After Political Storm, Kelley and Rizqy to Return Hand in Hand to Legislature
QUEBEC — For Greg Kelley, the past two months have been what he describes as "the worst experience of my life." The Jacques-Cartier Liberal MNA has been navigating a perfect storm of political turmoil and personal crisis after his wife, fellow Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy, was expelled from the party caucus in November.
A Crisis That Tested Mental Health
The turmoil began when Rizqy's decision to fire her chief of staff sparked a party crisis, leading to her removal from the Liberal caucus by then-leader Pablo Rodriguez. For Kelley, who represents the West Island riding of Jacques-Cartier, the situation became overwhelming.
"On and off in my life, I have had struggles with mental health, and this was one of those situations," Kelley revealed in an interview. "It was overwhelming. I could feel myself slipping back into darkness."
Neither Kelley nor Rizqy returned to the legislature immediately after the incident. Kelley took a medical leave to focus on his mental health, making his first step back only last Thursday when he attended a party caucus meeting.
History Repeating with Greater Awareness
This wasn't Kelley's first experience with mental health challenges in the political arena. In 2023, he suffered a burnout following death threats against Rizqy, who was eight months pregnant with their first child at the time. That experience led him to seek help from doctors and psychologists.
"This time, faced with another crisis, I acted sooner," Kelley explained. "I really felt my mental health was slipping, but not as bad as it did in 2023. But I could see my symptoms coming back."
The 40-year-old MNA, who took over the Jacques-Cartier seat from his father Geoffrey Kelley in 2018, decided to go public with his struggles to encourage others, particularly men, to seek help.
Breaking the Silence on Men's Mental Health
"We know men often suffer in silence," Kelley said. "They don't like talking about this stuff. There's still a lot of stigma about mental health. I want to say this does happen to men."
He emphasized that mental health struggles can affect anyone, regardless of circumstances: "I am fortunate. I have a good job. I am the son of a former MNA. I have a beautiful family, loving friends, a great community, but I still suffer from mental health issues."
Kelley encouraged anyone questioning whether they need help to take action: "If you ever ask yourself that question, 'Do I need to go see someone or speak to someone,' the answer is yes."
A Symbolic Return to the National Assembly
On Tuesday afternoon, Kelley and Rizqy will make their return to the National Assembly in what promises to be a symbolic moment. "I definitely plan to go in hand in hand with my wife," Kelley confirmed. "Then I will head over to my team while she sits on her own."
Rizqy will sit as an independent MNA, joining the club of 10 other independent members in the house, most of whom are former Coalition Avenir Québec MNAs. Kelley will resume his role as opposition critic for natural resources and youth.
The Road Ahead for the Liberal Couple
The political firestorm began to calm only after Rodriguez resigned as Liberal leader on December 17. Kelley acknowledged that "the hardest thing was listening to some of the things the former leader said about Rizqy."
The future of Rizqy's political career now rests with the next Liberal leader, likely Charles Milliard, who will need to decide whether to welcome her back into the caucus. Milliard recently met with Rizqy and described having "a good conversation about the road ahead" during an appearance on The Gazette's Corner Booth podcast.
For now, Kelley reports that he's doing better, having used the holiday break to connect with his community and catch his breath. "At the moment, I am doing better," he said, ready to face the challenges of the legislative session while continuing to prioritize his mental health and family.
