Quebec solidaire’s Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois gaining popularity, eyeing official opposition status

For the first time, Québec solidaire could realistically become the official opposition party at the National Assembly.

A recent poll showed Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois gaining popularity and even François Legault called it a two-party race between the CAQ and Québec solidaire.

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“I think the dynamic of the campaign has shown that there are two ways for Quebec today, the way of the past, the old way to do things, which is Mr. Legault’s way and the new way to do things,” said Nadeau-Dubois. “The new team you know is this new blood in Quebec politics which is the team of Québec solidaire.”

“We want to build a Quebec with everyone, for everyone across generations.” 

In 2018 – for the first time in Québec solidaire’s history – it made gains outside of Montreal: going from three seats to 10 in the National Assembly. 

#WATCH: Polls show Quebec Solidaire could form the next official opposition come October. Can they steal Anglophone votes away from the Liberals?

FOR MORE: https://t.co/yNL8bcOKIV pic.twitter.com/GSfGYZaSV8

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) September 20, 2022

At a press conference Tuesday in the riding of Viau, in Saint-Michel, where Liberals won by almost double the QS votes last election, Nadeau-Dubois promised to reduce public transit fares by 50 per cent throughout the province, if elected.

His party’s platform also includes addressing Quebec’s affordable housing shortage, helping people deal with the rising cost of living and fighting climate change.

READ MORE: Québec solidaire’s Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash works to rally youth vote

“My message to Anglophones in Montreal and across Quebec is: who has been there to challenge  François Legault on the housing crisis in the last four years? Who has been there to challenge  François Legault on the climate crisis? I think it’s Québec solidaire.”

Nadeau-Dubois became a public figure in Quebec as one of the leaders of the 2012 maple spring.

Student protests against proposed-fee hikes for university, by the then Jean Charest Liberals.

Montrealer Josiane Petit was in the protests in 2012 while Nadeau-Dubois was there. 

“I saw his speeches at the time, but I’m also more about the party also,” she said. “I really like that they try to include all the minorities in Quebec and I think it’s the party that is most socially involved.”

“He’s a good kid,” said Montrealer Nicolas Yainiri. “But I’m not ready to vote for that party. I like Mr. Legault. I like him a lot and I like his honesty and his integrity.”

#WATCH: "I was in the protests in 2012 and he was also there," says Josiane Petit, Montrealer set on voting for Quebec solidaire in the Oct. 3 election. pic.twitter.com/xc5UzvaQmh

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) September 20, 2022

Only nine per cent of respondents in a recent Leger poll felt Legault won the first French debate, compared to 18 per cent that felt Nadeau-Dubois shined.

Nadeau-Dubois’ priority: “We want to build a Quebec that takes care of everyone.”