The struggling Action démocratique du Québec chose a new leader Sunday by the slimmest of margins, electing Gilles Taillon on the second ballot by two votes and leaving deep scars in an already divided party that may prove difficult to heal.
Mr. Taillon, 64, who is undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer recognized that he faces an uphill battle in reconstructing the ADQ into a credible alternative in time for the next election.
"Sure I have to fight against cancer," Mr. Taillon said. "But I promise you I will be able to lead this party … I assure you the ADQ will be a tough adversary."
In last year's provincial election, the party was reduced to seven seats after winning 41 ridings in 2007, when it formed the Official Opposition. Latest public opinion surveys showed the ADQ falling steadily in popular support, reaching new lows of around eight per cent in recent polls.
Fewer than 30 per cent of the 13,660 eligible party voters cast their ballots over the weekend. Party members were required to make a first and second choice using a specially designed telephone voting system.
Mr. Taillon's main rival, Éric Caire, held a 1-percentage-point lead with 41 per cent of the vote after the first ballot was counted, which eliminated the third candidate Christian Lévesque. The second choice on the ballots cast by Mr. Lévesque's supporters gave Mr. Taillon a 50.03 per cent majority, just barely enough to win.
Mr. Taillon and Mr. Caire fought a bitter campaign that split the fledgling right-wing party along ideological lines. The race deteriorated into an ugly feud when Mr. Caire, a staunch defender of right-wing policies and Mr. Taillon, promoting a more moderate platform, got embroiled in personal attacks. Mr. Taillon accused his opponent of falsifying his résumé to boost his status with party members. Mr. Caire warned that Mr. Taillon's "kamikaze" attacks would lead the party to a complete break-down.
Mr. Caire could barely contain his disappointment yesterday. "It's really difficult because we worked so hard and we had clear positions. We came close but coming close doesn't count," he said, after arguing the need for Quebec to have right-wing party voicing legitimate concerns.
Mr. Caire's called on all members to unite behind Mr. Taillon, but that didn't prevent former ADQ Member of the National Assembly Catherine Morissette from quitting the party on the spot. "I can't see myself working with Mr. Taillon. The motivation just isn't there," Ms. Morissette said.
Another former ADQ MNA François Benjamin said Mr. Taillon was never a team player and predicted his style of leadership will drive many members to abandon the party. "I never could see myself working under his leadership. He barely spoke to us when I was a caucus member," Mr. Benjamin said.
Mr. Taillon, a teacher who eventually became director-general of the Quebec Federation of School Boards, later gained notoriety as president of the influential business lobby group Conseil du patronat.
Defeated in the last election, he has no plans to seek a seat in the National Assembly in the immediate future. His priority will be rebuilding the party, he said.
"But if a by-election in the next year to 18 months is called in a riding near my [Gatineau]home, then I'll run," he said.
Rhéal Séguin