BOULET BOWS OUT
Another loss for the Liberals
After strongly suggesting she would be running for re-election in October, Quebec Tourism Minister Julie Boulet has decided to leave politics.
The MNA for Laviolette in the Trois-Rivières region confirmed her departure Monday morning at a news conference in Shawinigan.
“After 17 years of very active work, the time has come for me to leave my place to someone else,” Boulet said. “Politics has been a big part of my life,” she added. “The frenzied rhythm, the demanding schedule and the need to always be available to do this work well have led me to make this difficult decision.
“The energy and motivation is no longer there.”
Only a few months ago, Boulet, 58, showed no signs of wanting to go. She openly feuded with a fellow Liberal in the region, Pierre Giguère, who saw his riding of StMaurice get merged into Laviolette, leaving him without a seat.
At the time, Boulet said she was not planning to leave the riding for Giguère and would run again in the October election. Premier Philippe Couillard had to step in and say Boulet would be the candidate.
On Monday, Boulet said she has given it a lot of thought in recent weeks and decided she has given her all.
She said she might have spoken a bit too soon when she said she would stay for another four years.
At a separate event, Couillard said it’s clear now that the party owes Giguère a chance to run in the new riding, which is now called Laviolette-Saint-Maurice.
“We had to show our loyalty towards Mme. Boulet, who had 17 years seniority,” Couillard said, explaining his decision to favour her over Giguère. “Now that she has decided to withdraw, I would say we have to be loyal to Mr. Giguère, who has also been an excellent MNA in the region.”
The Mauricie region will be a key battleground since all the Liberal seats will be targets of the Coalition Avenir Québec. Boulet said it was not a factor in her decision, but her brother, Jean Boulet, is expected to run for the CAQ in the neighbouring riding of TroisRivières.
Boulet was first elected in 2001 and has served in various capacities including employment minister and transport minister.
She is a former president of the annual Festival Western de St-Tite. Her family is in the Western boot business. The 10th of 11 children in her family, Boulet was a pharmacist before entering politics.
Boulet is the fifth Couillard cabinet minister and the 14th MNA to announce she will not run again. On Friday, Immigration Minister David Heurtel said he would not seek another term. The other ministers leaving are Jean-Marc Fournier, Stéphanie Vallée and Martin Coiteux.
Four other Liberal MNAs are reflecting on their futures: JacquesCartier MNA Geoffrey Kelley, Bourassa-Sauvé MNA Rita de Santis, Westmount- St-Louis MNA Jacques Chagnon and Lobinière Frontenac MNA Laurent Lessard.
Five of 28 Parti Québécois MNAs are opting out, one CAQ MNA is leaving and one Québec solidaire MNA, Amir Khadir.