The Novum Times

Ruba Ghazal throws her hat into ring to become Québec solidaire co-spokesperson

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Native Information

As a result of she is the daughter of Palestinian refugees, the 45-year-old Mercier MNA mentioned she understands deeply the necessity Quebecers should make Quebec a nation.

Susan Schwartz, Montreal Gazette

Caroline Plante

Printed Might 21, 2023  •  Final up to date 1 hour in the past  •  4 minute learn

Ruba Ghazal, Québec solidaire Education spokesperson speaks during a news conference in Montreal on April 30, 2023, where she spoke about the bill she tabled at the National Assembly concerning sexual violence in schools.
Ruba Ghazal, Québec solidaire Schooling spokesperson speaks throughout a information convention in Montreal on April 30, 2023, the place she spoke concerning the invoice she tabled on the Nationwide Meeting regarding sexual violence in colleges. Picture by Graham Hughes /The Canadian Press

QUEBEC CITY – Ruba Ghazal is beginning the engine: If she will get the job as co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire (QS) in November, she says independence, language and tradition might be on the coronary heart of her political motion.

In an interview with La Presse Canadienne, the candidate to exchange Manon Massé as celebration co-spokesperson says she has thought lengthy and onerous about what she may suggest to the celebration trustworthy to advance the QS. She has concluded the QS should communicate “much more” of independence, a topic which she says just isn’t the only real protect of the Parti Québécois, as she sees it, however an integral a part of the QS.

Ghazal plans to make independence and the safety of the French language her calling card within the areas. “It’s not heard sufficient, and I need to make it a precedence,” she mentioned.

As a result of she is the daughter of Palestinian refugees, the 45-year-old Mercier MNA mentioned she understands deeply the necessity Quebecers should make Quebec a nation. “I really feel it in my intestine: Quebecers are insecure about their future,” she mentioned.

“I do know that, by speaking about independence, tradition and language, we will attain Quebecers from in every single place within the province … if I’m a spokesperson, will probably be a top-priority problem.”

Any event is an effective one to spotlight the place of the QS, Ghazal mentioned: to type, as soon as elected, a constituent meeting that might draft the structure of an unbiased Quebec and submit it to a referendum.

It’s a “democratic” place, she mentioned — one which could even please these for whom it isn’t their “cup of tea.”

Ghazal, who was born in Lebanon, believes, because the daughter of immigrants, she represents completely the “steadiness” between safety of French and Quebec tradition and and defending the rights of cultural minorities.

She performed an vital function within the QS vote in favour of the Coalition Avenir Québec reform of Invoice 101, which created discontent amongst QS celebration members. The celebration needed to promise, as soon as in energy, it will drop articles that obliged new arrivals to have the ability to talk in French with the State after six months.

As the primary to go public together with her intentions — Sherbrooke MNA Christine Labrie is considering it — Ghazal doesn’t imagine representing a Montreal using will have an effect on her negatively.

Quite the opposite, Ghazal mentioned she is pleased with having been elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 in Mercier, a using “historic for Québec solidaire” as a result of it was represented for 10 years by Amir Khadir, who was the primary male spokesperson for the celebration,.

Apart from, Ghazal mentioned, one can’t “assume that simply by placing somebody up who comes from a area that Québec solidaire will essentially break by way of within the areas.”

Former Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue MNA Émilise Lessard-Therrien, who was defeated within the 2022 provincial election, can also be a candidate within the race for the publish of QS co-spokesperson.

“It will probably’t be a communications trick, however … a profound change in our celebration,” Ghazal mentioned, including she travels “so much” to the areas and has labored on proposals.

At a celebration gathering in February of this 12 months, the celebration promised to “de-Montrealize,” having misplaced help in 45 rural and suburban ridings within the 2022 provincial election marketing campaign.

Occasion co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois has instructed the QS would overview a few of its proposals, equivalent to a plan to impose a tax on polluting automobiles. The celebration additionally proposed a “wealth” tax beginning at $1 million.

It’s not about repeating “errors,” Ghazal mentioned.

“Individuals had the impression we needed to assault what they’ve and all that. That was not the intention,” she mentioned.

“Errors had been made and the plan is to to repeat them … I’ve a accountability additionally if I grow to be spokesperson … to vary our proposals with out altering our values.”

What is definite is that having a number of people who find themselves after the place might be helpful for the celebration, as a result of it is going to allow the “brainstorming of concepts,” mentioned Ghazal, who just isn’t ready till the official begin of the race on the finish of August to get began.

The marketing campaign will formally final 13 weeks. Candidates should collect 500 signatures from members in good standing in six areas and 20 totally different ridings. Debates are to happen throughout this era.

The assembly that may elect the subsequent QS spokesperson is deliberate for Nov. 24 to 26 — the weekend when Massé will hand over her features as co-spokesperson. Nadeau-Dubois is predicted to remain within the place.

A founding member of QS in 2006, Ghazal says she comes from “the identical college” as Françoise David, a former QS spokesperson, and Massé. She believes she would “complement” Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, whom she describes as “mental, rigorous.”

A toddler of Invoice 101, Ghazal holds a bachelor’s diploma in enterprise administration and a masters diploma within the surroundings. Earlier than turning into an MNA, she labored for the O-I Canada Corp., glass, ceramics and concrete manufacturing; Church & Dwight Canada Corp., L-3 Communications and Bombardier Aviation.

Ghazal is her celebration’s present whip within the Nationwide Meeting, along with being spokesperson for issues associated to schooling, tradition, the French language and the standing of ladies.

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