Former Conservative and now independent MP Alain Rayes has announced that he will not run for office in the next election. In a statement on September 11, Rayes stated, “You have to know when is the right time to leave.” After consulting with his family and close associates, he decided that the time had come to retire from public life.
Rayes left the Conservative Party in September 2022 following Pierre Poilievre’s election as leader. During the leadership race, he supported former Quebec premier Jean Charest. Poilievre won with over 68 percent of the vote on the first ballot, while Charest came in second with 16 percent. Rayes stated at the time that he could not support Poilievre due to their differing political ideals, values, and convictions.
However, Rayes emphasized that he was leaving the Tories without bitterness and remained passionate and dedicated to serving his constituents. In his retirement announcement, he mentioned the toll that a challenging and demanding political life had taken on him and his family. Rayes also expressed feeling like a “political orphan” at the federal level, as he did not align with any particular party in the current political climate.
As for his future plans, Rayes stated that he was open to opportunities but did not have any specific plans at the moment. He was first elected in 2015 and had previously served as the mayor of Victoriaville.
Rayes’ announcement came after the Tory convention in Quebec City, during which the party sought to strengthen its presence in the province. The Conservatives, led by Poilievre, have seen a surge in fundraising and a double-digit lead in polls over the Liberals, focusing primarily on affordability issues.
Since leaving the Conservative caucus, Rayes has openly criticized Poilievre, particularly regarding his stance on the CBC public broadcaster. In April, Rayes condemned Poilievre and Elon Musk-Twitter’s actions, which he deemed dangerous for democracy. Poilievre has promised to defund the CBC and has engaged in public disputes with the broadcaster’s president, Catherine Tait, accusing it of bias against him.
It is worth noting that several Liberal MPs also announced they would not seek re-election after being removed from cabinet in a July 26 shuffle. These include Omar Alghabra, Helena Jaczek, Joyce Murray, and Carolyn Bennett. There are currently two other incumbent independent MPs: Kevin Vuong, who was removed from the Liberal ticket during the last campaign, and Han Dong, who left the Liberal caucus in March following allegations regarding his ties with Beijing.