Québécois government's proposed Quebec Charter of Values.^[7]
• December 16, 2013: Paillé resigns the leadership and presidency due to health concerns. Richmond—Arthabaska MP André Bellavance is named interim parliamentary leader, and vice-president Annie Lessard is named the interim president.^[1]
• February 22, 2014: André Bellavance announces his candidacy.
• February 26, 2014: André Bellavance resigns as parliamentary leader, and Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia MP Jean-François Fortin is named interim parliamentary leader.^[8][9]
• April 8, 2014: Official start to the leadership race.^[2]
• May 7, 2014: Last date for candidates to submit $15,000 entry fee and for candidates to file a nomination form signed by a total of at least 1,000 party members from across at least 25 ridings.^[2]
• May 15, 2014: Deadline for membership and renewals.^[10]
• May 24, 2014: Candidates debate during BQ policy convention in Rimouski.^[11]
• June 11–13, 2014: Party members vote by telephone.^[10]
• June 14, 2014: The winner of the leadership election announced.^[2]
• June 23–25, 2014: The party holds a convention in Rimouski, where the new leader officially assumes the leadership of the party.^[2]

Official candidates

Candidates who have submitted the $15,000 registration fee and 1,000 signatures gathered from at least 25 ridings.

Mario Beaulieu

Background

• Leader of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (2009–2014).

Positions

Bealieu argues that the BQ should more strongly emphasize Quebec independence and accuses Bellavance of wanting to water down sovereignty to win votes.^[12]

Date campaign announced: April 28, 2014^[13]

Date officially registered: May 7, 2014^[14]

Supporters

• Prominent supporters: Bernard Landry, former Premier of Quebec;^[15] Djemila Benhabib, essayist and former Parti Québécois candidate;^[15] Lucie Laurier, actress; national executive of the Forum jeunesse du Bloc Québécois (Bloc Quebecois youth wing);^[16] Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc youth wing president; Yves Beauchemin, author^[12]

André Bellavance

Background

• MP for Richmond—Arthabaska (2004–present)
• Leader of the party in the House of Commons (2013–2014)^[8]

Positions

Has said that for the Bloc to revive itself it must become more than a coalition of sovereigntists.^[12]

Date campaign announced: February 22, 2014^[17]

Date officially registered: May 5, 2014^[18]

Supporters

• MPs: (3) Jean-François Fortin, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia; Claude Patry, Jonquière—Alma; Louis Plamondon, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour^[17]
• Former MPs: Daniel Turp^[12]
• Others: Vivian Barbot, former president of the party; and some 30 former Bloc MPs^[19]

Declined

• Pierre Curzi, former MNA for Borduas (2007–2012)^[20]
• Gilles Duceppe, former MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie (1990–2011) and Bloc Québécois leader (1997–2011)^[21]
• Pierre Duchesne, former Quebec Minister of Higher Education and MNA for Borduas (2012–2014)^[22][23]
• Jean-François Fortin, MP for Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia^[17]
• Bernard Landry, former Premier of Quebec (2001–2003)^[21]
• Pierre Paquette, former MP for Joliette (2000–2011)^[21]
• Daniel Turp, former MP for Beauharnois—Salaberry (1997-2000) and MNA for Mercier (2003-2008).^[12][24]

Results

Support by Ballot^[25]

Candidate	1st ballot
	Votes cast	%
BEAULIEU, Mario	~5947	53.5%
BELLAVANCE, André	~5168	46.5%
Total	TBA	100.0%

See also

• Bloc Québécois leadership election, 2011
• 42nd Canadian federal election

References

1. "Daniel Paillé, leader of Bloc Québécois, to resign". The Huffington Post Canada. December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
2. Grégoire-Racicot, Louise (April 11, 2014). "Louis Plamondon appuie André Bellavance". Le Journal de Montreal. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
3. "The Bloc Quebecois to announce its new leader today". CJAD News. June 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
4. LeBlanc, Daniel (May 2, 2011). "Duceppe resigns as Bloc leader after losing riding". Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
5. "Daniel Paille new leader of Bloc Quebecois". CBC News, December 11, 2011.
6. "Quebec NDP MP Claude Patry jumps to Bloc". CBC News. February 27, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
7. Mas, Susana (September 12, 2013). "Bloc Québécois expels MP over secular charter comments". CBC News. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
8. "Federal Experience: André Bellavance". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
9. "Federal Experience: Jean-François Fortin". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
10. http://www.blocquebecois.org/horizon2015/dossiers.php?d=7
11. "Mario Beaulieu’s candidacy for Bloc Québécois confirmed". Montreal Gazette. May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
12. "Bloc Québécois leadership candidate Mario Beaulieu wants to put sovereignty back on the front burner". Montreal Gazette. April 30, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
13. Pilon-Larose, Hugo. "Mario Beaulieu se présente à la direction du Bloc québécois". La Presse. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
14. "Il y aura une course à la direction au Bloc québécois". ICIradio-canada.ca. May 7, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
15. "Mario Beaulieu élu chef du Bloc québécois". La Presse. June 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
16. "Plusieurs jeunes bloquistes signent une lettre d'appui à André Bellavance". La Nouvelle Union. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
17. Delisle, Gabriel (February 22, 2014). "André Bellavance convoite la présidence du Bloc québécois". La Presse. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
18. "Bloc québécois: Mario Beaulieu pourrait devoir être chef à temps partiel". Le Devoir. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
19. http://journalmetro.com/actualites/national/508144/chefferie-du-bloc-les-candidats-devoilent-leurs-appuis/
20. Macpherson, Don (December 17, 2013). "Bloc Québécois leadership: the job nobody who is anybody seems to want". The Gazette. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
21. Authier, Philip (December 18, 2013). "Gilles Duceppe quashes rumours he’ll seek Bloc leadership". The Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
22. "Pierre Duchesne, prochain dg du PQ?". Ici Radio Canada. May 3, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
23. "Daniel Turp se range derrière André Bellavance". Le Devoir. April 19, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
24. "André Bellavance declares candidacy to lead Bloc". Globe and Mail. May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
25. "Mario Beaulieu est le nouveau chef du Bloc québécois". Radio-Canada. June 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.