Liberal MNAs say consultation on systemic racism might have cost party Quebec City byelection - Action News
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Montreal

Liberal MNAs say consultation on systemic racism might have cost party Quebec City byelection

Voters in the Louis-Hbert riding chose Coalition Avenir Qubec's Genevive Guilbault on Tuesday, breaking a 14-year Liberal hold. Two Liberal MNAs say the party may have lost votes because of its ongoing consultation on systemic racism.

CAQ walks off with byelection in Louis-Hbert riding, a Liberal stronghold for past 14 years

Coalition Avenir Qubec MNAs cheer as the results come in during Monday night's byelection. (Radio-Canada)
Two Quebec City MNAs say the Liberals'consultation on systemic racism mighthave contributed to theirparty's crushing defeat Monday night in a byelectionin the Quebec City riding of Louis-Hbert.

"We got a real slap in the face," says PatrickHuot, Liberal MNA forVanier.

After holding the riding for 14 years, the Liberalsplaced a distant second behind theCoalition Avenir Qubec's Genevive Guilbault, who won with 51 per cent of the vote.

Huotsaid people he has spoken withhave told him they aren't comfortable with the province's decision to go ahead with the public consultationin the fall.

''Perhaps they don't understand where we are going with this," said Huot.

Michel Matte, the Liberal MNA forPortneuf,saidit's "very clear" the consultation isnot a priority amongfrancophones.
Patrick Huot, Liberal MNA for Vanier (left) and Michel Matte, Liberal MNA for Portneuf (right), say the Liberals' public consultation on systemic racism cost them the byelection in Quebec City's Louis-Hbert riding. (Radio-Canada)

"That's not what people are talking about in my area," he said.

While Matte said he recognized racism was an issue that needs to be addressed,he questioned whether a public consultation was the right approach.

Difficult campaign for voters

Patrick Huot said thecontroversial departure earlier this spring of the Liberals' long-time Louis-Hbert MNA Sam Hamadmay also have contributed to voters turning away from the party.

The campaign in Louis-Hbertalso met hurdles when the candidates for the two main contenders in the riding the Liberals and the CAQ were bothousted mid-campaign.

''People are telling[politicians]to not take them notfor granted," said Huot.

Weil defends process

Minister of Immigration Kathleen Weil saidshe does not know if the public consultation on systemic racism that she is heading contributed to the results.
Quebec Immigration, Diversity and Inclusiveness Minister Kathleen Weil, right, said 'a lot of factors' contributed to the Liberals losing the Louis-Hbert riding. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)


"I can't conclude that. I know some people have mentioned that,'' she said. ''I think there area lot of factors."

That view was echoed by CAQ leader Franois Legault, who said you can't discount the role the economy played in the Liberals' loss Monday night.

''Maybe the consultation was one reason, but I think the main reason was about the economy,'' said Legault, arguing people were unhappy with factorslike taxes and daycare fees.

With files from Angelica Montgomery