Manon Massé will not seek another mandate as Québec solidaire co-spokesperson

MONTREAL – MNA Manon Massé will not seek another mandate as spokesperson for Québec solidaire.

Massé, who will remain the MNA for Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques, announced her decision Tuesday morning at a press conference in Montreal.

In a letter published Tuesday Massé said she was following her heart – “and my heart told me I have given everything I have to give as the spokesperson of Québec solidaire”.

She will leave her position at the next party convention in November. She says she is ready to pass the baton to someone else.

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Manon Massé became the party’s spokesperson in 2017, at the same time as the Québec solidaire parliamentary leader, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

“My greatest pride is to show that it is possible for people outside the norm to do what I did,” she said.

Massé had succeeded Françoise David, while Nadeau-Dubois took over from the current MNA for Laurier-Dorion, Andrés Fontecilla, who was not elected at the time.

Manon Massé has been the MNA for Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques since 2014, but has been active in the party since its founding.

“I won’t hide it being a spokesperson for the party and an MNA at the same time is not a piece of cake. It’s time and energy. I work everyday, mornings, nights, and weekends. I’m at a point in my journey where I don’t have the choice to make choices. I have chosen to take off my hat as spokesperson and give everything to to my people in Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques,” she explained in her statement.

Adding that during this difficult time, the community in her riding need her.

For her succession as the party’s female spokesperson, there are three women in the caucus who could replace her: Alejandra Zaga Mendez, Christine Labrie and Ruba Ghazal. However, the spokesperson could be extra-parliamentary like Fontecilla was at the time.

“There will be a race to replace me as spokesperson and I can’t wait to see that, because Québec solidaire is full of women who love Quebec, strong, solid, intelligent women to take over as female spokesperson,” she said.

“It is up to the next generation to take the leadership of our party and to take the leadership in Quebec to make the profound changes we need to make. So, young people, come on, Québec solidaire is yours, the future is yours!”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 16, 2023.