Liberal MNA Dominique Anglade becomes first black woman to lead a provincial political party in Quebec

Dominique Angladebecame Monday the first black woman to lead a provincial political party in Quebec after her only opponent in the Liberal leadership race dropped out.

Anglade, a prominent cabinet minister in premier Philippe Couillard's one-term government, is also the first woman to lead the Quebec Liberals in the party's151-year history.

Her lone rival to replaceCouillard,former Drummondville mayor Alexandre Cusson, withdrew his candidacy earlier on Monday, citing the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Considering the current evolution of the pandemic in Quebec, the impactit has on the lives of the population and on the possible resumption of the leadership race, it seemsunrealistic and irresponsible to me to picture a resumption of this race in the coming weeks, or even before 2021," Cusson wrote on Facebook.

ThePLQexecutive committee adopted a resolution shortly afterward, declaring Angladeleader of Official Oposition.Mont-RoyalOutremont MNA Pierre Arcand had been serving as interim leader.

Anglade said on Twitter that she supported Cusson's decision and that she admired his dedication to the party's supporters.

"I'm proud to become the first female leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, aparty that has always been at the forefront of economic and social progress," she added later in a statement.

Engineer, consultant and charity work before politics

Anglade, who represents the Montreal riding of Saint-HenriSainte-Anne, was the favourite to win the leadership race.

Trained as an industrial engineer, Anglade worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company for many years before entering politics.

In 2010, both her parents died when a powerful earthquake struck during a visit to theirhometown ofPort-au-Prince,Haiti.

Later that year, Anglade co-founded theKANPE Foundation, a sustainable development charity that works in Haiti.

Sheserved as minister of economic development, innovationand trade between 2016 and 2018, and then was the Liberal criticfor economic and immigration issues.

Within the Liberal party, Anglade isknown for advocating a stronger position on religious symbols.

The PLQhas traditionally opposed barring police officers, judges and prison guards from wearing religious symbols while at work.

Anglade,however, has said she isopen to thoserestrictions, although she does not supportthe secularism law, passed by theCoalition Avenir Qubec government last year.

In a release Monday, Anglade said under her leadership, the Liberalwill focuson the environment and the economy.

"We will also be a strong opposition who, in this public health crisis, will question the government without respite and will propose solutions in the name of all Quebecers," she said.

Anglade was a founding member of the Coalition Avenir Qubec, and ran unsuccessfully for the party in the 2012 election, before eventually defecting to the Liberals.

She left the CAQ, she said, because she disagreed with the party's views onidentity and immigration.

PremierFranois Legaulttook to Twitter Monday to congratulatehis former colleague turnedopponent.

"Very excited to debate with you," he wrote.