WILL MPP AMANDA SIMARD RUN AS A LIBERAL?

Amanda Simard has sat in the provincial legislature as an Independent MPP for more than a year but she has expressed interest in joining the Liberal ranks for the next provincial election.

During a recent interview with another media, Simard expressed interest in running for re-election under the Liberal banner. The Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MPP won her seat as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 2018 spring election but then walked away from the caucus later in the fall in protest against the Ford government’s policies towards francophones.

backbench as an Independent MPP for

experienced and veteran politicians noted that Simard won’t get an automatic nod to become a Liberal candidate if she decides to follow that route for re-election.

“She has to follow the nomination steps,” said Jean-Marc Lalonde, an experienced politician who served as the GPR’s Liberal MPP on both sides of the legislature during his 18 years at Queen’s Park. “Also I have heard of at least five people who may be ready to run for the nomination.”

Lalonde noted that, when Simard first showed signs of breaking from the Progressive Conservative caucus, he was asked by John Frazier, the Liberal party’s interim leader, to approach Simard and ask if she was interested in crossing the floor.

At the time, the Liberals had seven seats at Queen’s Park following the party’s defeat in the 2018 election. It was one seat short of the minimum eight needed for official

status means a larger funding allowance for research work, staff salaries and other needs, and a more active role in the day-today business of the legislature.

government changed the official party status policy with a new minimum of 12 seats.

would sit as an Independent MPP.

for comment from Simard. She replied by email January 12 that she was unable to make time for a comment with the appoint

commissioner.

Amanda Simard est députée provinciale indépendante de Glengarry-PrescottRussell (GPR) depuis plus d’un an, soit depuis qu’elle a quitté le caucus progressiste-conservateur à la fin de 2018 en raison de désaccords avec son ancien parti sur ses politiques à l’égard des francophones. Elle s’est dite intéressée à se présenter comme candidate libérale aux prochaines élections. Mais selon l’ancien député Jean-Marc Lalonde, elle devra d’abord être choisie comme candidate par l’association libérale locale, ce qui n’est pas acquis.