Karl Blackburn was “seriously” considering eyeing the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) even though he has “never been so happy” professionally as at the head of the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ). Life chose for him. Suffering from prostate cancer, this is the disease he must face.

“It’s clear that my thinking stopped 10 days ago when I had this diagnosis,” he confides, in a videoconference interview with La Presse. “I couldn’t imagine anything else compared to what I’ve just learned. It is a decision that is considered, but which at the same time is forced by destiny. »

President and CEO of the CPQ – which represents the province’s employers – for four years, Mr. Blackburn announced the news to his troops Monday afternoon.

Aged 56, he tries to be reassuring. The predictions are “encouraging” and the main person concerned says he is “full of energy” and “unaffected”. The proof: as a family, he has just participated in the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie.

“If there’s any good news in the process, it’s that it was discovered relatively early and probably not elsewhere,” Blackburn says.

The illness and the more difficult months – where treatments are on the menu – do not deflate the optimism of the president of the CPQ. In a confident tone, he believes “it’s going to be fine.” But his throat tightens when he thinks of his “tight-knit” family, of his grown-up children.

“I have four boys, so they’re definitely very concerned,” Blackburn said. “They see their dad as a kind of hero who’s been affected by the disease a little bit, so we try to stay strong with them.”

Mr. Blackburn believes he can reconcile his fight against cancer with his duties at the CPQ. His current condition, however, does not allow him to consider a return to politics, an environment that he describes as “harsh and cruel” today.

Several times during the interview, Mr. Blackburn repeats that he thought “seriously” about this scenario. However, about two years ago, the president of the CPQ was “not there at all”. But when you are solicited from all sides, it is difficult to remain indifferent, he confides.

“I never thought that I could perhaps become a party leader or a premier of Quebec,” underlines the spokesperson for the business community. But the longer things went, the more people thought so. At some point you start thinking about it. »

The PLQ leadership race will begin in January 2025 and culminate five months later. To date, the former mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre, the Liberal MP Frédéric Beauchemin and the outgoing president and CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (FCCQ), Charles Milliard, are among the prospective candidates. The mayor of Victoriaville, Antoine Tardif, is also involved.

A native of Chicoutimi, Mr. Blackburn has always been close to the PLQ.

First as a regional representative of the Young Liberals from 1988 to 1990, then as MNA for Roberval (from 2003 to 2007). For years, he was very interested in economic and regional development. Mr. Blackburn continued his political career as the party’s chief organizer and general manager.

In 2013, he left this industry to join Resolute Forest Products, where he was responsible for public affairs and government relations.

Despite his renewed interest in political jousting, Mr. Blackburn says he has not “crossed the line” of going into “organizing mode.” Difficult to make such a decision when potential health issues are on the horizon.

“I wasn’t going to ask people to get involved,” he says.

Why would you consider making a return to politics? To “change Quebec,” answers Mr. Blackburn. Even though he repeats this word many times during the interview, the president of the CPQ opts for caution when asked on which issues a change of direction is necessary.

“I’m going to be very careful with this type of comment so as not to have it used against me one day,” he replies.

At most, Mr. Blackburn explains that he could have brought to the fore aspects of his organization’s latest economic platform, which was based in particular on the themes of education, school dropouts, training and the aging demographics of Quebec.