Quebec Conservative leader says his newly elected members will make mistakes

Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime says Quebecers should expect the newly elected members of his caucus to make some mistakes.

Duhaime made the comments as members of his team were sworn in at Quebec's national assembly.

His party had no seats before the Oct. 5 election, but now have the second-largest opposition caucus in the legislature.

The vast majority of the elected Quebec Conservatives are newcomers and several have already caused confusion and controversy.

The party's new whip, Renaud Labrecque, has called on his colleagues to exercise greater discipline. 

This is the first time the Quebec Conservatives have had members elected to the Quebec legislature since a previous iteration of the party had members in the legislature in 1935.

Duhaime's Conservatives made a breakthrough by securing close to 21 per cent of the votes and winning 19 seats.

The leader called on English-speaking Quebecers during the swearing-in ceremony, placing himself as an alternative to the Quebec Liberal party.

"They've been taking you for granted for ages. You don't need to be hostages of those Liberals anymore," he said.

"They don't deserve your support. Our doors are open at the Conservative Party of Quebec, and we're welcoming you for the next blue wave."

Duhaime faces many challenges ahead, notably managing a largely inexperienced team. 

Only former Coalition Avenir Québec member Maïté Blanchette Vézina, who joined the Conservatives in 2025, and Caroline Simard, a Liberal member of the national assembly from 2014 to 2018, have prior legislative experience. 

But the Conservatives hold part of the balance of power in this new legislature, where the Parti Québécois government is in a minority with 60 of 127 seats.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2026.

By Patrice Bergeron | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.