The Quebec Liberal Party’s recently elected leader Pablo Rodriguez has appointed Pontiac MNA André Fortin to the position of “whip en chef”, or chief whip for the party.

In a June 26 press release, Fortin was also named opposition critic for agriculture and forestry, portfolios he already carried, as well as the critic for higher education, and was removed from his role as critic for healthcare.

“I appreciate the fact that the new leader is reaching out to people who did not support him. I think it’s a very useful thing to do,” said Fortin, who threw his support behind not Rodriguez but candidate Charles Millard in the party’s recent leadership race.

“Part of the role being asked of me is to make sure [ . . . ] all of our MNAs who may have supported various candidates, or those who stayed neutral, all rally together for the good of the party so we can present a united front in the next campaign. [ . . . ] It tells me they have confidence in me to be able to rally the troops.”

Fortin said the new role will involve working strategically to ensure the party’s 20 MNAs are present both in the National Assembly and across the province to advocate for residents on key files.

“The general idea is to get the maximum out of all of our MNAs, making sure we have all the right people in all the right places at all the right times, talking about all the right subjects,” he said.

Fortin emphasized this new job will not detract from the advocacy he does on key issues in the Pontiac region.

“My own defence of the interest of the people in the Pontiac and across the Outaouais remains priority one.”