ADQ leader blames Tories for his undoing
MNA Gérard Deltell still thinking about a run for party leadership
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 | 8:32 PM ET
CBC News
ADQ Leader Gilles Taillon, left, announced his resignation Tuesday. (CBC)One day after announcing his resignation, Action Démocratique du Québec Leader Gilles Taillon says he was the victim of a putsch organized by the former "owners" of the party.
Taillon settled his accounts in an open letter distributed to the media Wednesday, accusing former leader Mario Dumont, other influential members of the ADQ, and the federal Conservative Party.
In the letter, entitled "the masks have fallen," Taillon said that shortly after announcing his candidacy for the party leadership in April, he felt a certain "malaise among the former establishment of the party."
Following a statement he made in May about the need for the ADQ to keep its distance from the federal Conservative Party and all other political parties, Taillon said he was reprimanded by several influential members of the ADQ.
So, Taillon said, he met with Senator Leo Housakos in Ottawa. The Conservative senator had been responsible for the ADQ's fundraising efforts until last December.
Taillon said he explained to Housakos that he didn't have anything against him or the Conservatives, but that under his leadership, the ADQ would work alone for the interests of Quebec "without any attachment to any federal party."
"I understand today from the public comments made by the former 'owners' of the party, Mario Dumont first among them, that my election as leader of the ADQ signified for these people, the end of an untouchable alliance," Taillon wrote.
Taillon said he realized he had no choice but to resign.
Taillon said he would let people judge for themselves what role was played by former leadership contender Éric Caire and MNA Gérard Deltell.
Taillon said he had also contacted provincial police regarding irregularities with the party's financing he said date back to 2001.
On Friday, Caire and another MNA, Marc Picard, announced they were quitting the party to sit as independents. They said they could no longer support Taillon as leader.
The move left the party with only four MNAs, threatening its official party status.
On Monday, Deltell said he could not say whether he would remain a member of caucus.
Dumont, Tories deny allegations
But Dumont was quick to reject any notion of a plot. On his nightly television talk show, the former party leader raised his eyebrows dismissively and smiled when discussing Taillon's letter.
"It's understandable — this man is dealing with a personal failure, and it's difficult," Dumont said.
"It's understandable from a professional standpoint: he built a brilliant career, and he's dealing with a difficult failure this week. I don't think that's any reason to be casting about for such a meticulously orchestrated plot."
A spokesman for the Tories also played down any ties between the two political outfits.
He said the Tories actually want to maintain their own separate organization, to avoid a repeat of the woes suffered by the federal Tories when they borrowed — and then lost control of — the organizational machines of provincial parties in the 1980s.
"The Conservatives have always had the objective of building a party where its members, its volunteers and the people on the ground think of themselves as Conservatives first," Dimitri Soudas said in an e-mail.
"The bottom line is it's important for us to build a Conservative party."
Deltell considers leadership
Following Taillon's announcement on Tuesday, Dumont used his talk show on the French-language television network V to call for Deltell to be crowned as the party's leader.
On Wednesday, Deltell said he was still thinking about whether he wants the job.
"I take note of the fact that many people want a leader who has consensus, and I see that many people think that I am the man for the job," said Deltell.
"[There is] a lot of pressure. But you know, that is part of the job. You don't do politics for the fun of it — you do politics because you are involved."
Deltell also denied Taillon's insinuation he was involved in the putsch.
"I think these events were unfortunate and hurtful for everyone," Deltell said.
He acknowledged Taillon's election over Caire by a margin of only two votes had placed the party in a "delicate" situation.
Deltell, who left his job as a television reporter to run in last year's provincial election, also has the backing of ADQ co-founder Jean Allaire.
Allaire said Deltell has remained a neutral voice in a party divided by bitter infighting sparked during the leadership race.
With files from The Canadian Press
