Eric Girard sticking with CAQ, but doesn’t rule out running for federal Conservatives

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QUEBEC — Finance Minister Eric Girard insisted Wednesday that he is happy with the job he has in the Coalition Avenir Québec government but is refusing to rule out one day becoming a candidate for the federal Conservatives.

“I am telling you, at this moment, that I am very happy with my current responsibilities and I have many challenges ahead and that we want to create a modern Quebec, an economic super power,” Girard told reporters arriving at the legislature. “I am very excited by these challenges.”

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But asked several times whether running for the Conservatives is an option and why he would not rule it out, Girard dodged.

“Why can’t I answer this? Because I am not obliged to answer this question,” he said. “I have responsibilities, I am here, I am happy with my responsibilities.”

Girard made the comments a day after the CAQ caucus was stunned to learn their party whip and MNA for the riding of Arthabaska, Éric Lefebvre, had resigned to become a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in the next federal election.

For now he will sit as an independent. He is to be confirmed as the Conservative Party candidate for the federal riding of Richmond-Arthabaska Sunday at a rally in Victoriaville to be attended by party leader Pierre Poilievre.

On X, Poilievre said he was delighted with his catch.

“Very happy that Éric Lefebvre will be part of Conservative common sense team to help us cut taxes, build housing, repair the budget and stop crime,” Poilievre wrote.

The departure sparked a panic in the ranks with CAQ MNAs wondering if other colleagues will want to jump ship given the party’s current slide in the polls.

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Girard is regularly questioned on this because he was a Conservative candidate in 2015 in the Montreal riding of Lac-Saint-Louis.

He has kept his distance from the party but confirmed to reporters he met Poilievre for the first time in March at the funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney.

“I shook his hand and the context was to talk about Mr. Mulroney,” Girard said.

He was a little more candid in English on his long-term plans.

“I’ve always said I like Canada, that one day I could be interested in being finance minister of Canada, but this is not where I’m at now,” Girard said.

Premier François Legault has not named a replacement for the chief whip’s job.

But other CAQ MNAs said Lefebvre caught them by surprise with his decision but insisted it is not a sign the CAQ is in trouble if people are leaving.

“There’s no connection to the polls,” Environment Minister Benoit Charette told reporters as he dashed through the hall.

“There’s no message to the population,” said Social Solidarity Minister Chantal Rouleau. “It’s his message, it belong to him.”

Mario Laframboise, the chairperson of the CAQ caucus, said the team remains solid and “focused on the future.”

But the opposition parties expressed reservations about Lefebvre continuing to sit as an MNA while he campaigns federally.

pauthier@postmedia.com

twitter.com/philipauthier

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