Philippe Couillard steps down, making way for a 'new generation' of Quebec Liberals

PhilippeCouillardis leaving politics, he announced Thursday, closing the book onnearly 15 uninterrupted years of Liberal governments in Quebec.

With his wifeSuzanne Pilote, by his side, Couillard stood at a podium in the lobby of Quebec's parliament buildingand told reportershe is leaving the province in a much better state than it was in when he came to power.

But he said after putting all his energy into public service,staying in politics, in any role, would be"more than I feel I am humanly capable of."

"A new person, or maybe even a new generation ...will guide our great party through its next stage."

In his usual measured tone,Couillard, 61,defended his record as premier, mentioning the province's solid finances andbooming economy,and his government's efforts to matchQuebecerswith family doctors.

Each one is an essential asset to our growth. It's up to us to make sure they integrate into Quebec society.- Philippe Couillard, on newcomers to the province

But his pitch changed when he started speaking about newcomers to the province. He raisedhis voice as he said they are not a "threat" to Quebec.

"It's the opposite. Each one is an essential asset to our growth. It's up to us to make sure they integrate into Quebec society," he said.

The line could be seen as a call to action as his successor, Coalition AvenirQubecLeader Franois Legault, prepares to take over.

Legaultran on a promise to reduce the number of immigrants coming to Quebec,and force those who do make the cut pass a values testand a French test, measures he says will ensure they integrate properly.

Couillardhad this to say about newcomers to Quebec during his remarks:

Philippe Couillard says newcomers are 'essential'

6 years ago

Duration 0:29

The outgoing Liberal leader addressed the role newcomers play in Quebec society, a hot-button issue in the province these days.

Couillardwas re-elected to his seat in theRobervalriding, in theSaguenay-Lac-Saint-Jeanregion, with 42.5 per centof the vote Monday night.However, his party suffered adecisive defeat.

The Liberals now have only 32 seats down from 68 when the government was dissolved.The party received just 25 per cent of the popular vote, itslowest showing since Confederation.

Premier-designateLegaultacknowledgedCouillard'scontributionsin a tweet, saying politics is demanding and requires courage.

'Quebec must remain a welcoming place'

Legault also re-ignited the debate over whether civil servants should be allowed to wear religious symbols, saying he plans to introduce a ban to prevent some public employees from wearing hijabs or kippas, for example.

Couillard took direct aim at that policy in his speech, despite having introduced a law that would have banned face-coverings for anyone giving or receiving public serviceslast year.

That section of the law was stayed by the Quebec Superior Court.

"Quebec must remain a welcoming place, a society where everyone has a seat at the table, a place where people are judged by what they have in their heads, not on their heads."

A roaring economy, and cuts

Aneurosurgeon by trade,Couillardwas first elected as a LiberalMNAin 2003, eventually serving as health minister before stepping down in 2008.

He returned to politics in 2012to seek the Liberal leadership after JeanCharestresigned.Couillardwon on the first ballot, and led the Liberals into the 2014 election, where they defeated PaulineMarois'sPartiQubcois.

Almost immediately after coming to power, theCouillardLiberals undertook a series of cost-cutting measuresthat madeit possible to balance the budget by 2015, but also angeredQuebecersenough to hold protests across the province.

The Liberals boosted spending heading into the election, trying to shake its thrifty image, but it appears that wasn'tenough to appease those who were still angry.

Couillardtried to emphasize his party's economic track record during the election campaignand promised more of the same if the Liberals were re-electedbalanced budgets and more money for health care and education.

He also created theSecretariat for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, a move that was applauded by community groups serving the province's anglophones.

"I want you to know I did not do this for short-term, electoral reasons, but because of the profound belief in a truly inclusive Quebec," he said Thursday.

Who is next?

With Couillard gone, the chatter has commenced regarding who may replace him on an interimand permanent basis.

So far, a few MNAs have shown interest, according toCBCpolitical analyst Bernard St-Laurent Gatan Barrette, Pierre Arcand andChristine St-Pierre.

Many are questioning whetherBarrette should be in charge, considering how unpopular he was among large swaths of Quebecers.

St-Laurent said there are pros and cons to the outgoing health minister taking over.

"On the upside, he would be very good in the National Assembly in terms of keeping pressure on the CAQ, but a number of people in caucus think that he is just too abrasive," St-Laurent said on CBC Montreal's Daybreak.

St-Laurent said the party doesn't need to pick a new leader in a hurry, and should instead focus on reassessing its raison d'tre.

He said the following former ministers (with their departments in brackets) are believed to be interested in taking over on a permanent basis:

• Dominique Anglade(Economy).
• Sbastien Proulx(Education).
• Andr Fortin(Transport).