Etienne Grandmont enters the race to become spokesperson for Québec solidaire

The MP for Taschereau, Etienne Grandmont, announced his candidacy for the position of male spokesperson for Québec solidaire (QS) on Sunday at a press briefing held in his constituency in the Capitale-Nationale region.

He won the support of a dozen party members, including Laurier-Dorion MP Andrés Fontecilla and former candidate Caroline Thibault.

Grandmont has set himself the goal of “making Québec solidaire the political vehicle that will be able to confront the rise of the right, by making environmental and social struggles central to its priorities.”

“The right-wing wind is blowing hard at the moment. It is our responsibility at Québec solidaire to embody a united and assertive left that will be able to defend Quebec’s social and environmental gains and that will have the audacity to propose new solutions to the problems experienced by Quebecers, even if they displease the powerful of this world,” he declared in a press release.

He stressed that “tackling the problems of the cost of living today is fundamental, but that doesn’t mean forgetting the long-term issues, such as the fight against climate change.”

“Some parties are looking to make short-term political gains, whether it’s the CAQ, which is abandoning investment in public transport, or the Parti Québécois, which wants to spend $1.3 billion a year of public money to subsidise the price of petrol. That’s not being responsible. That’s not political courage,” added Grandmont.

According to Fontecilla, “He is a supporter in the best sense of the word.”

“He was already effective when he was involved in civil society movements on the environment and the fight against poverty, and now he’s a formidable MP. I have found in him an unfailing ally in my work as the person responsible for housing and inclusion,” said the Montreal MP in the same press release, describing Grandmont as “someone who brings people together and takes the time to listen before forming an opinion”.

The candidate has also launched a website to ask the public to identify their political interests and priorities.

Thibault believes that Grandmont “is the right person to spread our message outside the big cities.”

Grandmont has represented the riding of Taschereau since 2022.

He has made a name for himself in the Quebec City region for his commitment to the tramway and his fight against the third link.

He is the second opposition group’s spokesman on regional economic development, social solidarity and community action, as well as transport and sustainable mobility.

Earlier this month, MPs Sol Zanetti (Jean-Lesage) and Alexandre Leduc (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve) announced that they were considering entering the race to succeed Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who resigned on 20 March.

The election of the new QS male co-spokesperson will take place at a convention on 9 November. The rules of the race will be set out at the party’s national council on 7 and 8 June.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews