The Conservative Party of Quebec has announced that Osmar Llanos Martinez will be its new candidate for the Pontiac riding in the Oct. 5 provincial election.
A biography on the party’s website states that Martinez is originally from Peru, and was raised in Canada from the age of five. Martinez’s bio states that he’s worked in the food service and management sectors over the past 15 years, giving him experience “in leadership, organization, and team management.”
“Deeply involved with the multi-ethnic community, Osmar has had the opportunity to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and gain a better understanding of the realities facing many families,” the bio reads.
THE EQUITY has requested an interview with Martinez.
Martinez replaces Éric Lanthier, who rescinded his candidacy after the Journal de Montréal published an article on Sept. 9 revealing past anti-abortion and homophobic statements he made. Lanthier told THE EQUITY following his resignation that his views were more nuanced than the quotations used in the story suggest, but he didn’t want to be “a distraction” for the party.
Party leader Éric Duhaime told media following the incident that he accepted Lanthier’s resignation.
“We live in a society where these people have the right to hold personal beliefs,” he said, noting that his party is pro-choice. “I don’t subscribe to the cancel culture.”
The Quebec Conservative Party is unaffiliated with the federal Conservative Party of Canada.
Since the nomination period closed on Sept. 17, Martinez joins five other candidates vying to lead the Pontiac riding, alongside incumbent Liberal candidate André Fortin, CAQ candidate Mariana Mefleh, Québec solidaire candidate Bianca Baldo, Parti Québécois candidate Marcela Cazas, and Canadian Party of Quebec candidate Will Twolan.
