“Shattered” by the 2022 election results and internal criticism, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois almost gave up his place as co-speaker of Quebec Solidaire to someone else, he revealed on Saturday, on the eve of a vote on his leadership.
In Congress almost two weeks after the publication of the book “Les têtes brûlés” by former Solidarity MP Catherine Dorion, the leader of the QS admitted that he had difficulty accepting the criticism that had recently come “from” his party.
“In politics we are always criticized in the media by our opponents. It’s part of the game and over time you develop a hard rind. There is also criticism that comes from within, and this is what penetrates,” he said in a speech to solidarity activists in Gatineau.
In her book, Ms. Dorion, who worked alongside Mr. Nadeau-Dubois in the Solidarity caucus for four years, accuses him of indulging in “emotional and…” as Solidarity co-speaker [à des] Power negotiations.”
Last week, the main victim agreed that he still had a lot to “learn” but made no secret of it: “It was difficult for me to accept the publication of this book and the debates it has provoked,” he said at a press conference on Saturday noon.
When asked “questions” about his leadership style this fall, the Gouin member had been thinking about it for a while. More precisely, from the 2022 elections, in which his party ended up with around 15% of the vote.
“My name is Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, I have a one and a half year old daughter, I really like hockey and I live in La Petite-Patrie. If I start like this, it’s because for the last year I’ve been thinking that maybe it would be okay for me to be just that. Maybe that was enough,” Mr. Nadeau-Dubois said Saturday under the watchful gaze of his daughter, who repeated “Daddy, daddy” at the back of the room.
The 33-year-old elected official said he went for a “long walk” after receiving the 2022 result – “it was autumn, so not in the snow yet”. “I seriously asked myself: Is it right for my party that I stay in office? “, he agreed.
He remains loyal to the “project”.
At a news conference, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois admitted that he had at times lacked “listening” skills since becoming speaker in 2017. He would have liked more transparency towards solidarity activists even after the election. “I was disappointed. I was sad. And I don’t think I’ve told you enough,” he argued to a supporting delegation of several hundred people.
If he ultimately decided to stay, it is because he still believes in the “project” of his political party.
“I believed that as spokesman for Québec Solidaire I could help our party take a further step and seize an opportunity so that we can benefit together from an open political window,” he said. -he argued in front of the activists. This window has not been closed. »
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois will be the only candidate for the position of male co-speaker of Quebec Solidaire this weekend. Since party delegates have the right to vote for the leader, the vote has all the requirements for a vote of confidence. “As I stand before you today, it is because I believe in my heart that we have this responsibility: We must, we can become that alternative to government,” he said.
According to Nadeau-Dubois, this “alternative” must respond to the “economic emergency”. Solidarity activists on Saturday also adopted proposals to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour in 2024 and eliminate the QST on used products and repair services.
Some delegates suggested that used, energy-guzzling vehicles should continue to be taxed. Your proposed amendment was rejected. “I think that the members of Québec Solidaire have shown a great display of pragmatism by recognizing that there are workers whose vehicles are starting to show their age and that they are expensive to repair,” he said.
During last year’s election campaign, Quebec Solidaire promised to impose an additional tax on the purchase of gasoline vehicles. This proposal had provoked several attacks, including from CAQ leader François Legault.
However, the party leadership has now admitted that this commitment would undoubtedly have to be reconsidered. “Today’s amendment is not surprising in that sense,” Mr. Nadeau-Dubois argued on Saturday.
The delegates have until Sunday to cast their votes for the two QS speaker positions. Three candidates stood to succeed Manon Massé as female spokeswoman for the Left Party.