Dominique Anglade abandons CAQ over identity, immigration views

Former Coalition Avenir Qubec president Dominique Angladeexplained her surprise move to run for the provincial Liberals Friday, saying she is switching sides because the CAQ no longer represents her nor her views.

In a very public rejection of her former party, the Montreal businesswoman said she will represent the Liberals in anupcoming Montrealbyelectionbecause the CAQ is no longer the coalition of political perspectives it once was.

"The positions that have been taken by the Coalition Avenir Qubec have been a lot more on the questions around identity, questions around immigration," she said after Premier Philippe Couillard introduced her as his candidate in the riding ofSt-HenriSte-Anne.

• Former CAQ president Dominique Anglade will run for provincial Liberals

The seat became vacant after former seniors' minister Marguerite Blais quit last month, saying she needed a new challenge. She held her cabinet post underJean Charest, but Couillard did not re-appoint her to his cabinet.

No date for the byelection has yet been set.

Anglade is not the only former CAQ executive member or politicianto jump ship since last year's election.

Three of the party's MNAs have quit over the past 18 months.

The CAQ has struggled recently to differentiate itself from the party in power. In fact, the Liberals have extended an open invitation to politicians from the CAQ who may be interested in joining their ranks.

A CAQ spokesperson wished Anglade well but said her new party is disconnected from Quebecerson the issues ofidentity and immigration.

While CAQ president in 2013, Anglade said the Liberal Party of Quebec was old and worn out. She said Friday she believes things have changed since then: a new leader, new teamand new political-partyfinancing laws.