Liberal MP in favour of third link breaks party line

Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press Quebec Liberal Party MNA for Chomedey, Sona Lakhoyan Olivier.

Thomas Laberge – The Canadian Press

Published at 1:09 p.m.

• Quebec

After the disagreements over the funding of religious schools, it is the turn of the third link to make a liberal MP stand out.

Asked whether she was in favour of the highway project between Quebec City and Lévis, Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier answered unequivocally: “Absolutely!”

However, the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) is officially opposed to the project and interim leader Marc Tanguay reiterated this Saturday morning at the party convention in Lévis. “We, in the PLQ, as I speak to you, are against the third highway link,” he said. On Friday, Mr. Tanguay cited “science” and the “fight against climate change” as reasons for this position.

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Sona Lakhoyan Olivier is supporting leadership candidate Frédéric Beauchemin – who is also a caucus MP – who earlier this week said he was in favour of a third link in the name of “economic development for future generations.”

“I support all of my colleague Fred’s decisions,” added Ms. Lakhoyan Olivier.

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Mr. Beauchemin acknowledged that being both elected and a candidate put him in a “delicate position.”

A few weeks ago, the PLQ’s about-face on funding religious schools—the party is now opposed to it—caused dissension within the caucus. Three MNAs, including Mr. Beauchemin, broke the line. A situation that irritated the Liberal leader, who had suggested that he would tighten the screws on dissident elected officials.

As for Sona Lakhoyan Olivier’s exit, Marc Tanguay takes a different approach. “In the context of a leadership race, it is important to have room to maneuver,” he explained.

Among the other leadership candidates, tax lawyer Marc Bélanger and former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre are also in favor of the project. Former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez wants a third underground link, but with a tramway.

Former CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, Charles Milliard, remains evasive on the subject. He says he wants to “propose a comprehensive mobility plan” for eastern Quebec.

Mr. Milliard took advantage of Saturday’s convention to announce that he plans to be a candidate in the riding of Orford, in Estrie, in the 2026 elections. The riding is currently held by the CAQ member Gilles Bélanger.

The Liberals are meeting in convention until Sunday. They will debate the idea of ​​a Quebec constitution and education reform, among other things.