Alexandre Boulerice, the sole Quebec MP for the federal New Democratic Party, is set to announce his departure from the party on Monday to run in the 2026 provincial election under the banner of Québec Solidaire (QS) in the Gouin riding of Montreal. This move slashes the NDP’s already diminished presence in the House of Commons to just five seats, marking a fresh blow to the party’s influence in the province.
Boulerice, who represents Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie federally and previously served as the NDP’s deputy leader, will contest the seat currently held by Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, QS’s education spokesperson. Nadeau-Dubois revealed earlier in 2024 that he would not seek re-election in 2026, citing internal party crises as a key factor in his decision. The Gouin riding, a stronghold for QS along Montreal’s orange line, has been represented by prominent party figures, including co-founder Françoise David, who preceded Nadeau-Dubois in 2017.
The decision by Boulerice to jump to provincial politics did not come as a complete surprise. As early as February he described the possibility as a “very serious” consideration, despite efforts by new NDP leader Avi Lewis to dissuade him from leaving. Lewis, who recently took the helm of the party, appears to have failed in retaining one of its most prominent Quebec voices.
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Québec Solidaire, meanwhile, paved the way for Boulerice’s candidacy by bending internal rules. Earlier in 2026, party delegates approved a waiver to a policy prioritizing female candidates in winnable ridings, a decision that drew public criticism from some QS militants during the winter. The exception was specifically crafted to allow Boulerice to run in Gouin, signaling the party’s intent to leverage his political experience and visibility.
This exit compounds the NDP’s struggles in Quebec, where it has already seen its representation erode significantly. Boulerice’s departure leaves the party with no sitting MPs in the province, raising questions about its ability to rebuild ahead of future federal elections.
The political shift also underscores broader turbulence within Quebec’s left-wing landscape as the 2026 provincial election approaches. With Boulerice set to officially align with QS on Monday, the party gains a high-profile candidate, while the NDP must grapple with a shrinking footprint in a region once central to its growth.
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