Bachand, architect of tuition hikes, enters Quebec Liberal leadership race

MONTREAL – A prominent Quebec Liberal has entered the leadership race to succeed Jean Charest.

Raymond Bachand, who until recently was the province’s finance minister, announced his entry at a news conference this morning.

Several prominent MNAs spoke at the podium to introduce him.

Bachand’s participation could add some ideological spice to the race.

He is the architect of the province’s tuition hikes — which were heavily supported by small-c conservatives but bitterly opposed by progressives. They have been cancelled by the new Parti Quebecois government.

Bachand will face stiff competition as it is all but certain that Philippe Couillard, a popular former health minister, will enter the race.

It remains to be seen whether the party’s federalist grassroots will hold Bachand’s past against him; back in his early 30s he was a prominent figure in the PQ during the 1980 independence referendum.