Soraya Martinez Ferrada: Ensemble Montréal’s new leader and mayoral candidate

Ensemble Montréal has named former federal Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada as its new party leader and candidate for mayor of Montreal.

The municipal party made the announcement on Friday, on the deadline for candidates to apply.

Martinez Ferrada was the only candidate to announce her intentions to run for the leadership of Ensemble Montréal, and because she was uncontested, her election was acclaimed. The candidacy of businessman Younes El Moustir was rejected by the political party for reasons that were not specified.

The news comes weeks before party members were supposed to vote to select the new leader.

Earlier this month, she was publicly backed by several current party members including: Interim leader Aref Salem; Montreal North mayor Christine Black; Pierrefonds-Roxboro mayor Jim Beis; Outremont mayor Laurent Desbois; L’Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève mayor Doug Hurley; caucus president Stéphanie Valenzuela; and housing spokesperson Julien Hénault-Ratelle.

Shortly before she announced her intentions, she resigned from federal cabinet.

Martinez Ferrada was first elected to the federal riding of Hochelaga in 2019. The 52-year-old HEC Montréal graduate was a city councillor in Montreal’s Saint-Michel from 2005 to 2009.

“I am happy to have united citizens and to be elected leader of Ensemble Montréal,” she said in a press release. “I want to bring Montrealers together and make them proud of their city with a party that represents their realities. Beginning next week, I’ll be embarking on a comprehensive tour across Montreal’s boroughs to connect directly with residents, businesses, and community organizations.”

Housing, mobility, security, homelessness, economy and environment are some of the priorities the party says they are focused on.

“Today, a new era begins for our party and its members,” said Carmine Pollice, President of Ensemble Montréal, in a press release. “We are confident that Montrealers will choose her in turn to lead their city and respond to their needs. It’s time to give our metropolis a municipal administration that takes responsibility.”

Ensemble Montréal says a rally will be held on April 6, which would have been voting day. Instead, party members are expected to rally behind its mayoral candidate in the city’s November election.

Meanwhile, Projet Montréal has five candidates running to replace longtime leader Valérie Plante, who is not seeking re-election as mayor of Montreal. The winner will be announced March 15.