Former finance minister Carlos Leitao is backing Frédéric Beauchemin for the Quebec Liberal leadership

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Although she has yet to formally launch a bid for the Quebec Liberal leadership, Marguerite-Bourgés MNA Frédéric Beauchemin has the support of the party's former finance minister, Carlos Leitao.

News first reported by Radio-Canada was confirmed by Presse Canadienne.

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Sources said Beauchemin wants to present himself as a candidate for tight budget control and improved public finance management, qualities that led Leitao to announce his support for Beauchemin at a party fundraiser last Thursday.

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“It is important to emphasize the importance of sound public finances in the upcoming leadership race,” Leitao told Presse Canadienne. “Balancing budgets is not an end in itself, but an opportunity for government to do its job.”

Leitao said the endorsement was a “signal” to other potential candidates.

“Now is the time for everyone who wants to go to move from thought to action,” he said, adding that he would like to see a real leadership contest with multiple candidates from different backgrounds.

The men knew each other before entering politics and while working in banking. Beauchemin was head of capital markets at Scotiabank. Leitao was finance minister in Philippe Couillard's government from 2014 to 2018.

Beauchemin's team said they welcomed the support and urged him to speed up his decision on whether to run.

NUA's future has been clouded by a saga of psychological harassment claims against it. In October, he was removed from the caucus before being reinstated in December following a mediation process.

Former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre is also considering a leadership bid, but so far no candidate has officially announced.

Other names touted as potential leadership contenders include Charles Milliard, president of the Quebec Chamber of Commerce, and Carl Blackburn, president of the Conseil du Patronage.

The Quebec Liberals plan to elect a new leader in June 2025. The leadership race will begin on January 13.

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