Quebec Solidaire ready to bend its own rules to get a man elected in Gouin

Québec solidaire delegates will vote Saturday on a proposal to make a one-time exception in Gouin, allowing a male candidate.

Quebec Solidaire (QS) plans to bend its own rules to allow a “left-wing independence supporter” to run in Gouin in the upcoming provincial elections.

The Journal de Montréal reported Tuesday that Rosemont--La Petite-Patrie NDP MNA Alexandre Boulerice would like to run with QS in the riding currently held by former party spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

However, QS has 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 conference on Wednesday.

“It will be our members who decide whether to accept this exception. I am confident that we will find a way forward,” she added in the same breath.

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 The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 18, 2026.