Conservative MP Alain Rayes quits party caucus after Poilievre victory

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OTTAWA — Just three days into the job, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lost an MP from his caucus on Tuesday, as prominent Quebec MP Alain Rayes announced he was leaving the party because he disagreed with its new direction.

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Rayes, the MP for Richmond-Arthabaska, Que., released a statement Tuesday afternoon announcing he would sit as an independent. Describing himself as a “proud Progressive Conservative,” he said the party’s and his ideals simply don’t align anymore.

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“I respect the choice made by members of the Conservative Party of Canada in the last leadership race. However, some of my political ideals, values and convictions are not compatible.”

Rayes was among 16 MPs who endorsed former Quebec premier Jean Charest in the leadership race. He said in his statement he was leaving of his own accord.

“I leave without bitterness and I remain driven by the deep desire to continue to serve the population.”

Rayes was the party’s Quebec lieutenant between 2017 and 2020, and again from 2021 to 2022. He was one of eight MPs from Quebec to endorse Charest, who finished a distant second in the leadership contest decided Saturday.

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Despite the lack of support Poilievre received from Quebec MPs, he did well in the province during the leadership race, even carrying Rayes’ riding.

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Poilievre dismissed Rayes’ departure in a brief press conference focused mostly on new measures the Trudeau government announced earlier Tuesday, including a hike in the GST tax credit and housing benefit.

Poilievre said the leadership race showed that he had the support of Rayes’ constituents and said in French that Rayes had “decided not to fight Justin Trudeau’s inflation.”

The new leader also announced his House of Commons leadership team on Tuesday, with MPs Melissa Lantsman and Tim Uppal serving as his deputy leaders. Former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer will serve as the party’s House leader and MP Kerry Lynne Findlay will be the caucus whip.

MP Pierre Paul-Hus will be the party’s Quebec lieutenant and Quebec MP Luc Berthold will be deputy house leader.

Ontario MP Eric Duncan will be the caucus party-liaison, Alberta MP Chris Warkentin will be deputy whip and New Brunswick MP Jake Stewart will be the caucus committee coordinator. With the exception of Berthold, who stayed neutral, all of the MPs on Poilevere’s leadership team endorsed him during the leadership race.

Twitter: RyanTumiltyEmail: rtumilty@postmedia.com