OTTAWA-
An MP who left the Conservative caucus says Pierre Poilievre’s office sent a text message to party members in his Quebec riding asking them to encourage him to quit.
Alain Rayes, who backed former Quebec premier Jean Charest in the Conservative leadership race, quit Tuesday to sit as an independent, saying the party’s path under Poilievre is not compatible with his “political ideals, values and convictions”.
The text message seen by The Canadian Press says Rayes has decided not to fight inflation with Poilievre’s team and encourages recipients to call the MP’s office and tell him to quit.
Rayes, who represents the riding of Richmond-Arthabaska east of Montreal, says he has no intention of resigning and that the text message campaign is an attempt to intimidate fellow Conservative MPs.
Asked about the prominent MP’s departure on Tuesday, Poilievre had delivered a similar message about Rayes’ decision not to fight inflation, which he blames on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Poilievre’s office, as well as the office of his Quebec lieutenant Pierre-Paul Hus, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on September 14, 2022.