Liberals face challenge in Quebec, Rae says

Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae says the Liberals face a particular challenge to win back voters in Quebec.

Rae says it's a positive sign that Quebecers showed an openness to change when they voted for the NDP in record numbers on May 2.

But he says the Liberals must figure out why they weren't the party of choice for most voters. He says the Liberals need to prove to Quebecers that the party is prepared to listen to them.

"Quebecers showed an openness to change, but they didn't choose us," Rae told reporters in Montreal. "I think we have to recognize that."

Rae attended Montreal's annual gay pride parade Sunday afternoon after meeting with party members at a downtown hotel.

Rae is visiting all of Canada's provinces and territories before the Liberal caucus meets at the end of August.

New Democrat interim leader Nycole Turmel also attended the parade.

The Liberals had their worst showing in Canadian history in the May 2 election. More than half their caucus was defeated and the NDP replaced the Liberals as official opposition, as the party jumped from a single seat to 58 in Quebec.

The good news, Rae said, is that the era of Bloc Quebecois dominance in the province appears to be over.

The goal now should be to figure out how to win back voters from the NDP, he said.

Pundits have argued the party is still haunted in Quebec by controversies of its recent past, such as the sponsorship scandal.

May's election left the Liberals with seven MPs in Quebec.

"I think we face a particular challenge in Quebec," Rae said. "We obviously have work to do to persuade Quebecers in particular that we are a party of change, we are a party that listens to them, and we are a party that wants to be their voice."