Liberal MNAs say consultation on systemic racism might have cost party Quebec City byelection

"We got a real slap in the face," says PatrickHuot, Liberal MNA forVanier.

After holding the riding for 14 years, the Liberalsplaced a distant second behind theCoalition Avenir Qubec's Genevive Guilbault, who won with 51 per cent of the vote.

Huotsaid people he has spoken withhave told him they aren't comfortable with the province's decision to go ahead with the public consultationin the fall.

''Perhaps they don't understand where we are going with this," said Huot.

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Michel Matte, the Liberal MNA forPortneuf,saidit's "very clear" the consultation isnot a priority amongfrancophones.

"That's not what people are talking about in my area," he said.

While Matte said he recognized racism was an issue that needs to be addressed,he questioned whether a public consultation was the right approach.

Difficult campaign for voters

Patrick Huot said thecontroversial departure earlier this spring of the Liberals' long-time Louis-Hbert MNA Sam Hamadmay also have contributed to voters turning away from the party.

The campaign in Louis-Hbertalso met hurdles when the candidates for the two main contenders in the riding the Liberals and the CAQ were bothousted mid-campaign.

Weil defends process

Minister of Immigration Kathleen Weil saidshe does not know if the public consultation on systemic racism that she is heading contributed to the results.

"I can't conclude that. I know some people have mentioned that,'' she said. ''I think there area lot of factors."

That view was echoed by CAQ leader Franois Legault, who said you can't discount the role the economy played in the Liberals' loss Monday night.

''Maybe the consultation was one reason, but I think the main reason was about the economy,'' said Legault, arguing people were unhappy with factorslike taxes and daycare fees.

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