A Star Candidate's Quick Exit
The Quebec Liberal Party has cut ties with actor Michel Savard, who had been slated to run for the party in the Montreal electoral district of Gouin in the next provincial election. The move comes after old Facebook comments surfaced in which Savard compared the Parti Québécois (PQ) to Nazis — remarks that quickly drew backlash once his candidacy became public.
Savard, a familiar face to many Quebecers through his acting work, had been positioned as one of the Liberals' higher-profile recruits ahead of the next campaign. His departure from the ticket underscores how quickly a candidacy can unravel once past online statements resurface, a dynamic that has become increasingly common in Canadian politics as parties vet candidates' digital histories more closely — and as opponents and journalists dig through old posts once a nomination is announced.
What Savard Said
According to CBC News, the comments in question were posted on Facebook before Savard officially became a Liberal candidate, comparing the PQ — currently riding high in provincial polling — to the Nazi party. Given the historical weight of that comparison, the remarks were always likely to become a liability the moment they came to light, regardless of when they were made.
Savard has since apologized for the comments. Apologies of this kind are a familiar part of the political playbook, but they don't always save a candidacy — and in this case, the Quebec Liberal Party ultimately decided the comments were disqualifying enough to part ways with him entirely rather than simply have him walk them back publicly.
Why This Matters Beyond Quebec
The episode is a reminder of the tightrope Canadian parties walk when recruiting candidates with public profiles. High-profile recruits like actors, athletes, and media personalities can bring name recognition and fundraising power to a campaign, but they also arrive with years of public commentary that wasn't necessarily made with a political career in mind. Vetting processes across federal and provincial parties — Liberal, Conservative, NDP, and others alike — have become more aggressive in recent election cycles precisely because of situations like this one.
For Quebec's Liberals, the timing is also notable. The party has been working to rebuild its standing in the province ahead of the next election, and controversies involving candidates can distract from broader messaging just as campaigns are trying to gain momentum. Losing a candidate in a riding like Gouin — a Montreal seat currently held by the PQ — also means the party now needs to find a replacement with relatively little runway.
The Bigger Picture
While this story is rooted in Quebec provincial politics, it's the kind of episode that resonates across the country, including here in Ontario. Federal and provincial parties alike are increasingly forced to reckon with candidates' digital footprints, and incidents like this one tend to shape how parties approach recruitment and vetting going forward — a lesson that isn't unique to Quebec.
Source: CBC News
