NDP's Quebec Presence Hangs by a Thread as Boulerice Considers Provincial Move
The federal New Democratic Party faces a potential political drought in Quebec as its sole remaining MP in the province seriously considers jumping to provincial politics. Alexandre Boulerice, who represents the Montreal riding of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, confirmed this week that he is contemplating a nomination race with Quebec Solidaire, the democratic socialist provincial party.
The Fading Orange Wave
This development marks a dramatic reversal from the NDP's historic 2011 federal election performance, when an "orange wave" swept across Quebec and parts of Canada, electing more than 50 NDP MPs from the province alone. That contingent represented the largest in the party's history and transformed the NDP into the Official Opposition for the first time.
Now, fifteen years later, the party's parliamentary presence has dwindled to just seven MPs nationwide, with Boulerice standing as the last Quebec representative from that historic wave. His departure would leave the NDP without any federal representation in Quebec, a province that once formed the bedrock of the party's parliamentary strength.
From One Sinking Ship to Another?
Boulerice's potential move comes as both parties face significant electoral challenges. The federal NDP has seen its caucus shrink from over 100 MPs to just seven since last spring. Meanwhile, Quebec Solidaire has watched its support decline to approximately seven percent in recent polling, with projections suggesting the party might retain only four seats in the upcoming provincial election this fall, down from its current eleven.
The Montreal MP acknowledged the irony of his situation during a press conference this week, noting with a laugh that he wasn't making the potential move for opportunistic reasons given both parties' current standings.
"If you believe in the polls, if I make the move, I'm not making it because I'm opportunistic," Boulerice stated. "Because if you look at the numbers for Quebec Solidaire, I'm not making any change, if I do it, because I will be a minister. If I do it, I hope that I will be able to increase the hope for the progressive and left wing party in Quebec."
Quebec Solidaire Clears the Path
Despite Boulerice's stated indecision, Quebec Solidaire has taken extraordinary steps to facilitate his potential candidacy. During the party's convention last weekend, delegates voted overwhelmingly to create an exception to their gender-based nomination rules specifically to accommodate Boulerice.
The party had previously adopted a rule stating that only women or non-binary individuals could run for candidacy in ridings held by the party, a measure designed to increase gender diversity in provincial politics. However, this created a barrier when party leadership learned of Boulerice's interest in running in the Gouin riding to replace former co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
Delegates voted 74 percent in favor of creating an exception for an unidentified high-profile candidate in the Gouin riding, which conveniently overlaps with Boulerice's federal riding of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie. This procedural maneuver effectively clears the path for Boulerice to seek the nomination should he decide to make the jump.
The Political Calculus
The potential move represents a significant political calculation for Boulerice, who has served as an NDP MP since 2011. While he would be leaving a federal party with diminished parliamentary presence, he would be joining a provincial party facing similar electoral headwinds.
For the federal NDP, Boulerice's departure would represent more than just the loss of a single MP. It would symbolize the complete evaporation of the orange wave in Quebec, removing the party's last direct connection to its historic 2011 breakthrough in the province. The development raises serious questions about the NDP's future prospects in Quebec and its ability to rebuild support in a region that once formed the core of its national political relevance.
As both parties prepare for upcoming elections, Boulerice's decision will have ripple effects across Quebec's political landscape, potentially reshaping the progressive political options available to Quebec voters at both the federal and provincial levels.
