By Jack Wilson
Local Journalism Initiative
Sherbrooke MNA Christine Labrie announced her candidacy for co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire (QS) June 12. The announcement made her the third candidate vying to replace outgoing co-spokesperson Manon Massé, joining Émilise Lessard-Therrien and Ruba Ghazal in the race.
Unlike the other parties sitting in the National Assembly, QS has no leader and is represented instead by two spokespeople. The winner of the November leadership contest will join Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois at the party’s helm. Labrie has represented Sherbrooke in the National Assembly since 2018.
“As Québec solidaire spokespeople, we speak for the political party, so the priorities are decided by our members,” Labrie said. Still, she said her own priorities centre around reducing social inequalities and improving inclusion. “I see many social fractures in this moment in Quebec. People are divided. I want us to gather around a common project,” Labrie said. “There are people who feel excluded by political decisions right now. I want us to hear their voices.”
Ahead of the November vote Labrie will “travel across Quebec to meet as many members as possible,” she said. “I’m convinced that we’ll be able to conduct a very clean and constructive campaign,” Labrie said, calling her opponents friends.
A sovereigntist seeking co-leadership of an officially sovereigntist party, Labrie said Quebecers need to feel unified before she could pursue separation. “It’s hard to join a project of forming a country when you feel excluded by the political class.”
