Kathleen Weil, 13th Liberal MP to quit politics
Kathleen Weil
After 14 years of involvement in the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), the MP for the riding Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG), Kathleen Weil, has announced that she is leaving politics. It is the advisor to the Philanthropic Foundation of Canada (PFC) Désirée McGraw, currently on parental leave, who will be the candidate to succeed him. This departure adds to a long list of PLQ deputies who have announced that they will not seek a new mandate.
Representing the citizens of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Montreal West has been the greatest honor of my career. […] As the Member of Parliament for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce for 14 years, I have had the opportunity to work to make our riding a better place.
Kathleen Weil
Kathleen Weil reviewed her long career with the QLP. She alternately served as Minister of Justice and Minister of Immigration. Ms. Weil was also responsible Access to Information and the Reform of Democratic Institutions and Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers.
She was able to refer to the highlights of her political life, such as the arrival of Syrian refugees. She also greeted former Premiers Philippe Couillard and Jean Charest.
Candidate Désirée McGraw and PLQ leader Dominique Anglade were also present at the announcement.
“My desire to serve my community, to defend rights and freedoms, to contribute to public policy has always been strong in me,” said Désirée McGraw. [Right now], these are not easy times for minorities in Quebec.”
A departure that follows others
Kathleen Weil's departure follows that of 12 other Liberals. Dominique Anglade explained that these departures are part of a “process of renewal”.
“It’s a process of renewal within the political formation”, explained Dominique Anglade.
For the leader of the PLQ, all new candidates have the common denominator of being progressive. According to her, the candidates will ensure that Quebec is an inclusive place.
Besides Kathleen Weil, the other Liberals jumping ship are Gaétan Barrette, Lise Thériault, Christine St-Pierre, Hélène David, Francine Charbonneau, Monique Sauvé, Jean Rousselle, Nicole Ménard, David Birnbaum, Paule Robitaille , Pierre Arcand and Carlos Leitão.
