Alexandre Boulerice to leave federal politics, run with Québec solidaire in Gouin

Quebec's lone NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice will leave federal politics and run for Quebec Solidaire.

Alexandre Boulerice, the federal Member of Parliament (MP) for the Montreal riding of Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, is making the move to Quebec politics.

At a news conference Monday morning, Boulerice confirmed his plan to run with Québec solidaire in the riding of Gouin.

His departure had been an open secret for some time, with Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Sol Zanetti saying his party’s recruit represents a strong endorsement of its pro-independence platform.

“After 15 years as a New Democratic Party (NDP) MP, this feels like a homecoming of sorts,” he wrote on Facebook. “It is a new challenge and, at the same time, a continuation of my political involvement as a progressive, environmentalist and humanist.”

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Boulerice went on to say that he is “so proud” of the work accomplished during his time in federal office, but stressed that “Quebec is not doing well.”

“The house is not in order, and that troubles me,” he said, pointing to homelessness and the housing crisis as well as issues in education, the environment and family finances. “Our national obsession should be to work toward providing a life of dignity for each and every one of us. Dignity should become our guiding principle.”

‘Extremely sovereigntist’

He also called his decision a homecoming to “his country. To Quebec.”

“To aspire to sovereignty is to take ownership of ourselves and trust in ourselves,” he said. “It is to reflect on our contribution and our relationship with the world.”Speaking to reporters, Boulerice framed his decision as a “continuation of my progressive, ecological, and humanist commitments.”

Standing next to Boulerice, Québec solidaire’s male spokesperson Sol Zanetti referred to what he said was the “elephant in the room.”

“He’s extremely sovereigntist, OK?” said Zanetti.

“He campaigned for the ‘yes’ side in 1995,” Zanetti said about the second failed independence referendum. " … He spent 15 years (in Ottawa.) Having witnessed Ottawa’s failures and setbacks on all the important issues, he is in a strong position to testify to just how much Quebec should leave Canada and become its own country."

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Last of Quebec’s Orange Wave

Boulerice’s exit leaves the NDP with no MPs in Quebec and five seats total in the House of Commons.

As Quebec’s last-remaining MP from Jack Layton’s 2011 “Orange Wave,” Boulerice has not been shy to voice frustrations with the party, including his disappointment over the lack of French in the party’s leadership race.

Despite calls for him to stay in the NDP, Boulerice says he was already seriously considering a move to Québec solidaire ahead of new leader Avi Lewis’ win.In a news release on Monday, Lewis said he has “immense respect” for Boulerice, calling him “an exceptional representative for the people of Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie” who “has worked tirelessly to deliver real gains for the people of Quebec.”

Boulerice says he plans to continue to serve as an independent member of parliament until the Quebec election, slated for Oct. 5.

Gouin is considered a safe riding for Québec solidaire, but the party has been struggling to connect with the electorate since the 2022 election, polling behind the other major parties.

With files from The Canadian Press