A major shakeup in Canadian politics unfolded Monday as longtime Montreal MP Alexandre Boulerice announced he is leaving federal politics after 15 years to seek a seat with Québec solidaire ahead of Quebec’s October election.
Boulerice made the announcement in Montreal’s Gouin riding, where he intends to pursue the party nomination in a constituency widely viewed as favourable territory for Québec solidaire. He said he will immediately sit as an Independent in Ottawa and formally resign his federal seat before the provincial campaign officially begins.
The departure marks the end of an era for the federal New Democratic Party, as Boulerice was the last remaining Quebec MP from the party’s 2011 “Orange Wave” breakthrough under Jack Layton. His exit reduces the party’s caucus to five MPs, all located west of Ontario, under new leader Avi Lewis.
Speaking to reporters, Boulerice described his move as a natural continuation of the progressive, environmental and humanist values he has defended throughout his career. While he stopped short of directly declaring himself a sovereigntist, Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Sol Zanetti removed any doubt, calling him strongly committed to Quebec independence and pointing to his support for the “Yes” side during the 1995 referendum.
Boulerice said his years in Ottawa taught him the limits of provincial power within Canada, adding that functioning inside a sovereign country demonstrated how much greater a state’s ability to act can be compared with that of a province. He said repeated negotiations between Ottawa and Quebec reinforced his belief that meaningful change could be achieved more directly at the National Assembly.
Despite Gouin being considered a strong riding for Québec solidaire, the party faces broader electoral challenges. It has struggled to regain momentum since the 2022 election and current projections suggest only modest gains in the provincial vote.
In a statement, Avi Lewis praised Boulerice as an outstanding representative who delivered important results for Quebecers and earned deep respect across party lines.
Boulerice said the decision came after months of reflection and discussions with both party officials and constituents. After five election victories and a decade and a half in federal politics, he said he felt his work in Ottawa had reached its conclusion and the time had come to return home.