‘An exception’: Québec solidaire plans to bend its own gender rules to accommodate Montreal candidate
Posted February 18, 2026 9:13 am.
Last Updated February 18, 2026 10:09 am.
Québec solidaire (QS) plans to bend its own rules to allow a “left-wing sovereignty supporter” to run in Gouin in the upcoming provincial elections.
The Journal de Montréal reported on Tuesday that Alexandre Boulerice, the federal NDP MP for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, would like to run with QS in the riding currently held by the party’s former spokesperson, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
However, QS had decided that women or non-binary candidates will be required to run in currently won ridings in the next election.
“This will be an exception for Gouin,” said QS spokesperson Ruba Ghazal at a press briefing on Wednesday.
“It will be up to our members to decide whether to accept this exception. I am confident that we will find a way forward.”
The vote will take place on Saturday during a closed-door party council meeting.
Ghazal did not want to confirm that this exception was specifically for Boulerice. She also assured that this would be the only exception.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
