Québec solidaire (QS) took advantage of the start of its national council on Friday evening to sharply criticize the Minister of Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau. Media reported on Thursday that the minister made a real estate “flip”.
“What bothers me about this is all the time realizing that our politicians are close to the elite. They are not close to the issues that Quebecers are experiencing, ”launched the former solidarity MP and candidate for the position of spokesperson, Émilise Lessard-Therrien, just before the start of her party’s national council.
Minister Duranceau is in the spotlight after the media “Pivot” revealed that she did a real estate “flip”, a legal but criticized practice.
The media reported Thursday that Mr.me Duranceau bought, in 2019, a duplex in Montreal worth more than $500,000 to transform it into five condominiums. Each of them was sold between $400,000 and $800,000. A gesture that does not pass among the solidarity.
“She herself is one of the real estate speculators who are among others – this is one of the causes – that we are living in a housing crisis. The crisis is horrible. My phone in my county office is ringing with people who are being evicted, people who have no housing, ”says solidarity MP Ruba Ghazal, who is also trying to succeed Manon Massé.
The elected solidarity Christine Labrie – the last to have entered the race to become the second spokesperson for the party – also strongly criticized Minister Duranceau.
“I find it dripping with contempt for citizens who are doing what they can in the face of the housing crisis,” she said when she joined the national council.
Earlier this week, France-Élaine Duranceau also had to defend herself after a statement during an interview with Noovo in connection with her desire to tackle lease assignments in her bill.
“You can’t use a right that isn’t yours, to assign a lease to someone else, on terms you decide when it’s not your building. The tenant who wants to do that, he must invest in real estate and take the risks that go with it, ”she said then.
On Wednesday, the minister made an act of contrition at a press briefing. “I’m sorry if that seemed insensitive. I was in a legal and economic description of things. On the contrary, I am very sensitive to what is happening in terms of housing, ”she defended herself.
If Bill 31 is adopted, a landlord whose tenant wants to assign his lease can simply refuse his request and terminate it. Currently, a serious reason is required. Assignment of lease is used by some tenants to limit rent increases.
Despite their criticism, those in solidarity say they are ready to give the minister a chance and hope to be able to help improve her bill.
The race has already begun
Although the race to designate the spokesperson who will succeed Manon Massé officially begins only on August 25, the candidates are already in the campaign.
“We have to talk about a more leftist, more progressive and incisive nationalism. This message is not heard. […] I know that people in different regions are sensitive to this more nationalist discourse,” Ruba Ghazal maintained.
The member for Sherbrooke, Christine Labrie, for her part, launched a point towards her unelected rival, Émilise Lessard-Therrien.
“I demonstrated in 2018 and 2022 that I am capable not only of making QS break through in an area where there was not already solid support and also of maintaining this support,” she said. supported.
Mme Lessard-Therrien was elected in the riding of Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue in 2018. However, she lost her seat in the last election in 2022. According to her, being an extra-parliamentary spokesperson can be an advantage for her party. .
“I think that if QS wants to break through in 2026, to have someone who is dedicated full-time to mobilizing on the ground, to be close to people, to be on the streets alongside social movements, I think it can be good for QS,” she explained.
Manon Massé has also affirmed that she will remain neutral in this race. “I trust these three women,” she said.