(Quebec) The election of “a new wave of politicians” who “want to do more” for social housing, public transport and the environment sows “hope” in the ranks of Quebec solidaire one year from the next provincial election.
“It’s a bit like a new wave of politicians arriving in Quebec municipal politics, it’s gratifying and, frankly, it gives me hope for next year”, launched the parliamentary leader of Quebec Solidarity, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who reacted Monday to the results of the municipal elections on the sidelines of an announcement of his training in health.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois underlined the election of “young elected officials” with ideas on public transport, social housing and the environment, key themes of Québec solidaire. “It gives me hope that these themes will be talked about in Quebec in the next year and it is also [des priorités] of Québec solidaire, therefore, we are going to be in the National Assembly to relay this desire that many Quebeckers have just displayed, ”he said.
The parliamentary leader particularly highlighted the re-election of Valérie Plante in Montreal, but also the election of Catherine Fournier as mayor of Longueuil, Stéphane Boyer in Laval and Évelyne Beaudin in Sherbrooke. The latter, who became the first mayor of Sherbrooke, also participated in the founding of Option Nationale, a party that merged with Québec solidaire.
“All this makes me say that there is a new wind, it’s a wind of freshness and we must salute it. And yes, it is certain that for a party like Québec solidaire which has been talking about the environment for so many years, we often had the impression of being alone, we often had the impression of being a little in our world, in our corner. So to see, like that, a new generation of municipal officials bringing ideas about the environment, […] yes, it is gratifying ”, he added.
Partial in Marie-Victorin
Québec solidaire must prepare in the coming weeks for the by-election that will be called within six months in Marie-Victorin after the victory of Catherine Fournier. Elected under the PQ banner in 2018, MP Fournier had sat as an independent since leaving the Parti Québécois in March 2019.
“We are going to get down to work, we will meet in the coming days and weeks to make our game plan in Marie-Victorin. We are waiting to hear from the government to know when the by-election will be, then we will make our decisions in due course, ”said Mr. Nadeau-Dubois. In a response in English, he said he saw this by-election “as an opportunity” for his political party.